3 Easy Things to Do for Your Career (& 1 Not So Easy)

2020 has started! Whether you are looking for a job or not, here are three easy things you can do in two minutes or less for your career:

1. Check your voicemail settings. Make sure it’s set up, has an appropriate outgoing greeting, and is not full so people can leave you a message. I often run into all three of these issues with candidates. The first is a problem when I’m trying to set a time-sensitive meeting, get a question answered for a prospective employer, convey an offer, etc., and I can’t even leave a message. The second, an inappropriate outgoing message, shows lack of judgment (what if it’s a future manager trying to get hold of you?), and no outgoing message at all makes me nervous that I’m leaving a message for the right person. Finally, when I get the message the mailbox is full, I wonder if the person is professional, competent, and organized. I also wonder what happens when his or her clients get this message.
2. Update your personal email address. Use a professional personal email address, and attach a non-embarrassing picture, or at least delete that party shot. I often think candidates have forgotten what picture they selected for their Gmail account that’s now showing up in my feed next to their name.
3. Refresh your LinkedIn profile. Don’t just list your schools and employers. At a minimum, include your practice area. Even better is to include some metrics like big deals closed, numbers supporting scaling a business, or new products launched, etc. New awards and speaking engagements are also great. These simple facts give a more complete picture of your skills and competencies and make you stand out.

And the non-easy thing for your career? Be kind to everyone. As you get more senior, your reputation will precede you. The best advocate for getting a job is someone who knows you, and everyone remembers kindness coupled with competency.