Setting Achievable Goals for Career Planning in 2021
Ok, 2020 was a pretty crazy year, right? Although we’re already a month and a half into 2021, we say it’s never too late to plan goals for the year! Plus, after the year we had in 2020, don’t we all deserve a little wiggle room!?!
Here are some of our top suggestions for making 2021 a stellar year for you!
Create a LinkedIn Account OR Modify the One You Have
At any level of your career growth, making use of Linkedin is important. Don’t treat this like any other social media platform. Less memes, more professionalism. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself here. You don’t need to buy into the Premium membership or spend hours obsessing over your bio. Start by connecting with people in your immediate circle, ie., friends, past or current coworkers, student leaders, etc. From there, build your profile and follow the companies that you are interested in. This is the best way to stay in the loop with job/internship opportunities and discover other companies. Learn from people in your industry and take advantage of the instant connectedness.
Get Networking
Networking… AH! That word can be a little scary, we know. Networking doesn’t have to mean putting on a business suit and going to conferences. Networking can mean asking your high school or college alumni who are working in the industries you’re interested in how they landed their roles. They might not immediately present job opportunities for you, but they could keep you in mind for future roles. It’s not a myth, it really does happen!
Get Curious
Get curious about the jobs you want to have. Where are they located? In your city? In a different country? Or what qualifications do you need? A great way to start this is by searching for specific job titles on the Bureau of Labor Statistics or playing through Hats and Ladders and seeing where your interests take you!
Ask for feedback
Sometimes when you get rejected from a job or don’t make it past the interview, the first question that comes to mind is “Why?”. Don’t fret, friend! It happens to everyone. One of the most helpful tips to start practicing after interviews or job rejections is asking for feedback. This is the best way to find out what areas you need to improve on and which you are excelling at. That way, you can reallocate what portions of the application process you can improve upon!
Take advantage of your college or high school’s career center.
Take some time to revamp your resume and cover letter and take advantage of your college or high school’s career or job center. It’s always a good idea to get a second opinion on your work experience and how it’s displayed. After all, your resume and cover letter are most often going to be your first point of contact with potential employers, so you want to impress!
We believe in owning your career journey and finding freedom in exploring new possibilities! With these goals in mind, you are sure to put your best foot forward in taking the next step in your career journey.