career goals

5 New Year’s Resolutions for College Students

By | Career Advice | No Comments

The start of a new year represents an opportunity to begin with a clean slate – both personally and professionally. As we move from one year from the next, we can look back at all we have accomplished and look forward with clear direction, motivation and likely, resolutions.

New Year’s resolutions don’t have to revolve around personal goals like weight loss or repairing broken relationships. As a college student, you have the unique opportunity to start a new year with strategic goals that will greatly enhance your future career. So get out a pen and paper and physically write down three to five resolutions for the upcoming year. By putting your goals onto paper and posting them in a prominent location in your dorm or apartment, you will be more likely to achieve your goals and jumpstart your career.

Not sure where to begin? Here are some suggestions:

Apply for a summer internship
This should be the #1 resolution on your list. Quality internships like Dardis’ Classroom to Career program combine real world experience with executive-level training to give you the skills that employers look for.  Summer is only a few months away, so before you start a new semester, complete our online application.

Enhance your resume
Your resume needs to best reflect your skills and experience as it relates to the specific job you’re applying for. Try reformatting your resume or updating the verbiage to include more active, project-driven information and then have a professional in your school’s career center offer additional feedback.

Improve your online presence
No, your Facebook profile doesn’t count. Create a LinkedIn profile or improve your current profile by adding a recent photo, past work experience and volunteer work. You should also commit to reviewing your privacy settings on other social networking sites to ensure that employers only see the best version of you.

Focus on development
Employers look for well-rounded candidates, so make a resolution to regularly attend career events on and off campus to hone your business communication and networking skills. You could also choose a specific skill like public speaking to work on this year. Don’t forget to also volunteer at worthy organizations to help others while enhancing your resume.

Dream big
It’s a new year. Anything is possible and the only limitations that exist are the ones you place on yourself!

Remember, you don’t have to wait for the ball to drop in Times Square to make goals for your personal life or your career. Reevaluate your progress each month and add resolutions to your list throughout the year to propel yourself toward a successful career.

 

Photo credit: Anthony Quintano via Flickr

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