Happy Holidays!

Have you started thinking about those 2013 resolutions yet? What are your big “to do” items for next year? Finish your degree? Get a new job or a raise or promotion?

As Steve Covey wrote in Seven Habits of Effective People, it’s important to “begin with the end in mind.”

Walden students pursue their degrees to advance their careers, whether that means making a career change, finding a new job, or gaining new responsibilities and challenges. It’s important to create your vision and start working towards that goal.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself as you set your career-related resolutions for 2013:

What work do I want to do?

Why is this work important? Who needs this work done?

Am I competitive with others who do this work?

What are the main skills, knowledge and abilities needed to excel in this work? How would I be rated in these areas? Am I staying updated on the latest trends?

Does my current employer know about my potential and qualifications to do this work? What about prospective employers and clients?  How can I make that happen?

How’s my professional network? What new connections will I make in 2013? Am I actively using LinkedIn and is my profile updated and strong? Are my offline and online groups supporting me in making new connections and staying knowledgable in my field?

Is ny resume updated?  Does it showcase my accomplishments and offer solid evidence that I am the best person to overcome an employer’s challenges? 

Wondering how to get started?  We have some apps for that!  

We invite you to attend our career webinars, use our OptimalResume system to give your resume a new look, and join the Walden University Career Services LinkedIn group to instantly add 900 Walden colleagues to your network.    🙂

To get the New Year off to a great start, we’ll be offering a one-hour webinar on “Maximizing LinkedIn to Build Your Professional Network” on two different dates in January. Please register for this webinar under “Latest News” on our website.

Best Wishes for a Wonderful 2013!
Lisa Cook, Director of Career Services