Building upon the Career Mastered 2022 theme, “Engage,” let’s exercise our minds, maximize our time, and resist the urge to hibernate this season. To keep you extra sharp throughout the winter months, we have created this easy-to-commit-to checklist. Activating each item can boost your opportunities to advance your career.
ESTABLISH A PERSONAL BOARD OF ADVISORS (BOA)
- Honestly consider the areas of life, work, and business where you need support.
- Identify 5-7 roles that you need people to play on your BOA.
- Ask proven individuals with experiences in the roles you listed above to be a sounding board and to give you candid feedback on areas where support is needed.
An important consideration when your BOA meets is that they provide (and you accept) their feedback… feedback that you cannot normally expect from family, friends, and fans.
REFORMAT YOUR RESUME
- Review your resume to ensure accuracy and relevance.
- Delete unnecessary personally identifiable information (e.g. zip code).
- Add attention-grabbing and appropriate graphics and/or color splashes.
- Incorporate interactive features, such as a QR code and hyperlinks to examples of your accomplishments.
- Include recent workplace wins, milestones, completed training sessions, and list new skills that you have gained.
- Prepare your newly established BOA to become your next references.
Bonus: Create a provocative cover letter template to match the vibe of the job announcement that you’ve been eyeing.
CLEANSE YOUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
- Hide, archive, delete posts, videos, photos, and comments that you are no longer proud of.
- Deactivate or delete social media accounts that cause you discomfort or disrupt your peace.
- Set alarms and alerts to manage time spent on social scrolling, particularly if it serves you no good purpose.
- Produce video and voice posts that align with your personal and professional goals.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOP A LIST OF THE TOP 3 COMPANIES THAT NEED YOUR TALENT
- While completing this task, browse the social profiles of companies that you have been thinking about applying to.
- Scour job boards and online employee reviews to focus on your chosen companies.
- Ask current employees, based on your personal relationships and social media connections, about their workplace experiences and opportunities that they see for you in their company.
- Follow the companies’ social pages and request to connect with the Human Resources professionals and Executives.
- Engage in their social posts by asking meaningful questions and adding valuable commentary
ACCEPT NETWORKING INVITATIONS
- Forgive yourself for any previous mistakes at virtual and in-person events and instead focus on lessons learned there.
- Set an intention to build “community” when you attend activities where you exchange information.
- Decide to regularly engage with the Career Mastered Women’s Leadership Network at https://www.facebook.com/groups/CMWLN.
GET THE MEMO
Literally, stay informed about current events and workplace trends at careermastered.com
Facebook: @CareerMasteredMagazine https://www.facebook.com/ CareerMasteredMagazine
Instagram: @careermastered https://www.instagram.com/careermastered/
LinkedIn: Career Mastered Magazine https://www.linkedin.com/company/ career-mastered/
As the winter months can create a desire to be dormant and minimally active for some, at Career Mastered Magazine, we encourage you to run with these famous words by athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee, “it is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret.”
Dear Reader, If you are interested in more checklists, we welcome your suggestions at tishahammond@careermastered.com.
A global Pep Squad calls Tisha Hammond, The Small Business CheerleaderTM. She is the author of ‘Daily Devotional for Entrepreneurs: Your Season to Grow,’ host of ‘Pep Talk LIVE,’ Creative Writer, Storytelling Coach, and a Creative Producer pitching your life & times to TV networks. Entrepreneurs and Talent who want to attract media respect, attend her ‘Lights, Camera, Action’ webinars and Masterclass events.