Reflect, Revise, Research, Reconnect & Recharge: Five steps to ensure your success in 2010

We all have very demanding schedules and therefore often move from one project onto the next without stepping back and recognising the successful outcomes we delivered.
Spend time reviewing some of the more significant projects you were involved in particularly if they had a positive impact on the company.

- What was the project you were working on?
- What was your involvement?
- What measurable outcome did this have for the company?

To avoid forgetting or misplacing vital data I’d recommend you track your successes as they occur (rather than doing this yearly).This information is valuable which leads me to my second tip.

Tip 2: Revise: Update your résumé, LinkedIn and other online profiles

Having an updated résumé is vital so updating your marketing document annually is an important career management strategy. Putting aside time to update your résumé rather than rushing to meet a tight deadline means that it’s ready to go at a moment’s notice should an opportunity arise.

While you’re at it, update your LinkedIn and other online profiles as well to record major projects, achievements, courses you have completed and any other relevant information that will continue to support you in portraying yourself as a highly skilled thought leader in your field.

Tip 3: Research: Plan out next year’s professional goals and development opportunities

I’m sure you all know the old saying ‘Fail to plan – plan to fail’ which is certainly relevant to your career and professional growth.
While you may think your role is secure, constantly-changing markets can impact on a company’s stability, so unless you are continuing to build your employability skills and value offered you may just find yourself on the outer when the company needs to re-evaluate its workforce.

- What training opportunities can you complete to avoid career atrophy and ensure the company doesn’t outgrow you?
- What projects would you like to become involved in that could enhance your profile throughout the organisation?
- Which areas of the company/department are constantly faced with issues that you know you can eliminate? This could be a great project for you to work on next year to raise your profile within the company.

Tip 4: Reconnect: Re-establish relationships with people within your network

I’ve mentioned this so many times on my Career Success Radio show, previous articles and my Twitter tips and due to the importance of this must-do career management strategy, I’m going to mention it again. Ensure that you continue to reach out and maintain contact with people in your network.
It surprises me that even though we all know how important it is to actively nurture our networks we’re still not doing this until we are forced to. Reap the rewards and benefits that networking offers through consistently building and nurturing your network over the break.

Tip 5: Recharge: Rest and recharge your batteries

Life and work balance is very important, so ensure you take the time to refresh and recharge your batteries over the break so that you can welcome in 2010 refreshed, renewed and reinvigorated.

Annemarie Cross is a Radio Host of CareerSuccessRadio.com, a Career Coach, Personal Branding Strategist, a triple certified multi award-winning Professional Resume Writer and Author of ’10 key steps to Ace that Interview’.