No matter what you call it, the beginning of a new year is full of excitement. It’s an opportunity to have a fresh start in whatever areas life you choose—and for many of us, prioritizing reinventing our careers is at the top of that list.
Whether you want to finally get the pay raise you know you deserve, get a promotion you’ve been working hard for, or want to switch fields altogether, we have the insight on how to make 2022 your career’s best year yet.
1. Use the time you have now
First, let’s be clear: most of us will be at home this winter due to the way things are looking. Of course, you should also spend some of those hour on. Netflix bingesTake care of yourself. However, it is important to remember that you now have more time.
This is the perfect time to spend Saturday afternoon polishing up your resume. Monday night is a good time to update your LinkedIn profile and connect with former colleagues and professional friends. Take 30 minutes each day to catch up on job postings. Utilize this time wisely because—hopefully—at some point in the near future, you won’t have all this free time at home.
2. Think about where you want your life to take you
You’re using that time you have at home as best you can, so it’s time to make a vision board. Maybe it’s a paper and scissors kind of deal, or perhaps you take to Pinterest. Whatever feels right, take this opportunity to reflect on where you want to go by 2022.
Could you find fulfillment in a variation on your current role, or is it a total overhaul that you’re looking for?Do you love the skills that you use every day but need to change companies or industries? Or are you looking to change industries or work in a field you love but need to transition people? Think about what these answers mean for your next role… and the next.
3. See what others are doing.
When it comes to your career and where you want to go, there is no one correct road map, and sometimes seeing a road that’s already been paved can add some guidance and clarity to your own search. Hop on LinkedIn and search people who already have the positions you’re interested in in the future. Take a look at how they describe themselves, their experience, and then follow the LinkedIn rabbit trail to discover where it takes you.
Want to learn more? Reach out! Find something in their resume you are interested in learning more about, or something that is common between you. To start a conversation, add them to your network and ask a specific question. Remember, there’s a human on the other side and most people want to be helpful where they can—but you need to give them a concrete ask from which to work.
4. Take stock of your experience and see if it can be applied outside of your job.
Is your job description comprehensive? The answer is often no. If there’s an area you’re eager to explore, it’s probably because you’ve been exposed to it somewhere in your day-to-day responsibilities. How can you communicate that on your resume Can you add a bullet or two that emphasizes those pieces of your roles that you enjoy most, even if they aren’t what defines your position?
A job description isn’t static. You’re not just regurgitating what was on the listing you applied to three years ago. Think about what you’ve learned, what you’ve enjoyed, and how you can spin your experience to fit the roles you Do want.
Feel like you still don’t have the experience? Think about what roles you might be able to play outside of work. Do you volunteer with an organisation and help to edit their magazine? Do you organize events? Volunteer work is still very much work and you’ve earned the right to use it on your resume.
5. Next steps
Once you’ve looked at the paths that others took and assessed your own experience, map out a tentative plan for your next role. If you’re making a huge career shift, it may not be an immediate switch, but rather a two, three, or four-point turn.
Any career change, both big or small, takes time and can be a winding road, so remember that just because your next steps aren’t what you thought they’d be, doesn’t mean that you aren’t getting closer to where you want to be.
6. To learn a new skill, enroll in an online course
Do you have some spare time at home? Use those down time to identify areas you may be lacking or to help you transition to a different role or change your career path. Google Analytics could help your marketing career. Get your certification. Have you always wanted to go into web design? You can find a course online. You can also YouTube it if all else fails. Now’s the time to teach yourself the skills that might be holding you back from pursuing your next big role.
7. Be patient
No matter what happens you will have the motivation to make this the year you reinvent yourself. And, whether or not it brings your dream role on Jan. 1, you’re positioning yourself to find fulfillment in the moment and gain new skills along the way.
Keep that resume updated, and remember, it’s never the wrong time to make a pivot or total 180-degree transition—particularly when it feels as if the entire world has been turned upside down. There is no better time than now to take a step back, and completely change your career plan. You’ve got this.
Source: The Every Girl
