Why wait until January 1st to start working towards your career goals for the New Year? Although there are only a few days left in 2015, there are several things you can do today to jumpstart your career in 2016. Muse.com compiled a list of 20 career-boosting steps you can take before New Year’s Eve. Here are a few of them:
[Related: 5 Career Lessons From Star Wars]
1. Write down your wins.
Make a list of your top 10 professional accomplishments from the past year. You can incorporate these “wins†into your resume the next time you spruce it up–employers love seeing descriptions of “accomplishments†as opposed to “duties.â€
2. Congratulate someone on his or her career success.
By celebrating others’ “wins,†you’ll reinforce the belief that you’re a positive, encouraging person–two qualities that are on every employer’s wish list!
3. Redesign your professional materials.
Order beautiful new business cards. And then, when that’s set, think about revamping your personal website.
4. Clean out your inbox.
Don’t just delete old emails and archive others. Take the next step and unsubscribe from mailing lists that waste your time.
5. Send a thank you note.
Think of a colleague, manager, or mentor who helped or inspired you this past year, and let that person know you’re grateful for his or her assistance or inspiration. Sure, you could use email. But it would be better to use pen and paper. A handwritten note is a simple, classy way to make people feel special–and strengthen your professional network.
6. Read up on how to perfect your résumé.
More specifically, read these 43 tips. They will only get you closer to getting that job you want. So, tweak your résumé accordingly, or don’t be afraid to start over from scratch instead of building on one you’ve had for years.
7. Add some style to that perfected résumé.
Find a beautiful new template among one of these 275 free templates and go forward with confidence as you send it out. (After tailoring it for each job, of course.)
8. Contact an expert if you’re lost.
If you’re feeling stuck or don’t know where to begin, it might be worth it to pay an expert or hire a coach to get you past your obstacle.
9. Learn How To Answer The Most Common Interview Questions
Your résumé’s only doing the first part of the talking. The interview step is hugely important and not one that you can risk blowing. Prepare in advance by running through these common questions and you’ll likely ace it.
10. Update Your Professional Wardrobe
Need some style inspiration, ladies? Or gentlemen? Make sure to purchase items that are both professional and industry-appropriate.