You know that to keep running smoothly, your car needs regular maintenance. So does your career. The good news is that a career tune-up doesn’t have to be time-consuming or expensive. In just 10 minutes, you can enact one or more of the following life upgrades in miniature. Your future self will thank you.
Keeping your resume up to date with your most recent accomplishments, certifications, and skills is an important task that’s often forgotten. It’s forgotten, that is, until you suddenly need a resume. Then, you’re left scrambling to remember what you’ve done over the past few years.
Make a habit of reading over and updating your resume at least once per year—preferably every six months. Many professionals like to do this around New Year’s and the Fourth of July to help them remember.
While you’re at it, you can use ResumeGiants’ free resume checker to make sure your resume is well-tailored to your industry. You’ll get personalized feedback and suggestions to make sure your resume can pass an applicant tracking system (ATS).
While you’ve got your resume pulled up on your computer, head on over to LinkedIn and update your profile. Like your resume, it is important to do this regularly, even if you’re not actively seeking a job. Why?
Doing so can strengthen your connections with your network. Often, your connections are notified of new skills or achievements that you log. This point of contact reinforces relationships and keeps you top of mind.
Recruiters often scour LinkedIn for emerging skill sets. If you have them on your profile, you’re in a position to be found if your circumstances change. Many companies also seek “subject matter experts.” Publishing LinkedIn articles or posts about current projects positions you as an expert in your field.
Keeping your LinkedIn profile up-to-date also demonstrates a commitment to your professional growth. This can be powerful when promotions are under consideration.
Try to add your achievements to LinkedIn as they happen. It will not only keep your network up to date, but it can help you remember all you’ve accomplished when you next pull out your resume for review.
We’re using a bit of double entendre here—first, let’s talk about your literal desktop, then the one on your computer.
Albert Einstein is credited with likening a cluttered desk to a cluttered mind. You can lessen your stress by taking a few minutes to declutter your workspace. Think of each cluttered item as an unmade decision. When you make those decisions—filing those receipts, responding to written correspondence, or handling that paperwork, for example—you’ll have less weighing on your mind overall.
Next, move on to your digital desktop. Reduce desktop icons to those programs that you regularly use. Delete downloads and other files that are no longer needed. I recently upgraded from the free version of CCleaner to CCleaner Pro so that I could automatically update software and drivers and put performance-impacting programs to sleep. My computer runs faster, and I have a little less to worry about when it comes to data security.
How many opened or unopened emails do you have sitting in your inbox? If you’re like me, it could be thousands. If you find it difficult to find an email you need or if it takes you more than 15 minutes to check your emails when work begins, it’s time for an email audit.
First, go through today’s messages (or those unopened since your last check). As you do so, ask yourself, “Do I benefit from receiving this email? Do I ever click links from it or use the information it provides?” If the answer is “no,” look for the “unsubscribe” button at the bottom of the page.
Once you’ve unsubscribed from unnecessary emails, you may still need to give attention to those already in your inbox. Why? Most services, like Gmail, only offer a limited amount of storage space for free (and you share it with Google Photos and Google Drive, if you use them). You can free up a lot of space for other applications if you clean out your inbox.
If you’ve got thousands of messages waiting for you, don’t feel like you have to do it all at once. Each day after you check your email, find one to three senders you know you won’t miss. Search the sender, select all messages, and click “delete.”
Many professionals find they waste a lot of time on social media. Others note they can be distracted by notifications. When possible, put your phone on Silent, Do Not Disturb, or Airplane Mode. You may find you’re more productive—and that you enjoy your non-working time more.
What can you do today to boost your career and professional life? Give your resume a quick refresh, update your LinkedIn profile, turn off your phone, and declutter your physical desk, PC desktop, and email inbox. These small acts, over time, can help you feel less stressed, more productive, and more in control of your career