06 Dec 5 Career Tools To Keep Sharp and Ready To Use
Even if you’re not actively seeking work, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.
You never know when an opportunity will come your way and you want to be ready when it does.
This could mean anything from an offer to work at a new company or a promotion within your own organization.
When these openings come your way, you want to be ready to take action and being prepared in advance means you can act fast to get your name in the ring.
Here are the top five career tools to have ready for action:
Resume
Having to go back over the years and remember the details of your last six jobs can take forever and probably won’t be very accurate.
Keep your resume up to date by making a habit to check it every six months and changing outdated information.
Don’t forget to add any new skills, education, personal contact information, and work responsibilities.
Regular maintenance keeps your resume current and ready to send at a moment’s notice.
LinkedIn Profile
Make your LinkedIn page a useful career resource by filling in as much information as possible and keeping it updated with your latest work experience and unique skills.
This allows potential employers and recruiters to browse your profile and view the most relevant information about you.
List of Contacts
The world of business is all about who you know.
However, if you go to draw on one of your contacts for a reference or to facilitate an introduction and they’ve moved companies, you’re out of luck.
Don’t let your hard-earned contacts go to waste.
Get in touch throughout the year to foster your relationships and make sure you have their most current information.
Elevator Pitch
You never know when you’ll bump into the big boss in the staff room or meet a potential employer at a networking event.
You want to have your best elevator pitch ready so you can describe yourself and your skills in a quick and eloquent way.
Practice your pitch so that you have it down pat and keep it up to date so you’re ready to talk about your most recent projects or ideas.
Portfolio of Your Best Work
You might find yourself at a job interview after a whirlwind opportunity comes along, or your boss might ask you to put together samples of your best work to send to a new client.
It can take a lot of time to comb through your archives, but it’s easy if you’ve already created a portfolio of your career highlights.
Keep it current with your latest work and projects that you’re most proud of so it’s ready for action whenever you need it.
When you take the time to do a little upkeep on your career resources you’ll be ready to go as soon as opportunity strikes.
Make a habit of spending time two or three times per year to make sure you have all your career tools sharp and ready to use anytime the right moment comes along.
