As we place those new desk calendars in our office to mark the start to 2011, it’s a great time to reflect on the progress that we made in 2010, as well as some details of our professional lives that we wish we had handled differently. As I shared in a previous post, an overwhelming number of you intend to search for new jobs this year. Even if that isn’t part of your plan for 2011, you still can resolve to make some changes that will advance your career to new heights before it’s time to sing Auld Lang Syne again.
An article posted on the Fox Business website suggests five resolutions that you can make regarding your career success in the new year. Most of the recommendations are common sense, but are ideas that are always worth reviewing. For example, think about three mistakes you made in 2010 and three best moves you made. What can you learn from the good and the bad? Another suggestion is to contribute to your field by making a presentation at a local association meeting, writing some articles, or starting a blog to share current events in your industry. Get your name out there where your peers and the leaders whose jobs you want to have someday see it on a regular basis!
In addition to the resolutions listed in the article, I’d like to suggest a couple more:
Get to know someone in your office who helps make your day easier but who maybe does not receive a lot of recognition. Maybe it’s the person who delivers the packages, answers the phones, or mans the security cameras at the front desk.
Leave work at the office whenever possible. It is important to work hard, but it also is important to detach from those responsibilities and enjoy some down time on a regular basis. These periods of rejuvenation will make you even more productive.
What are some other career-related resolutions that you would suggest for the new year?
joe, you are tired of hearing me say this, but the best career advice a lowly marketing guy like me can offer is a plea for continued education.
read, read, read.
that’s what i promise to do to help my career in 2011…
Hey Todd – I could not agree more, in fact, stay tuned for a mention on this very topic in my next post!
I wish you the best of luck in 2011 and look forward to learning and sharing from/with you!