It’s unlikely that you would ever think about January and September having much in common. If you’re living in MN, the weather is drastically different, you’re at very different places in the actual calendar year, and depending on your role, you either look forward to January, or wish you could fast forward right past it because you’re practically living at the office. However, September can be the new January for you in all the right ways. Stick with us to read how you can end 2017 in a blaze of successful glory.
1.Give up the screen time
You have probably read at least one study that links your compulsion to check your email before bed to the fact you wake up feeling tired. So when you track just how much of your day you spend checking email, staring at your phone, or working on a spreadsheet, add that with your Netflix habit, and it’s no wonder that one third of Americans aren’t getting enough sleep. If you can figure out a way to cut back, you might find that you return to your hobbies, will find a way to get to bed earlier, and see the life that’s happening beyond the screens.
2.Craft a plan
Is there a new department or position opening up at your company that you’re really excited about, but are afraid you’d never be considered for? Make your case. Figure out who is in charge of hiring, who you can talk to that knows how the person in charge hires and what impresses them most, and make an effort to know all the players. After you’ve done your homework, then you have to get to work to show how you’re the best man or woman for the job.
3.Consult your recruiter
If you, like 16% of Americans, had a big birthday bash, class reunion or another social event this summer, you’re likely taking stock of your career according to Harvard Business Review. According to their study, Americans are inspired to make a change in their career following an event where they have to talk about “where they’re at” in life. After some consideration, if you can’t see how you’d be excited to talk about your current job at your next reunion or birthday party, consult your recruiter to make a calculated career move. Together, you can discuss the current hiring landscape within your industry, potential upcoming opportunities, and craft a strategy to make your next career move.
4.Get active within your industry
If there’s a group within your industry that you’ve been meaning to join, attend their fall meeting. If there is a board or committee that’s looking for a new member within that group, now might be the time to throw your hat in the ring for consideration. Don’t look at this as a way to fill in another section of your LinkedIn profile, but a way to showcase your skills and talents with other people in your industry.
5.Let your network know what you’re doing
In addition to getting more involved with industry groups and events, get active on LinkedIn. We’re not suggesting that you update your profile headline to, “Searching for a new role, available immediately,” but you should start leveraging LinkedIn to reconnect with your network. With all the publishing options that LinkedIn offers, you can do smaller things like comment on people’s posts or even put together a long-form article about a topic affecting your industry. LinkedIn can be a place where you can share your professional thought leadership and position yourself as someone who is looking for the latest information about your industry, and seeks to stay informed on the direction your industry is moving in. If your LinkedIn profile could use a little brushing up, here’s a blog that gives you tips to get it shape, and get you more profile views.
You may never have thought that September could be the new January, however, you can take these five suggestions, put them into action, and end 2017 with the gusto you started it with in January. Just because it’s not January it doesn’t mean it’s too late to start a new resolution, or revive the ones you made on New Year’s Eve.