Cheers to a new year! While we are still in a time of tremendous change, taking time to set resolutions can give you a sense of control. We have crafted a list of career resolutions to help you navigate through these uncertain times.
Take Action
Make it a priority this year to take action with your career. Taking action gives you a stronger sense of agency during your search. The following resolutions are the best places to start.
1. Read the Career Center Weekly. We send a weekly Sunday newsletter with a digest of everything you need to know for the coming week. Simply read the newsletter and take action on a few items to set yourself up for success.
2. Join a career cluster. We have seven clusters to choose from. Explore and sign up for clusters that match your interests to receive exclusive resources and updates.
3. Complete your Handshake profile. The key to success on Handshake is completing your profile—80% of students who complete their profile get messaged by an employer.
4. Join Eagle Exchange. Use Eagle Exchange to build your professional network, ask career-related questions, find alumni mentors, and more.
5. Attend events. Jump out of your comfort zone and attend an upcoming career program or event. We offer workshops, panels, career fairs, as well as specialty programs to help you reflect on your interests and explore careers.
Stay Calm
If you’re feeling a bit anxious about finding a job or internship, you’re not alone. It’s a common feeling this time of year, especially with the economic impact of COVID-19 looming in the air. Try a few of the following resolutions to calm your anxieties.
6. Build your resilience. Resilient people are the ones who succeed in this type of job market. Don’t worry, resilience is a muscle that everyone has and you can learn how to strengthen it.
7. Develop a plan and stay organized. Your search will take time. You need to start early and stay organized. Develop your own personalized exploration plan or job/internship search plan to set goals and deadlines for yourself throughout the semester.
8. Stay positive. Ignore those negative voices that tell you you’ll never find a job/internship, they won’t get you anywhere. While the market is difficult, know that there are opportunities out there. Your search will take a bit longer, but that’s ok! BC students continue to do very well in the marketplace. You just need to stay positive and dedicated to your search. As a plus, spread the positivity to your network to help them be successful as well.
9. Reframe the should statements in your life. You will face many external pressures when it comes to your career. Commit to reframing your mindset to be intentional about the decisions you make.
Find Your People
One of the best things you can do during an uncertain time is surround yourself with positive, supportive, and honest people. In addition to friends and family, find your career champions—people you can speak to about your career goals, questions, and concerns.
10. Meet with a Career Coach. Our career coaches are here to partner with you throughout your career journey. Schedule an appointment with a coach to begin discussing your goals and plans for the year.
11. Connect with BC alumni. Use Eagle Exchange to reach out to BC alumni and find mentors to help you explore career options and navigate your job/internship search.
12. Attend office hours. Meet with your professors and discuss your career goals with them. They can be valuable mentors and potential references.
13. Join a club. Get involved with a student organization to meet new people with similar interests.
Be Prepared
While most of your career journey can feel out of your control, how you present yourself to employers is 100% within your control. Focus on the following resolutions to ensure you are as prepared as you can be for your job and internship search.
14. Create a great resume. Everyone needs a great resume and there is no excuse to not have one. Start with the templates on our website and attend virtual drop-in hours often to have your resume drafts reviewed by a coach.
15. Practice interviewing. In our new virtual world, you will find that most, if not all, organizations will be conducting virtual interviews. Use the Big Interview platform to build your confidence in your interview skills so you are ready to wow employers.
16. Review and revise your online presence. It is absolutely essential to curate how employers see you online. Follow this checklist to complete an inventory of your digital accounts and make a plan for them going forward.
Think Outside of the Box
There are plenty of opportunities to build skills and gain experience beyond formal jobs or internships. You may want to consider a few of the following resolutions to help supplement your experience and boost your resume.
17. Complete a project. Projects are short-term experiences that offer an opportunity to boost your resume/portfolio, build skills, and grow your professional network. Check out the project opportunities on Eagle Exchange and Forage.
18. Shadow an alum for a day. Reach out to an alum on Eagle Exchange and request to shadow them for a day to learn more about what it is like to work in their industry. You can also sign up for the alumni job shadow program in May.
19. Volunteer for an organization. Volunteering is not only a rewarding experience, it also provides you the opportunity to build skills and make connections at an organization. Check out the Volunteer and Service Learning Center for opportunities.
20. Develop a new skill. Take a course to become proficient in a technical skill, such as Excel, Google Analytics, or Adobe. Below are a few popular options. Depending on the type of skill you want to learn, you will need to do research to determine what program is best.
21. Get a part-time job. Working at a part-time job on campus or at another organization provides you the opportunity to gain real-world experience in addition to earning a paycheck. Whether or not it is directly related to your career aspirations, you will build skills that are sought by all employers.
Boston College Career Center Blog 
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