Habits. The biggest difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is that successful people challenge themselves to make simple habit changes (and actually follow through).
At the beginning of every year, all of us think, “This is going to be MY year. I'm going to set goals for myself and get what I want -- finally."
But how many of us ACTUALLY follow through with those goals?
If you have some career goals for 2017, you need to make some habit changes in order to actually get stuff done.
These simple habit changes will help you succeed in 2017...
Whether you want to earn a higher salary, find a job that gives you purpose, or make a career change, you can get what you want in 2017 by making a few, very simple changes to your life and mindset.
Are you ready to show 2017 who's boss? Let's talk about what simple habit changes you need to make in order to get ahead this year.
1. Stop being reactive.
If you want to take ownership of your career, you need to stop being reactive and start being proactive.
Reactive activities include, but aren't limited to, the following:
Notice that all of these activities started with the word “waiting."
Waiting doesn't get results. Taking action does.
2. Stop limiting yourself to the familiar.
Part of your new, proactive approach is to step out of your comfort zone.
Don't hold yourself back because you're afraid of what people think. And definitely don't hold yourself back because you're afraid to fail.
Remember, nothing will change if you don't!
3. Start challenging yourself daily.
In order to grow as a professional, gain confidence, and build resilience, you must challenge yourself daily.
Whether that's taking on a failing project at work or working up the courage to talk to a stranger at a networking event, push your boundaries.
4. Start surrounding yourself with supportive people.
Having a support system is an integral part of success. Who wants you to succeed?
In 2017, make a habit of surrounding yourself with successful, positive influencers who push you to achieve your goals.
Make an effort this year to meet new career friends who inspire you to keep moving forward and build stronger relationships with those who've always been there for you.
5. Stop complaining and start changing.
No matter who you are or what your situation, there's always going to be something that *could* keep you from achieving your goals.
Miserable at your job? Find a new one.
Can't find a job? Adjust your strategy.
Can't get a promotion? Figure out why.
Complaining about your situation isn't going to change anything for you. It only sends you into a vicious cycle of frustration that can seem impossible to get out of at times.
Focus on change. Avoid dwelling on your problems. Focus on moving forward.
6. Start working with what you have available.
Everyone's situation is different. You might not have the same resources available to you that someone else has, but you do have the same desire to succeed. In many cases, that's all you need to start getting what you want.
Think about what's available to you and use it to your advantage. Can't hire an expensive career coach? Find an inexpensive alternative like an online course or a free webinar to help you get ahead. Or, go out and find someone who's willing to mentor you through your journey.
7. Start allowing yourself to succeed.
You have one life -- this is it. You don't have time to waste being unhappy, underpaid, or unsatisfied with your career. Now is the time to get what you want.
Stop allowing yourself to feel sorry for yourself. You are stronger and better than that. You can achieve anything you want to achieve with the right attitude, tools, and support.
These aren't hard habits to incorporate into your lifestyle. In fact, they're all quite simple. The most important part is to follow through with them. Truly make them habits and not far-fetched ideas. Related Posts:REVEALED! 6 Secrets To Achieving Your GoalsNetworking Your Way Into The New YearS.M.A.R.T. Goals For Job Seekers
Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.
In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.
For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.
Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach
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Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:
How did I learn about this job?
How did I apply for the job?
Did I earn an interview?
What was the ultimate result?
A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:
Negative Trends
You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.
The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations, and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.
One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.
The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.
This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.
Positive Trends
You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.
The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview. This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.
The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback, and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.
Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.
The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.
Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention
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Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.
The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.
Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.
While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.
As for writing a good cover letter, the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter. When you write a disruptive cover letter, you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.
If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.
Build Your Personal Brand
Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand.
Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"
Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.
By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.
You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.
Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search
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Your job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.
There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:
Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle, even better!
Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.