Steps to Improve Your Career in 2012

[Badshah Mamun]

Steps to Improve Your Career in 2012

As we get ready to close out another year and embark on 2012, now is the ideal time to take stock of our professional progress in 2011 and set career goals for the coming year. Even if you plan on staying in the same position throughout the next year, there is plenty you can do to develop professionally and best position yourself for future growth. Remember, in the New Economy, career development is no longer a luxury; it?s an imperative.

Here are the first six steps you can take to improve your career in 2012:

    Set Clear Goals and Measure Your Progress ? Whether you hope to obtain a promotion, raise, or new job, you won?t accomplish anything in 2012 unless you set and hold yourself to tangible goals. Once you?ve determined your annual goals, identify the more easily attainable intermediate milestones that will allow you to measure your progress. For example, a small business owner would be best served by focusing on intermediate goals such as increasing the number of new customers each month or the average spend per customer (two variables he or she can directly affect) rather than simply focusing on the longer term goal of growing overall revenue.
   
Get Out and Network ? The Internet offers incredible job hunting and networking resources (LinkedIn, The Ladders, even Craigslist), but nothing compares to in-person networking. You can only accomplish so much while typing at your computer screen. Make an effort to go to conferences, seminars, happy hours, and industry events; seek individuals who may be able to help you reach your career ambitions not only today but also tomorrow. Always exchange business cards, and regularly keep in touch with the professionals you meet. The holidays are also a great time to reconnect with your existing network ? for example I still send printed holiday cards (along with a brief update on the company?s latest service offerings) to current and former clients.
   
    Secure LinkedIn Recommendations ? Recommendations on LinkedIn are the equivalent of consumer testimonials for individuals. Since they are considered highly valuable (as they are virtually impossible to fake), they are increasingly an absolute necessity for potential employers. In fact, many of the executives and entrepreneurs with whom I work no longer accept resumes ? all applicants are simply required to submit links to their profiles on LinkedIn. If you don?t have a robust LinkedIn profile, they believe that you are not savvy enough with social media to join their team. To increase your number of references, offer to write recommendations for current and former coworkers.

    Bring Your Resume into the 2010?s ? While some employers are moving away from resumes, many others are not. This tip is especially important for more experienced applicants, who may have simply continued updating the content of their resume while its format remains outdated. The first impression you make with a potential employer is the style and format, not the content of your resume. In fact, the first thing my team at Stratus Careers and I do when we take on new clients is update their resumes.

    Consider Seeking Consulting Work ? Plenty of firms have extra work they give to contractors (because it is seasonal/project-based, or they are prohibited from increasing headcount). If you find yourself unemployed in 2012, rather than passively accept a hole on your resume, look for contract positions which will allow you to gain essential experiences (that may lead to a full-time position and will definitely grow your skill set) while supplementing your income.

    Go Above and Beyond ? No matter how long you have been at a job or how many times you have proven yourself, you must continually strive to exceed expectations and generate incremental value for your company. If you hope to gain new responsibilities in the New Year, take the initiative today and demonstrate your capabilities. If you are a relatively junior employee, find more efficient ways of completing simple, yet tedious tasks so that you free up more of your time to take on substantive work. There is no job security in the New Economy except for those who consistently generate tangible results for their company.


Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/shawnoconnor/2011/12/22/12-steps-to-improve-your-career-in-2012-part-1/