As news of the economy brightening has been making headlines, career goals may be on your to-do list this year. Here’s a tip I’ve learned from my most successful clients: start small. Instead of setting your sights on your ultimate goal (getting a job, for example), reach for the low hanging fruit. Here are two very achievable career-related resolutions that can help you reach your larger goals:
1. Invest in some self-reflection
Many of my clients come to me without a clear sense of what they want to be doing. Most had careers they no longer want, either because those careers weren’t family-friendly enough or they simply didn’t like what they did. Now all they want is a job, usually one that pays and has flexibility. While being open to a number of different possibilities may seem like a good thing, it actually can be problematic. Without a clear direction it’s hard to put effort and intention into a job hunt. On top of that, openness to a variety of possibilities can come across as flaky. It’s difficult to project confidence when you don’t feel certain. Therefore, it’s worthwhile spending time reflecting on what you really want to be doing. The goal of this process is to gain clarity about what you want to do and to be able to talk about and explore your goals clearly and convincingly. This can be a very touchy-feely endeavor or it can be a super-structured process, depending on how you work best (a little bit of self-assessment already). No matter how you approach it, here are some basic questions you need to explore:
- What are you good at (or, in other words, what skills do you have)?
- What do you enjoy doing?
- What makes you want to work?
- What are the top 3 qualities you are looking for in your next job?
- What’s your realistic time frame?
- What steps do you need to take to position yourself for this transition?
- How will you shift childcare/household responsibilities to accommodate work responsibilities?
A career coach can help guide you through this process, or there are many excellent resources, such as Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type, that you can use yourself.
This process should help focus your interests, but the truth is that some people will nevertheless find it difficult to zero in on what they want to do. I have seen many clients get trapped in the soul-searching stage, unable to move forward because they can’t decide on one path. If that happens to you, don’t allow yourself to get derailed by the search for THE answer. If you commit to a reasonable amount of self-reflection and that doesn’t illuminate a single clear career path, take the information you have learned about yourself, make a list of pros and cons, and move forward with the closest fit you come up with. You will learn more about yourself when you have a job, and you can always make a switch then.
2. Develop a strong LinkedIn Profile
Make LinkedIn one of your resolutions for 2014. Having a strong LinkedIn profile is a must for any career search, and is a far better investment than spending hours searching through online job sites. LinkedIn is valuable for at least 3 reasons. First, crafting a professional summary for your profile will force you to consider your strengths and how you want to accentuate them. That is great preparation for any job search. Second, LinkedIn is the business networking site, and having a LinkedIn profile will enable you to connect with others who may be helpful in your job search. Most sources now say that 70 to 80 percent of all jobs are not even published because they are either filled internally or by connections. That means that cultivating a network of connections is more likely to lead to a job than any other job search activity. Finally, LinkedIn is an invaluable research tool, enabling members to strategically research companies, jobs, and people to better inform your job search. You will want your research activity to be private, so remember to first adjust your privacy settings to hide your activity.
Spend some time browsing through the profiles of other people in your field to get a sense of what a strong profile is. Although a LinkedIn profile mirrors a resume in many ways, LinkedIn’s unique features allow you to create a fuller picture of your professional life. For example, the site gives you an opportunity to label yourself beyond your job title and to craft a fuller professional summary. A complete LinkedIn profile also includes recommendations from colleagues and/or clients, which can be an effective selling point for anyone looking for a new job or more clients. Moreover, a profile can include “Projects” so that you can describe and update the work that you are doing. The ability to edit and update your profile makes LinkedIn more current and dynamic than your resume. Finally, once you have constructed a strong profile, the likelihood of your profile being viewed is increased seven-fold if you include a photo. For those of you who are photo-phobic (and I know many of you are), invest in a good head shot and include it in your profile. You’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment.
Barri Waltcher is a New York City-based career advisor who helps women navigate the transition from parenting back to a satisfying career. She is the co-founder of Mind Your Own Business Moms (MYOBmoms.com) and a frequent speaker on career topics.
