It is almost mid year; you are reminded how hard you have worked from january. You wrote tons of emails, enough to publish a novel. You spent a minimum of seven hours a day on your computer. And, if you were working full-time, and have to commute from the mainland to Lagos Island you probably spent 30 hours of your life every month battling traffic.
Someone could say ‘I need to work harder so that I could gather enough for the end of the year’
But towards december and entering the new year, you want things to change. You want to get somethings straight as time moves on.
Despite your current job status, be it employed or unemployed, you shouldn’t underestimate the importance of getting a jump-start on your career in the year ahead of the final months of the year.
Use the next few months judiciously so that you can finish 2016 feeling clear, focused, and organized when the year comes to an inevitable close. If you’re searching for a job, this is an especially good time to get your ducks in a row because one of the best times to apply for a new job is August and january as the case may permit.
Here are 12 career-boosting action steps you need to take before the Mid Year
Write down your victories
Make a list of at last your top 5 professional accomplishments from the past year. You can include these “wins” into your CV the next time you tweak it —employers love seeing descriptions of “accomplishments” as opposed to “duties.”
Clean Out Your Inbox
This goes beyond deleting old emails and archiving others; take the next step and unsubscribe from mailing lists that waste your time.
Send a Thank You Note
Think of a coworker, superior, manager, or mentor who helped or inspired you this past times, and let that person know you’re grateful for his or her assistance or inspiration. You could send emails, 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.
Research on How to Improve your CV
More specifically, update your CV, read up ways to improve your resume. This will only get you closer to getting that job you want. So, tweak your resume regularly and accordingly, or don’t be afraid to start over from scratch instead of building on one you’ve had for years.
Contact an experienced person
If you’re feeling stuck or don’t know where to begin, it might be worth it to pay an expert to get you past your obstacle.
Learn How to Answer the Most Common Interview Questions
Your resume’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.
Reorganize Your Workspace
Remove clutter. Add beauty. Make a vision board or write a career manifesto and hang it above your desk.
Get on a Healthier Sleep Schedule
It’s no news that many workers are sleep deprived, and being chronically tired is just as bad as going into work tipsy. The more rest you give yourself, the sharper and more productive you will be.
Google Yourself
Do you have distasteful social media content lurking around? Put yourself in a recruiter’s shoes, and make sure your online footprint makes a good first impression.
Take your LinkedIn profile to the next level
Start by adding a personal note when you send out invitations to join your network. You’d be surprised by how few people do this, so it’ll really make you stand out and get noticed.
Choose a Skill You Want to Improve in the coming years
It could be public speaking, time management, or creative writing. Sign up for a class, seminar, weekly writing group, whatever makes sense for you and whatever might get you motivated. Then decide how you’re going to develop that skill. Block out the time on your calendar now.
Write Out Your One-Year Plan
Whether you’re looking to make a move or are currently satisfied at your job, figure out what you plan to do to take your career to the next level. Maybe it’s telling your network you’re looking to make a move. Or, perhaps it’s getting a promotion (and a raise!). Whatever it is, figure out how you’re going to make it happen.
And if you do only one thing? Make an effort to re-connect with people you admire. Strengthen the relationships in your professional network. You never know how one follow-up email, thank-you note or holiday card might impact your career.