20 New Year’s Resolutions to Accelerate Your Career Journey

By: Emma Tomsich, CSC Marketing Intern

As 2020 comes to an end, you’re probably breathing sighs of relief. It was a tough year for everyone. And as a student and young adult, I’m sure you faced numerous changes in your personal, professional and academic lives. Maybe your internship was cancelled or moved online, maybe you had a difficult time adjusting to classes on Zoom or Teams, or maybe you just missed enjoying your normal daily life and regular socialization. I know we did!

So as 2021 approaches, many people are eager to leave the pains of 2020 in the past and see what the new year has in store for them. A new year comes with fresh goals and plans for the future. New Year resolutions are common for college students to make, but can sometimes be difficult to maintain. That’s why it’s important to make resolutions that are specific, measurable and attainable. 

If you’re hoping to accelerate your career journey in 2021 and move one step closer to pursuing your passions, here are 20 career-related New Year’s resolutions to consider:

Learn a new skill

Regardless of what field you are in, there are plenty of skills you could learn and benefit from. Choose something that you are passionate about or will help you in the future. Maybe you want to pick up a new language, learn to code, or practice your public speaking. With the Internet at your fingertips, you can learn anything you want!

Explore your career field

You know your major, but do you know what you want to do when you graduate college? Take some time to research possible careers you can pursue. Maybe you can even look for a job or internship to broaden your professional possibilities!

Make a list of companies you’d like to work for one day

When it comes time to apply for jobs or internships, you might realize that you have a number of options with very little direction. Take some time to think about that you look for in an organization, so you can apply to companies where you see a good fit. Consider the size, type, and culture of your organizational possibilities, but make sure to keep an open mind for the future. You can even see where MU grads have gone on to work by reviewing the First Destination outcomes available on our website. You can even search using your specific major!

Check in on your work life balance

As a college student, it can be easy to overwhelm yourself with work and school. Balancing work and school with other things like clubs and activities can be challenging. Check in to make sure that you’re not over your head or under-involved. It might be time to stop joining new clubs, or maybe you should look into getting a part time job.

Join a career-related organization on campus

If you’re looking for more ways to get involved on campus, join something that relates to your career path. There are plenty of career-focused on campus organizations! For example, you can join the Advertising Club, American Medical Student Association, Criminology and Law Society, Physics Club, or find another organization! 

Read at least one career-related or motivational books or blogs

Soak up first-hand knowledge and advice from experts in your field by reading a career-related book or blog. Maybe you have a well-known role model you look up to, or maybe you’re interested in learning more about professionals in your field. Reading a book or a blog is a great place to learn more about your profession and the people who have made it in that particular field. We also encourage you to follow the major voices in your field on social media so you can stay in the loop with their accomplishments and be up-to-date on what’s happening in your field.

Find your favorite career-related or motivational podcasts

Podcasts are another way to get motivated and learn more about yourself and your career. Find one that sounds interesting to you, download it, plug in your headphones, and prepare yourself for useful knowledge and advice.

Get a professional headshot (or update your current one)

If you still use a senior picture as a headshot, it might be time to update it. Your headshot can say a lot about your professionalism, so ditch your selfie and upgrade to something more mature.

Elevate your personal brand

There is something that sets you apart from others in your field. That special something can guide your personal brand. Start thinking about your strengths, weaknesses, and who you are as a professional, and stay tuned in the upcoming week for more tips about elevating your personal brand.

Practice your 30 second pitch

With your personal brand comes your elevator pitch designed to be shared during interviews or networking events. Think about who you are as a person and as a professional, and write out a brief paragraph of what you’d want employers to know. Practice this pitch and be prepared to share it with your colleagues and peers.

Update your resume and LinkedIn account regularly

As the year progresses, you will surely earn new accolades, achievements, and experiences to add to your resume and LinkedIn profile. Update these things as they happen, so you won’t lose track!

Apply to at least 3 jobs or internships

With the spring semester approaching, it’s time to think about summer jobs and internships. Get ahead by applying to positions that might be a good fit. Regardless of what happens, it will be good practice and prepare you for the future.

Make one new professional networking connection each month

Making connections while you’re just starting out can help you immensely as you progress your career journey. If you’re unfamiliar with networking, start by connecting with people on LinkedIn and sending them messages. As your professional network grows, you will gain more connections and knowledge!

Send thank you notes

After you go through the job process or have a positive interaction with someone who impacted your career journey, send that person a thank you note. It will show them that you appreciate them, benefit your personal and professional brand, and certainly make their day!

Seek out a mentor 

As your professional network continues to grow and you meet more people, think of someone you’d want to be your mentor. Maybe it’s a coach, professor, boss, or colleague. Whoever you choose, ask them if they’d like to be your mentor, and set the terms for your mentor/mentee relationship.

Stay focused in the classroom

Before you can move onto your professional career, you need to graduate. Stay focused in the classroom to soak up as much knowledge and perform as best as you can. Need help polishing up your study skills before the spring semester starts? Check out the resources available through Student Educational Services!

Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to feel happy, fulfilled and like you’re making a difference. Not to mention, it will stand out on your resume and give you something interesting to talk about during job interviews and networking events. Marquette offers a number of exciting volunteer opportunities, so seek out one that you’re most interested in.

Look for leadership positions

In addition to volunteering, leadership also makes you a competitive candidate when networking and applying for jobs. Leadership also provides great real life experience and will make you feel more involved on campus. Reach out to current leaders of organizations you belong to, and see if they’re looking to fill any other leadership positions.

Attend at least one CSC event in the spring

With the start of the spring semester approaching, there are many CSC events approaching in the near future. Stay tuned for more updates!

Engage with the Career Services Center

As you think about what career-related New Year’s resolutions you’re most interested in, reach out to our office for professional assistance and guidance! You can meet with a career counselor to discuss your unique goals and make a plan to help you succeed.

Don’t be overwhelmed by this list of career-related New Year’s resolutions! These are great suggestions, but not a straight shot to professional or academic success. Look over this list and pick a few goals that will work with your lifestyle and benefit your career journey. If you take the time and put in the effort to work on a few of these resolutions in 2021, you will feel more confident about your career path and be better prepared for what the new year has in store for you.