2020 is almost here! Can you believe it? Every time we’re approaching a new year, there’s a lot of talk of resolutions. People typically focus on health, money, and other aspects of self-care. One thing that’s typically neglected in resolutions is your professional growth, especially if you’re a college student/young professional. Here are some resolutions you should make for 2020!
Keep an active LinkedIn profile.
It’s easy to neglect using LinkedIn. But you don’t need to use LinkedIn as often as you use Twitter or Instagram. Make a resolution to keep an active LinkedIn , but be specific about it! Aim to engage with two posts on LinkedIn each week, or make one new connection a month. While you may not think LinkedIn is worth your time, it’s still the main social network for professionals. Make sure your profile is up to date, and that you take time to fill it out correctly.
Connect with your campus career center, or attend professional events.
If you’re a college student, your school likely has a career center. Get in contact with someone there! It’s their job to help you. Have someone take a look at your resume, talk to someone about your career goals, or see if they have any employer connections they can recommend. If you’re not a student, make a resolution to attend one networking event every three or six months. While many people don’t like networking, it truly is the easiest way to establish connections that could benefit your career.
Redo your resume.
We tend to use the same format for our resume for months or even years at a time. Instead of changing a few words in your old resume to make it fit for a new job application, try throwing it out entirely. Starting over from scratch helps you take a new look at how to format everything. You shouldn’t keep using the same format again and again. Recruiters can often tell when you haven’t put too much effort into your resume.
Be wise with your paycheck.
Whether you get a new job in the new year, or continue one from before, it’s so important to be responsible with your paycheck. Yes, money-related resolutions are common, but people rarely follow through with them. Financial stress can impact your performance at school or work! When you get a new paycheck, the first thing you should do is calculate your expenses. Make a calendar or spreadsheet of what bills are due on what days, and what days of the month you get paid. If you’re not sure of specific amounts for your bills, make sure you estimate on the higher end.
If you feel like you don’t have that much money left over, that’s okay! Many of us are in a tight spot when we’re first starting out. Instead of saving a chunk of money from your paycheck (then having to go back into your savings when you realize you don’t have any money left), try starting small. There are apps that will round up to the next dollar with every purchase you make using your debit card (for example, if you make a purchase that’s $7.50, it will round up to $8 and deposit the $0.50). Most of these apps will hold the money in a savings account for you. It’s a gradual process, but after some time it can pay off. I personally use ChangEd, which you link to one of your student loans. Every time you hit a savings balance of $100, they send a payment to your loan provider. I already paid off one of my student loans!
I know it isn’t easy to be a young professional. But if you dedicate yourself to achieving a few simple goals, you’re definitely going to flourish in the new year!
