10 Must-Do’s If You Want to Improve Your Career in 2020

Are you ready to improve your career in 2020? Don't you think it's time? After all, we are not only starting a new year in 2020. We are also embarking upon a brand new decade! There is no better time than right now to take stock of your career goals.

 

Consider where you want to be in a year. Looking down the road even farther, where do you want to be in 10 years as 2030 dawns?

 

People tend to choose goals in different areas of their lives, including health, relationship, financial, and professional.

 

I want to suggest that it's time also to improve your career as we enter 2020.

 

Here are 10 “must do's” if you want to improve your career in 2020.

 

 

1. Get clear about what it is you want from your career now and moving forward.

 

Do you want to make more money? Or do you want to work less so you can have a life that allows for more work-life balance?

 

Do you want a job with less stress? If so, you aren't alone. The American Institute of Stress has provided some startling statistics about workplace stress.

 

 

For example, 83% of US workers suffer from work-related stress, according to a survey conducted by Everest College. 

 

So, if work is creating undue pressure on you, perhaps it is time to consider what type of work you would enjoy more.

 

2. Keep your resumé up to date, “just in case.”

 

You may be actively looking for a new job already, and if that's the case, you have already updated your resumé.

 

But even if you aren't actively looking, it's a good idea to keep a relatively up-to-date resumé on hand. You never know when an opportunity might pop up unexpectedly.

 

 

If you need to act quickly, so you don't lose out on the chance, you won't have time to do a significant resumé overhaul. It's a good idea to keep your resumé current, so you can act quickly if necessary.

 

3. Likewise, keep your LinkedIn profile up to date.

 

Too many people stop short of completing their LinkedIn profile and then never go back to it. That's a big mistake. LinkedIn is like your online resumé, and you should want it to work for you.

 

 

Recruiters and talent managers are scouting for people on LinkedIn every day. If your profile doesn't speak to your interests, abilities, and experiences, you may be missing out.

 

 

4. Keep your professional skills up to date.

 

 

 

 

 

Are you staying on top of your industry's latest trends? Are you consistently learning new information and keeping up with changes?

 

 

Staying on top of new information and learning new skills can go a long way toward positioning yourself for a promotion, if not a new job.

 

 

Don't underestimate the importance of professional development opportunities as they come along if you want to improve your career in 2020 or anytime.

 

5. Learn how to research jobs, companies, and industries.

 

 

Doing research is a critical skill that many people overlook when undertaking a job search. They know they want to make a change but don't know how or where to start looking for new jobs.

 

 

Take advantage of the infinite number of resources that can help you. Be aware of the information housed on O*Net, for example. Check out reviews of companies on Glassdoor. Conduct thorough research and do the necessary background work on any company or industry that you might be interested in.

 

 

6. Develop a marketing plan.

 

 

 

 

Whether you are actively looking for a new job or you want to advance in your career, developing a marketing plan is a good idea. Keep track of changes in your field or industry. Stay on top of those changes and keep track of them with a marketing tool that fully displays your competencies, strengths, interests, etc.

 

 

You don't have to be looking for a job to develop a marketing plan. You may want to use your marketing plan to anticipate professional benchmarks and plan for advancements in your current job.

 

 

7. Learn the basics of other industries that you might like to explore.

 

 

The people who come to me for advice are stumped about where and how to start a job search. It's easy to get overwhelmed with all the messages that are on the Internet. Who do you trust? How do you get started?

 

 

The main thing is to start doing your basic research about the kinds of jobs you think you might enjoy. You may learn that the job isn't what you thought it was, and you wouldn't be interested after all. But without doing some essential research upfront, you wouldn't know that.

 

 

Become educated about the job, the companies you think you might like to work for, and the industries you are interested in pursuing.

 

 

8. Learn how to make yourself a 60-70% match for the job description you are applying for.

 

 

If you aren't at least a 60-70% match, you won't even make it through the Applicant Tracking System. Recruiters and Hiring Managers, in general, won't look at a candidate who isn't at least a 60% match, and the higher, the better. 

 

 

You can use an online tool called Jobscan to help you make yourself a better fit for the job you are interested in applying for. Check it out.

 

 

9. Learn what the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) does and how you need to work with it and around it.

 

 

I hear this complaint all the time. “I have applied for over 50 jobs and never even got a call back for an interview.”

 

 

It's frustrating, I know. But I can almost guarantee that the problem is you aren't writing your resumé with the ATS in mind. As a result, the ATS is kicking you out of the running before your resumé ever gets to a human being.

 

 

Applicant Tracking Systems are computer software programs that are designed to eliminate “weak,” “unqualified,” or “under-qualified” candidates.

 

 

The fix is to learn how to read a job description, how to pay attention to keywords from the job description, and how to use those keywords in a meaningful way in your resumé.

 

10. Consider getting help.

 

 

The job search process has changed dramatically in recent years. Many of the “old rules” are not only passé but need to be ignored. Looking for a new job or changing career paths would be daunting in the best of circumstances.

 

 

Part of the problem is that what you don't know can and will hurt your chances of success. Because of that, you might want to consider getting help from a career counselor at your university's alumni career center or hire a career coach.

 

 

With enough time and effort, you can eventually figure out all the rules of the road in the job search process yourself. But you will lose valuable time and money in the process. Wouldn't it be better to get the help you need to shorten the process and eliminate a lot of uncertainty and doubt?

 

 

Want to learn more? Then check out this presentation that I recently recorded offering help for the unhappy, stressed out teacher who is ready to make a change but doesn't know where or how to start.

 

 

If the message in the video resonates with you, then please make an appointment so we can chat about your personal circumstances and decide if the help I offer teachers who are ready for a career change is the kind of help you need.

 

 

 

 

Use the blue button below to schedule your complimentary 20-minute Discovery Session now.

 

 

Until next time.