Posted in Career Advice Job Hunting Life Advice Recommended Resources on December 21, 2009 at 1:06 pm
I’ve always loved new beginnings — the first day of a new month, the turning of a new season, even the sunrise of a new day (on the rare occasion I’m up early enough to see it). Of course there is no bigger new beginning than the turning of the calendar to January 1.
This year in particular, the New Year feels like a crucial fresh start. 2009 will go down in the books as one of the hardest years ever for job seekers, especially those looking for entry-level work. If you’ve had a tough time in 2009, or even if it’s been a great year for you, here are some tips for starting 2010 on a successful note.
Out With the Old. To make room for new things in your life (a great job, fresh ideas, more money, a strong network, etc.) you need to get rid of any clutter that is weighing you down. This might include critical people, a job that drains your energy, college junk piled in your closet or self-defeating thoughts like “I’ll never get a job in this economy.” For inspiration, check out two of my favorite resources on the topic of simplifying and decluttering: the Zen Habits Blog and Julie Morgenstern’s book, Shed Your Stuff, Change Your Life.
Set Quality (not Quantity) Goals. We all know that New Year’s resolutions are generally forgotten by February. So, instead of making a long list of “rules” for my year, I prefer to declare three to five big goals or priorities. I keep them in a little note file on my computer and on a little card pasted on the inside cover of the notebook I use every day. I peek at my list constantly to remind myself what my priorities are, how I want to spend my time and what opportunities I should not pursue. If you need help clarifying your goals, check out Your Best Year Yet! Ten Questions for Making the Next Twelve Months Your Most Successful Ever.
Read the rest of this blog post on my “College to Career” blog on MyPath.com…
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I loved your “Do One Career-Related Thing Everyday!” Your eight suggestions ARE a great start! They can really get people thinking creatively and out of the box to add to their list, (the anything-else-you-can-think-of stuff). You always offer such great advice for students, young professionals, or anyone. Thanks, Lindsey. Happy Holidays!
Take a course or workshop at your local community college. Computer related courses (Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver, MS Office Suite, HTML, etc.) are sure to help build the resume. Not only will you learn something new but you’ll also meet people
@Genevieve – Wow, I thought my eight suggestions for daily activities were a nice start! I like your additions; thanks for sharing them.
Lindsey
I’m disappointed with your “Do One Career-Related Thing Everyday.” “Anything else you can think of” is not particularly helpful advice for someone who is having a hard time finding a job. My suggestions?
1. Try to meet someone new every few days. Jobs turn up in strange places. You never know who may know someone who can help you find a job.
2. Take a course or workshop at your local community college. Computer related courses (Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver, MS Office Suite, HTML, etc.) are sure to help build the resume. Not only will you learn something new but you’ll also meet people.