5 Ways to Boost Your Career This Holiday Season

Now that you have a better idea of what your skills and strengths are, it’s time to think about how you want to use them in the future. Start by writing down the main things that are important to you in a job, such as flexible hours, your preferred salary, and opportunities to travel or use certain skills. It’s also a good idea to write down some of the things you don’t want from your new job.

When you have a clear picture of what’s important to you and also what you don’t want in a job, you’ll be in a better position to approach companies that will be a good fit.

LinkedIn is extremely important for your online visibility. According to one survey, 95 percent of recruiters use it as a tool to source candidates.

So use some of your extra downtime over the holidays to make sure all of your details are up to date. If you haven’t already, it’s also a good idea to request some recommendations and endorsements from other professionals on LinkedIn who have worked alongside you or are familiar with your work.

The holidays are wonderful time for connecting with friends and family, but they’re also a time when you might be required to interact with people you don’t necessarily have much in common with—from polite get-togethers with distant relatives to office parties where you’re forced to make small talk. 

Since you’ll be interacting with a wide variety of people anyway, you can use your upcoming holiday events to do a little networking and make new contacts.

The holidays are all about giving back, and believe it or not, making time to help others this holiday season can also benefit your career. Volunteering, whether it’s through charity fundraising and event coordination or helping out at an animal shelter, is a great way to expand your network, hone your skills, and gain experience, while also enhancing your resume.

The key is to look for volunteering opportunities that are somehow related to your field of expertise, as this will help you gain the right kind of experience while also meeting key people in your industry.