Top Career Tips for 2024 From Career Experts, CEOs, Founders, Recruiters & More

Well, we've nearly made it through 2023 (knock on wood!) and if we've learned anything these last few chaotic years, it's that having a good handle on your career and what you want to get out of it is more important than ever.

For this year-end edition of Career Forward I reached out to a diverse, multinational group of professionals with a variety of seniority levels, industries, and roles to contribute what they believe to be one of their top career tips heading into 2024.

A big, hearty, group hug THANK YOU to each and every one of them for sharing their time and expertise with the Career Forward subscribers.

There's some great stuff here, so let's dive in shall we? Oh yeah, they're all active on LinkedIn and worth a follow. Click the banners or their names to visit their profiles.

Virtual presence & presentation

Have a virtual presence

Don't neglect your professional presence, especially virtually. The two components to professional presence — how and where others see you — will play an even more pivotal role in advancing your career. This includes everything from your LinkedIn presence to how you show up in virtual meetings to what you include in your email signature. These days, your virtual presence is going to often be what people experience first and what they'll use to assess your credibility and competence. ~ Lorraine K. Lee , San Francisco, US

Build your personal brand

Lorraine is spot on. It bears repeating that our personal brand and presence online really, really matters to your career progression and longevity for many career types. Whether you’re building it on LinkedIn or somewhere else, your public profile is always going to be there for you to leverage when the time comes. This takes at the very least consistent upkeep to make sure your experience, portfolio, work accomplishments, whatever else are up to date and reflect what you’re all about and what you’re good at. Make 2024 the year you dedicate some time to this. ~ Chris C. Anderson , Greater Sacramento, US, GreenSlate

Tell everyone what you do

If 2024 involves big changes for you, it's essential to SPEAK UP and...OFTEN. You are your own best marketer. Tell friends, family, and neighbors what you are up to. Post about it online. Share your updates with the world. Whether you are starting a podcast, adding a new product to your service, or completely pivoting your career...let people know! The craziest opportunities open up when you do. ~ Merav Levine , Baltimore, US

…but also keep it real

Looking to improve your personal brand with an eye on a career move? Fantastic, I say go for it. But just keep it real. Don't take yourself too seriously. Poke fun at yourself. Share raw screenshots. Share what you're learning and what you're struggling to understand. You're here on LinkedIn to have conversations, not to pretend you have all the answers. In general, my posts come down to: What I’m working on, what I’m reading about, what I’m thinking or learning about, who I’m talking to (and what we’re talking about). That’s it. It goes over a heck of a lot better than humble brags and made-up stories. ~ Brooklin Nash ?? , Antigua, Guatemala, Beam Content ??

Take your Zoom game up a level?

The old-school, early stage phone screening of candidates is much more likely now to be a video call. Your total appearance matters, and that starts with getting lighting right. Never have a bright light or window behind you; let your warmth come through by facing a (gentle) light source. Solid tips are here. ~ George Anders , Burlingame, US, LinkedIn

Follow your passion, find your ‘sweet spot’, embrace it

LOVE what you do

The very first question to ask yourself when it comes to your career is this: “How much do I LOVE what I do?” What does this have to do with your career success? EVERYTHING! You will never be truly successful by doing something that does not speak to your heart. If you do not wake up in the morning feeling excited about the day ahead, make 2024 the year where you reconnect to your passions and purpose and reclaim your power to do what you LOVE. True success is being HAPPY about yourself and what you do. ~ Daiva ?? Plath , Malm? Metropolitan Area, Sweeden

Find your ‘sweet spot’

My number one career tip for anyone is to look for your own sweet-spot of what you are good at, what the world needs and what you can get paid for (enough for your own standards). This is also known as IKIGAI. By doing so you can make sure you are inline with your inner motivation which will enable you to feel good about yourself and what you do every day. Only when you truly enjoy what you do at work will you get into a state of flow where “work” fills up your energy levels and makes you happy. If you have a career that makes you happy you will no longer look at it as only work, and you can truly become who you are meant to be and live a truly happy life. It is different for everyone, so make sure to listen to yourself. ~ Mia Kolmodin , Stockholm, Sweden, Dandy People

Embrace your unique strengths

Uncover the distinct strengths that set you apart. Identify tasks that fuel your energy and align with your passions. Your job search should focus on roles that leverage these strengths, making them your trademark. ~ Geraldine Karen Bierregaard-Hoogerdijk , Amsterdam, Netherlands, 微软

Reinvent yourself

Consider a pivot

If you're having a tough time finding a job, think about pivoting industries. Tech in particular is brutal right now, but other industries are also lagging. Take time to think about your transferable skills and position yourself for industries that are performing better (i.e. healthcare and some government roles). ~ Colleen Paulson , Pittsburgh, US

Embrace the freedom to change your career path

Unlike trees firmly rooted to the ground, we are dynamic beings that evolve over time. Just as our passions and interests shift, so can our professional journey. Don't fear change; see it as an opportunity to grow and align your career with your ever-evolving aspirations.~ Geraldine Karen Bierregaard-Hoogerdijk

Be a leader, not a laggard

Accenture's Global Disruption Index has indicated a 50x increase in disruption in the last five-year period. Greater disruption means the need to reinvent yourself is higher. You will need new skills and mindset to succeed in your career.

In my practice, these qualities stand out: Soft skills and being able to observe, review, and evaluate. Soft skills are the new essential skills. Collaboration can be a stressor, but your ability to bridge the gap and bring people together will be the differentiator. You could be the conduit that fosters intergenerational understanding. Being able to observe, review, and evaluate will keep you from becoming obsolete. So keep the beginner’s mindset; and re-explore a new way to succeed. ~ Chuen Chuen Yeo 杨荃荃 , Singapore

Applying & interviewing

Get the recruiter's attention

The biggest thing you can do when applying for a new job is tailor your resume to highlight relevant skills and accomplishments in a clear format. Using keywords from the job description helps. Additionally, showcasing measurable achievements, demonstrating passion for the role, and personalizing cover letters can also make an impact. During screening interviews, being concise yet informative, showing enthusiasm, and asking insightful questions about the company and role are all impressive. Overall, a combination of preparation, relevance, and engagement helps applicants catch a recruiter's eye. ~ Jena Larson , US, GreenSlate

...and don't 'wing it' for interviews

Almost 1 in 5 people "winged" their interview or spent no time at all preparing for it. Don't be that person. The market is shifting and job seekers will have fewer opportunities to put their best foot forward. Here's how to prepare for a high-stakes interview. ~ Sarah Johnston , Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area, US, Briefcase Coach Newsletter

Plan for the long term & unexpected

Ask this age-old question

In thinking about your career, it is worth asking yourself the age-old question – where do I see myself in five years? Then work backwards: what skills, experience, knowledge, and connections do you need to propel you to that place? Based on that you’ll know what skills to focus on, what type of work you need experience in, what information you need to learn and which type of people you should be trying to connect with. ~ Jason Foodman , Atlanta, US

Recognize your role in a project can be a risk factor

In 2024, especially in the context of war, career progression requires recognizing that your role in a project can be a risk factor. As detailed in my book "Management in Times of War," it's essential to mitigate this risk by nurturing potential successors. This approach not only ensures project continuity in unpredictable situations but also aids your own career growth. Select successors based on shared values and personal competencies, a theme extensively explored in the book. Begin successor preparation from day one, treating it as a strategic investment in your future and in maintaining team stability during wartime, thus paving the way for new career opportunities. ~ Kostiantyn Koshelenko , Kyiv, Ukraine, ?Management in Times of War?

Design a ‘career insurance policy’

Consider a service or product that you could build and offer to companies or individuals starting in 2024! Now more than ever, it's crucial for professionals to design a career insurance policy by thinking outside of the box and thinking like an independent careerist. Create a potential income stream that could tide you over should the worst case scenario of a lay-off happen or could even serve as the launching pad for a more flexible consulting, fractional, or contract based career in the future! ~ Katelyn Richards , Colorado Springs, US

Your professional network matters

Power-brief your references?

You were great in the interview; a job offer is imminent, but they want to hear from your references first. Don't leave this stage to chance. Brief your references on what you've been doing lately, why you want the job and what strengths you want highlighted. They'll be clearer and crisper about your strengths. And you'll avoid the situation where an off-topic booster accidentally talks you out of a job. ~ George Anders

Network beyond boundaries?

Whether you're an introvert or not, expand your professional network. The connections you make could be the catalyst for your career growth. You never know how influential relationships might shape your path. ~ Geraldine Karen Bierregaard-Hoogerdijk

Build your network strategically

Your professional network can save your bacon. Who’s the first person you go to if you unexpectedly lose a job? Or who would come to you with a new career-advancing opportunity? Your network. Build it out continually. But don’t build it with EVERYBODY. It takes an investment of time to keep connections, so you need to be strategic in who you choose to connect and maintain relationships with. If I’m working in the entertainment industry and I have no interest now or likely in the future of pivoting into political science, why would I build connections in that space? I wouldn’t. More “friends” doesn’t = more opportunity. The right, good, and quality connections are what matters, not how many of them you have. So carefully consider those LinkedIn connection requests! ~ Chris C. Anderson

Keep up with the latest tech

Harness the power of AI?

Stay ahead by immersing yourself in the world of artificial intelligence. AI isn't here to replace you; it's your ally. Understand its capabilities and how it can enhance your skills. Your future colleague is AI — embrace its potential. ~ Geraldine Karen Bierregaard-Hoogerdijk

Expand your ‘tech tool resume’

Following on Geraldine’s tip around harnessing the power of AI, that should be an absolute given considering the rapid advancement of AI. It can most definitely be an ally, but only if you try to keep up with it and not let it pass you by. This holds true for all manner of tech even beyond AI. Whatever industry you work in, there’s definitely something, some platform, some tool you likely don’t know how to use. Yet. That was me two years ago with Asana (which is now integral to my work), and that was me last year with Canva . Now? I did all the designs for this newsletter edition with it. If there’s a tool that will help you in your field, get going on learning it now. It won’t hurt you. ~ Chris C. Anderson

Cultivate a growth mindset & ignite curiosity

Approach everything with a growth mindset. Instead of saying "no," ask, "What needs to be true for this idea to happen?" Challenge yourself to continuously evolve. A growth mindset is the key to unlocking new possibilities in your career.?

Activate your curiosity every day. Recognize that everyone possesses unique knowledge. Ask yourself, "What can I learn from others?" Commit to learning something new consistently; curiosity fuels continuous personal and professional development. ~ Geraldine Karen Bierregaard-Hoogerdijk

For the employers

Create a culture of transparency and fairness

In today's competitive job market, retention of top talent continues to be of utmost importance for employers which makes it imperative for employers to create a culture of transparency and fairness as this has become table stakes. Employees want to know that they're working for a company that values them, and they want to be treated with respect. When employees feel like they're part of a leadership team that values fairness and that their contributions are valued, they're more likely to stay with the company and advance their career in that company. ~ Sonali Das CDP, MS-HRM, MBA, PHR, SHRM-CP , Georgia, US, GreenSlate

Final thoughts

I posted a little poll the other day. Not many voted, but it was still interesting to see 18% still chose, "No, not this year."

Here's the thing: You should always have some kind of career goal in mind, every year. Even if it's a small one. Considering all of the above advice, there should be something in that goodie bag you can take with you into the new year.

So if you would have voted for "No, not this year", hopefully you've now got a little more to work with when thinking about your professional career.

One of my new career goals for 2024? More regularly publish Career Forward editions. Hold me to it.

?? What's your career tip for 2024? Share it in the comments below and help somebody out.

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See you in 2024! ??