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20 Career-Boosting Actions to Complete Before New Year's Eve
Use the next few weeks wisely -- and get a head start on your job hunt!
Posted December 14, 2019 Reviewed by Kaja Perina
Did you know that January and February can be two of the best months to apply for a new job or promotion?
General recruitment trends confirm: It's true.
December often feels like one of the "sleepiest" months of the year -- full of holidays, lovely food and long, cozy nights.
But as tempting as it may be to curl up with a big mug of cocoa and pine-scented candles, try not to hibernate all month long. Use the next few weeks wisely -- and get a head start on your job hunt!
We've got less than 20 days left in the month of December. Here are 20 career-boosting actions to complete before the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve...
1. Send a "thank you" note to a colleague, manager or mentor who helped or inspired you, this year.
2. Congratulate someone on their career success, this year. By celebrating others, you are reinforcing that you're a positive, encouraging person -- two qualities that are likely to be on an employer's wish list!
3. Order beautiful new business cards. (And then: revamp your own website.)
4. Reach out to five people with whom you'd like to connect next year and get a coffee date, walking date, yoga date or dinner party on the calendar.
5. Clean out your inbox and unsubscribe from mailing lists that clutter your inbox (and waste your time).
6. Choose two skills that you're going to focus on improving during the next year. Then, decide how you're going to develop those skills and block out the time on your calendar, right now. (A class... a seminar... a weekly writing group... whatever makes sense for you.)
7. Write down your biggest successes from the past 12 months. Read your list out loud. Practice describing those "big wins" with confidence -- as if you're telling each story to a hiring manager during an interview.
8. Write down your biggest mistakes from the past twelve months -- and what you learned from each one. Read that list out loud, too. (Sooner or later, a job interviewer is likely to ask, "What's your greatest weakness?" or "Describe a time when you made a mistake." Prep your answers in advance!)
9. Find a beautiful new template for your résumé. (An internet search can yield quite a few links to free templates you can use!)
10. Read up on résumé tips that can get you hired. Revamp your résumé accordingly.
11. Contact an expert résumé writer to help you, if you're still feeling totally stuck. (Sometimes, a second pair of eyes can make all the difference.)
12. Learn how to ace the most common job interview questions.
13. Upgrade your professional wardrobe. The old adage, "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have"... is quite true!
14. If you work from home, boost your focus by making your office a calmer, quieter space. Cut noise with carpeting, thick curtains or white noise machines.
15. Invest in a standing desk. (Health benefits can be amazing.)
16. Reorganize your workspace. Remove clutter. Add beauty. Pin your goals or a project manifesto right in front of you, so you see the words, every day. (Create a workspace that's inspirational... perhaps breathtakingly beautiful.)
17. Do an internet search on yourself and see what comes up. Unflattering photos? Questionable social media content? Snarky blog comments? Put yourself in a recruiter's shoes and do what you can to make sure your online footprint makes a good impression.
18. Take your LinkedIn presence to the next level by adding a personal note when you send out invitations to join your network. (Not many people do this, which is a missed opportunity!)
19. Read a few career-boosting classics, like Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People and Dale Carnegie's How To Win Friends And Influence People. (Another top pick: It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be. It's one of the world's top-selling books of all time... for a reason! There's also the book that I authored, How to Find Work That You Love: When You’re Stuck in a Job That You Hate. )
20. Be brave and start spreading the word. Reach out to 5 people you trust and tell them you're ready to take your career to the next level. Ask them to keep you in mind and give you a "heads up" if new opportunities cross their path. Check in again in January, after the holiday haze has subsided.
I've heard from quite a few people who've successfully landed their dream job, that while they were job-hunting they realized that many jobs are never posted or advertised publicly.
These kinds of jobs tend to only be discovered through word-of-mouth connections, personal introductions and referrals.
So by all means: spruce up your résumé, write down your big wins, de-clutter your workspace and dial up your wardrobe.
But more than anything?
Spend some time, during the remaining days of this year, re-connecting with people you admire and strengthening the relationships in your professional network.
You never know what one follow-up email, "thank you" note or holiday card can do for your career.
Best of luck. Here's to an incredible New Year!
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional or psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Contact your qualified provider before implementing or modifying any personal growth or wellness program or technique, and with questions about your well-being.
Copyright ©2019 Dr. Suzanne Gelb, PhD, JD. All rights reserved.
