This post was sponsored by Squarespace, which makes it easy for anyone to build a personal brand online. Use the code CONTESSA for 10% off of your site.
Well, the second quarter of 2019 is drawing to an end—and what do we have to show for it?
If you’re examining the past six months and you feel a little nonplussed, let’s enact a career refresh. There are a number of things you can do to jumpstart your motivation, inspiration, and upward trajectory.
Today, we are exploring a few ways to give your career (and yourself) a big boost. Let’s show the second half of this year who’s boss (hint: it’s you!)
1. First Things First: Get Healthy In Your Mind + Body
First things first—how are you feeling?
How is your mind and how is your body? Have you taken the time to restore spent energy over the last few months? Be honest. Have you attended or at least scheduled all of your annual check-ups? Are you taking advantage of warm, sunny days by taking a lunch walk or an afternoon jog? Are you burnt out?
Before we dive into all the awesome ways we are going to give your career a glow-up, let’s check in with your body and mind first. Ask yourself the above questions. If you have outstanding doctor’s appointments, dental cleanings, or therapy sessions you’ve been avoiding, prioritize them.
After scheduling your appointments, take a good look at how you feel. Make sure you’re getting enough healthy food to eat, enough sleep, copious amounts of water, and a little exercise. When you’re feeling like you’ve caught up to the optimal version of yourself, then we can get some carer work going.
2. Conduct a LinkedIn Audit
Even if you’re not looking for a new job, complete this step. Take a look at your profile and update the sections that lack detail. Remember that hugely-profitable project you spearheaded back in January? Include that achievement in your experience section.
Make sure your photo is looking extra professional. Give (and get!) some endorsements from past and present coworkers. If you don’t have one, write your summary.
3. Create a Portfolio Website
Once you’ve finished updating your LinkedIn profile, think about all the other things you’d like to show the world. Is it the time in your career to finally build that portfolio website. Answer: yeah, it probably is.
We’re not seasoned coders and we don’t expect you to be, either. Luckily, building a website doesn’t have to be that difficult. Use Squarespace’s pre-made templates to showcase your work. Whether it’s the stunning copy you wrote for a freelance job, beautiful photos you took as part of a weekend wedding photog gig, or larger projects you spearheaded with a team of ten beneath you, this is the place for it.
Your website portfolio can (and will) act as a 24/7 representative of who you are, the work you do, and the work you’re looking to accomplish in the future. Use a template like Sofia to showcase your written and visual work in a long scrolling format. Create clear calls to action for potential clients to find (and hire) you.
Not looking for freelance work or a new job? Creating a stunning visual profile is still a great idea. Take it from us–there is nothing worse than scrambling to find a new job. By creating your website now, you can allow it to impress once you’re looking for new opportunities down the line. Save that job-seeking time for creating cover letters and scheduling informational interviews. Your website will be there as a living, digital business card.
4. Give Your Company Handbook a Re-read
Not all career refreshes are created equally. You’re not always looking for an entirely new job. Sometimes, you’re just looking for a little burst of inspiration. Once you have become comfortable at your current position, you might start to feel your weeks bleed together. Your day-to-day might seem mundane, repetitive, and tiresome.
There are a few ways to jumpstart a little inspiration. One way is by re-reading your employee handbook—if you have one. Remember the first day at your new Job? Everything was fresh and new. You couldn’t wait to hit the ground running. What excited you day one? What opportunities does your company offer that you haven’t taken advantage of? We’re not talking about vacation days here (but take those, too, duh!) Does your company offer educational stipends? Do they offer mentorship opportunities?
Take a look through the book. It might also give you some good ideas on how to align your trajectory with their mission statement, policies, and work ethic.
5. Confront a Fear
No, you don’t have to wrap a python snake around your shoulders. The fears we are talking about here are professional fears. Maybe you’re afraid of public speaking. If so, try taking baby steps to leave your comfort zone. Maybe you have been growing tremendously within the company—but haven’t seen a pay raise in years. In that case, it might be due time to discuss a pay raise or promotion with your boss.
There are little ways to chip away at your fears. What’s the worst thing that could happen if you try your hand at public speaking or have a challenging conversation with your boss. Try raising your hand at the next meeting. Share that genius idea you have. Sign up for that project management course. Go for that “reach” job.
6. Take a vacation
If you haven’t taken (or scheduled) a single vacation day this year, tab over to your email right now. Take that time. Just like we discussed in point number one, you have to take care of you. If you have paid vacation, take it. You don’t need to fly to Italy or Bali. Simply taking the days, even on a staycation, will allow you time to refresh and recover.
Do not burn yourself out. Take those vacation days. They are yours.
7. Read some Industry-Specific Books
No matter what industry you are in, there is probably a thought leader who wrote some groundbreaking book on it. Read that book.
We know, some books can be chock full of seemingly useless platitudes about marketing, sales, or management. However, every book will have a nugget for you. Even if it’s something you already intrinsically know, industry-specific books can serve (of nothing else) as a reminder of a method you tried in the past or a trick of the trade you had long forgotten.
Use books as a refresher, a reminder, or a way to learn completely new points of view. Books are awesome.
8. Take an Online Course
We are a little biased here, but we love online learning. We have heard countless women—in the face of a career crisis—ask this question, “Should I just go back to grad school?”
Sometimes, the answer is yes. You should go to grad school. But other times? The answer is maybe. If you’re looking to learn new skills within a new industry, there is probably an introductory online course to get you on the path. Start your learning without accruing insurmountable debt. If you’re thirsty for more, try more online classes. If you’re still thirsty, then it might be time to apply to graduate school.
Learning opportunities are everywhere. Take advantage of them.
9. Find a Mentor
Find someone with your ‘dream’ career—whether they’re senior at your company or in a similar role at a “dream company,” find a mentor who could advise you.
Mentors can be great for a variety of career moves. If you are looking for a mentor within your company, with the intention of growing and advancing in-house, she can give you real steps on how to do so.
If you are looking to move into an entirely new field or industry, consider looking for a potential mentor there. You may even use networking platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn to build a rapport with your future mentor. The tools to find your mentor are out there—should you choose to utilize them.
10. Give Some Advice to Others
This may seem a little backward to you, but hear us out.
Sometimes, when you’re in a crisis of career, you’re also in a great place to give advice. Just like pretty much any advice, we tend to give it better than we receive it (guilty!)
Giving advice, especially to someone in a similar position career-wise, will get your wheels rolling. As you’re giving advice, think of how it could apply to your own situation. Start an advice loop—relish in the giving and the receiving.
This post was sponsored by Squarespace, which makes it easy for anyone to build a personal brand online. Use the code CONTESSA for 10% off of your site.
