Career actions worth taking before summer ends

I hope you’ve been having an enjoyable summer, soaking in the longer days and spending time with friends and family. These warmer months are often a slower time at the office, giving workers the opportunity to take needed vacation time and tap the brakes on their usual hustle and bustle. Some companies even incorporate summer Fridays , allowing employees to cut out early or take the day off altogether in order to promote productivity the other four days of the week.

If you find that your calendar is more open than usual during this time of year, it could be a good idea to spend some time focusing on professional development. Putting the work in now will help set the stage for a successful fall, when the work begins to speed up and company goals and initiatives are more closely watched.

In his latest story for Forbes, senior contributor William Arruda outlines nine career actions you can take before summer ends that can help push your career forward in the second half of the year. Here are just a few of his tips:

1. Evaluate and set career goals: Look over any previous goals you might have, and reflect on the progress you’ve made so far in 2024. This is a great time to identify areas for improvement, edit your current goals and even come up with new ones. I love Arruda’s idea to write out each goal, and read them off each day as a guide for all the work you do.
2. Expand your skills: Don’t let the chill summer season turn you into a stagnant worker. Identify skills you want to acquire or improve upon, and enroll in online courses through platforms like Coursera, Udemy, Maven and LinkedIn Learning.?
3. Bolster relationships: Networking is critical to moving up in your career. Seek out webinars and connect with colleagues and mentors from your past and present. By engaging in a few conversations over the next few weeks, you can open the door to new career opportunities or collaborations.
4. Volunteer and give back: Not only will volunteering with a relevant organization enhance your résumé by demonstrating your commitment to helping others, it can also offer a way to expand your network and learn new skills. Engaging in this type of work can also put your leadership qualities on display.

Take some time in the next few weeks to reflect on your career and think about the best ways to improve your path to advancement. And make sure to give Arruda’s full story a read for five additional actions you can take this summer.

Read the full story: 9 Career Actions To Take Before Summer Ends

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Work Trends: Why We’re Entering The Era Of The Solopreneur

If you’ve thought about starting your own business in the past year, you’re not the only one. Senior contributor Caroline Castrillon reports that a record-breaking 5.5 million new businesses were started in 2023, referring to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

What’s more, a growing number of these businesses are headed by a solopreneur , or an entrepreneur who starts a business independently—performing all the duties related to the company without a cofounder or employees. While this might sound overwhelming to some, many founders are drawn to the flexibility and autonomy that comes with solopreneurship.?

In her story, Castrillon writes about some of the reasons behind this rise in solopreneurs, including a growing disillusionment with corporate culture and the unlimited earning potential that comes with running your own business. If you have found yourself considering this career path, make sure to give the full story a read.

Read the full story: Why We’re Entering The Era Of The Solopreneur

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Thank you for reading! We'll be back later this week with another edition of Forbes Edge.?

This edition of Forbes Edge was written and curated by associate editor Chris Dobstaff .