Don't let the holidays distract you from your career goals. It's a great time to shine. What are your goals for 2005?
by Rick Telberg
Career Insider
Just because you may be gearing up for the twin busy seasons of tax-preparation and year-end closes, you shouldn't necessarily put your career plans on hold.
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Don't be fooled by the distractions of the holiday season. Top recruiters say it's a great time to make inroads on your job search or to establish footholds in your career climb.
This is the time of year when new networking opportunities abound and hiring managers are sizing up people and plans for the New Year.
Here are a few tips:
- Don't let the holidays be an excuse to put off your search.
- Take advantage of the fact that decision-makers may be more accessible.
- Hiring managers are less likely to be traveling, so you're more likely to find them in their offices.
- Holidays make great opportunities for networking. If you've worked hard on your job search and have built momentum, then the holidays are not the time to take a vacation.
- Make sure you have plenty of business cards on hand to pass out to people you meet at holiday parties and networking events.
- Reconnect with your network by sending out holiday greetings and extending good wishes.
- Consider volunteering for a charitable cause. Non-profit organizations are always looking for extra help during the holiday season. What better way to give back to your community and make new contacts at the same time?
- Follow up on job leads and referrals given by friends and acquaintances.
- Busy season brings out the best (and the worst) in people. This is your opportunity to attract top-level attention for your achievements.
- Take the initiative to make sure your work gets noticed.
- The holidays may also be a time for self-reflection. Conduct a self-assessment and before you look for ways to promote yourself, take an honest look at your professional abilities.
- Check your skill set and plan your professional education needs.
- Get active in your professional and industry associations.
- Share your knowledge by writing an article for a local trade publication. Pass along a few tax tips, or what you know about how Sarbanes-Oxley works.
- Support the success of others by giving your colleagues and employees the tools and guidance they need to excel in their positions. Then celebrate your achievements together.
- Don't skip the office holiday party. Do more than just make an appearance. Take the time to talk with people from throughout the company -- not just the co-workers you already know well.
In sum, the most successful CPAs seem to agree that lifelong learning and adaptation are the real keys to success.
They often mentioned four broad categories:
- Bridging education, technology, regulations and competence
- Learning to network, present, demonstrate value and prove integrity
- Balancing work with life
- Foreseeing opportunities, demands and crises.
And that rounds it out to a neat 20 top job tips for 2005. Have a Healthy and Prosperous New Year!
CAREER Q&A: What Are Your New Year's Goals and Resolutions?
TALKBACK: Send rants, raves, ideas, suggestions and requests for more information to Rick Telberg here.
