NEW YEAR! NEW CAREER TO DO LIST

Happy New Year! Now is the time to get your career search in gear. Take out the Careeer To Do List and stop talking about the things you need to do. DO THEM. If your list doesn't look a little like this, I encourage you to re-evaluate and incorporate these useful suggestions:
*Start aggressively networking. Renew your professional association memberships, join a job club, local chamber of commerce, attend job fairs, join Linkedin, Waggleforce, join the PTA, talk with your friends and family
*Make sure your skills are up-to-date. Consider continuing education courses, skills training,etc.
*Create a system that will keep your job search organized. Create a spreadsheet that will keep track of the dates you sent resumes, cover letters, follow up calls/letters. Check often and update.
*Make sure you do something everyday. Send a resume, visit a HR department, create a VisualCV, call an old colleague, create a professional log, read the Job section in the newspaper, call your College Alumni office and reconnect. Regardless of what you do, make sure 2-3 are accomplished each day!
*Surround yourself by people that will encourage and empower you. Your support system needs to reflect individuals who care about you and respect your goals. Otherwise, keep your distance from people that are going to drag you down and create obstacles to your success.
*Be open to reinventing your career. Look at careers outside of your current one and try to create a path to that. Try volunteering and/or joining projects in your department that may expose you to a new skill set.
*Take 20 minutes a day to meditate and reflect. Ask God for strength, wisdom and direction.
*Eat healthy and exercise!

Do not get overwhelmed with your "TO DO LIST" it is just a reminder that you have set goals for yourself that will improve the quality of your life. Do not get discouraged but encouraged that each day will be another opportunity to try again.