New Years Resolutions to Kick Start your Career for 2010,
By TorontoJobs.ca

The Economic Downturn of 2009 has affected hundreds of thousands of Canadians within the workforce. “Layoffs”, “reduced work weeks” and “pay decreases” are phrases that we have heard far too often throughout 2009.

The New Year is fast approaching and with a new year comes new aspirations, new opportunities and new growth in many areas of both your personal and workplace life. It’s time to evaluate your current career objectives whether you are currently working or seeking employment. 2010 is set to be a growth year for positions in many industries throughout the Greater Toronto Area and now is a great time to take a closer look at your current “work-life” balance and find ways to improve your life both personally and professionally.

1. Set Realistic Goals for 2010: Write down your one year plan which should include your goals and how you are going to achieve them over the next year as well as how often you will track/measure your successes (should be every 2-3 months). By setting goals you will also increase your self-esteem as you will begin to recognize the competence you hold in achieving the goals you have set.

2. Create Professional Profiles on Social Networking Sites: Social Networking has exploded over the course of 2009. Facebook alone has over 60 million active users worldwide… are you taking advantage of this online networking opportunity? Many Recruiters are now using social networking sites such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook to recruit, network and to also do background checks on current candidates they may be interviewing. Social networking sites are also a great way to follow and track company profiles. Following companies that you want to work for might increase your chances of being visible and being one of the first candidates to see their current openings.

3. Develop A “Plan B”: Always keep the idea that “anything can happen” in the back of your mind. Throughout the duration of 2009 we heard of 100’s of layoffs happening, companies downsizing, etc. With uncertain predictions for 2010 it’s a good idea to be prepared. Get your resume up-to-date and have family members review the document for accuracy, ramp up your networking, practice your elevator speech, research common interview questions, research and even apply to companies that you would like to work for even if they aren’t hiring.

4. Focus on Developing your Professional Network: Most careers and career changes are as a result of networking. It’s a proven statistic that approximately 80% of jobs are found through who you know. Be sure to keep in touch with old friends and family as you never know who might be able to help you down the road in your job search. Joining associations within your field will also allow you to develop relationships and gain contacts within your line of expertise.

5. Develop a Proactive Approach for Development: This might mean spending less time on personal activities such as shopping and hanging out with friends and spending more time on developing new skills, acquiring knowledge by participating in assignments (personal or professional), volunteering and reading industry related books and news articles.

TorontoJobs.ca is a full-service recruitment organization, including TorontoJobs.ca Website, Toronto Jobs Newspaper, full-service Recruitment Division and Outplacement Services. The local focus and advanced features make TorontoJobs.ca a vital asset for both job seekers and employers within the Greater Toronto Area. Visit our Online Career Centre for additional articles on Career Development, Personal Branding and more!

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