To be able to take the time to look at the bigger picture and think of what you really want out of life is much easier said than done. The same goes for your career. There are things we need to accomplish on a day to day basis to ensure we stay employed and bring in a healthy income. But as the year ends, take a hard look at the state of your career and honestly ask yourself if you are where you want to be, or are at least headed in that direction. If not, there are probably adjustments you can make to boost your career in 2018. Here are some helpful career success tips for 2018:
1) Develop that essential skill you need
If you aren’t currently doing what you want to be doing in your career, ask yourself what you need to get there. It’s possible that getting an advanced degree will increase your chances of finding the job you want. Or maybe there is just one skill you can easily teach yourself or learn from an online or local course. To boost your career in 2018, start researching job descriptions of your dream position to find out if you have what it takes. If not, find out what else you need to get there.
2) Revamp your social media profiles
The start of a new year is a great time to improve your online social media reputation. According to a recent survey from recruiting platform Jobvite, 93% of hiring managers will review a candidate’s social media profiles before making a hiring decision. And according to social recruitment marketing company Jobcast, over 93% of companies use LinkedIn to find new talent. So, one of the best career success tips for 2018 is to make sure you are easily discoverable by employers on social media networks such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Be sure to remove anything from your social profiles that make you appear unprofessional, such as unflattering photos, bad language or negative comments about past jobs. Boost your career in 2018 by making sure your work experience, skills and other professional information is up to date on your social profiles. Start spending more time developing professional connections online as well, especially on LinkedIn.
3) Consider taking on a side gig or starting a blog
If your current full-time gig isn’t in the field you see your future career in, one of the helpful career success tips for 2018 is to take a freelance or side gig to help you start showcasing your skills. At the same time, you can bring in some extra income to put towards your future. With the gig economy all the rage these days, there are so many opportunities to snag a side job, and many of them are extremely convenient for busy professionals. To boost your career in 2018, you can find freelance jobs on online job boards such as Jobdiagnosis.com and Employmentalert.com. Some other helpful websites for freelance jobs include Upwork.com, Craigslist.com and Fiverr.com.
If you have some good ideas that are relevant to the industry you are interested in working in, consider starting a blog and sharing it with your professional network. To stay abreast industry news and trends, sign up for professional newsroom and social network Qiosk.com. Qiosk helps you discover new content related to your professional interests and connect with other professionals, influencers and thought leaders in your industry. Doing this will help you write more relevant content.
4) Turn to exercise to boost your body and mind
One of the career success tips for 2018 that is sure to improve your physical health and sharpen your mind is to start a physical fitness routine if you haven’t already. Being in good physical shape will improve your confidence and motivation in other areas of your life. This confidence and motivation will do wonders to boost your career in 2018. When you are of sound mind and body, you attract more positive opportunities.
Author: Jessica Cody
Jessica Cody, a native of Fairfield County, Connecticut, has a background in online marketing and public relations. Currently, she works at VHMNetwork LLC in the role of Marketing Analyst. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut, where she studied Journalism and Political Science. She is also an avid runner with a passion for the outdoors.
