Are You Career-Focused?

January 2013, Issue 31

Get Newsletter Audio File

12 Ways to Be Career-Focused in 2013
By Trish Freshwater, Senior Communications Manager

The following is an abridged version of an article originally published on the Student Branding Blog, where students can find a wealth of information about preparing for their future career. Click here to read the article in its entirety.

Did you make any New Year's resolutions? I'm not one for listing specific things I want to change or do in the upcoming year. Instead, I prefer to come up with a theme so that I can use a number of mini-successes to meet my resolution goal. So, if my theme is "health," actions that improve my diet or increase exercise will count towards my resolution without feeling guilty if I don't complete a specific task. There are lots of paths to success!

As we dive in to 2013, why not make it the year to focus on your future career? Being career-minded this year might be the best way to lay the foundation for your career after graduation. There are lots of things you can do to keep your resolution all year through. Here are 12 suggestions – one activity for each month.

1. Write or Polish Your Resume using keywords.
2. Update Your Social Profiles. Another tip: Review your Facebook page from a recruiter's perspective. Should anything be hidden from public view? Use your privacy settings to control who sees updates, pictures and links on your page.
3. Get Involved! Volunteer or Get a Part-Time Job.
4. Get an Internship.
5. Get a Mentor or someone who can guide you as you develop your career plans and gain experience.
6. Brush Up Your Speaking Skills.
7. Gain Leadership and other Transferable Skills.
8. Network Online.
9. Attend Networking Events – Even in our digital world, there's nothing better than face-to-face networking.
10. Prepare for Interviews.
11. Research Potential Companies.
12. Use Social Media in your job search.

Whether you accomplish all 12 items or you focus on three or four, making 2013 career-focused isn't that hard to accomplish. For once, you have a New Year's Resolution you can keep!