Career Corner: It's Time for a To-Do List
Happy New Year!
This week, now that you're back in the swing of things after the holidays, let's look forward to the coming year. It's time to make a list of challenges, projects and objectives you'd like to meet in 1999. This list is a must! If you don't set objectives, how can you meet them? Plus, it's incredibly rewarding to see items checked off the list throughout the year.
Just to get you inspired, here are some of the items on my 1999 list:
- Write 48 more Federal Career Corner columns that will help GovExec.com readers focus on career accomplishments;
- Write and maybe publish a welfare-to-work resume writing book;
- Train as many federal employees as I can in federal resume writing workshops;
- Get my new Web site up;
- Help my three teen-age children get federal internships this summer;
- Exercise and eat right (this is career-related);
- Develop a budget for my business for 1999 that is realistic.
I had fun making my list. These are more than just New Year's resolutions; they're career-advancing goals. I threw in a few personal items, like my children and my health. Without good kids and good health, my career would be no fun.
As far as your federal career development goes, here are a few ideas to consider for your 1999 list:
- Find a new way to help achieve your agency's mission in the course of your everyday duties;
- Be a mentor or counselor to an employee or to a high school or college student;
- Take part in a training or career development program or go to a conference;
- Join a professional association in your field;
- Volunteer for a nonprofit or community organization;
- Keep your resume up-to-date (or write one);
- Volunteer for a special committee, task force or project;
- Keep a copy of your complimentary e-mails and letters from customers;
- Create a portfolio of career information;
- Write all of your federal correspondence and instructions in plain English;
- Interview your customers to see how you can provide better service;
- Give flowers to your significant other a few times (this is good for your career, too!);
- Write something that will get published or cited in a newsletter, Web site, report or speech;
- Create a list of accomplishments;
- Apply for a promotion - until you get one!
Make your list soon! Print it out and carry it with you. Read it while you're waiting for your sandwich at the deli. If you have a good idea for a career item for your 1999 list that I didn't suggest above, write me at Resume@resume-place.com. I'll print a few more good suggestions.
Next week we'll review last year's accomplishments.
Kathryn Kraemer Troutman has been the president of The Resume Place, Inc. for 27 years. Kathryn helps people get promoted and change jobs. She is the pioneer designer of the new "federal resume." She wrote and published the first book on federal resume writing and is a popular resume writing workshop leader in government.
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The Resume Place is a full-service job search center specializing in writing, editing and designing custom personal marketing materials, including various resume formats: Federal (including KSAs and ECQs), Resumix, Private Industry, Career Change, Marketing, and Executive Portfolios. President Kathryn Troutman has written four books on resume writing, is an expert resume-writing trainer, and is webmaster for the popular Web site: www.resume-place.com.
To market, to market
(Jan. 5)
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