Hard to believe it, but we are less than two weeks away from 2016! With a New Year comes resolutions, expectations, and (hopefully!) new opportunities. Whether you are feeling content in your current position or looking to make a move, the New Year is the perfect time to gain perspective and reprioritize your career goals so that you are ready to hit the ground running in 2016.

 

While most people are busy running around doing last-minute shopping before the holidays or curled up on the couch trying to stay warm, check out Mashable‘s list of 20 things you can do to help your career before the New Year.

 

Here are 5 of our favorites:

1. Write down your wins. Take the time to jot down ten professional accomplishments you achieved this year. Not only will it help you go back to work feeling ready to take on the world, but it is also a great way to update your resume. According to Mashable, employers love to see a list of accomplishments rather than duties.
2. Get on a healthier sleep schedule. Yeah, we’ve all heard this one before and you know it’s true. You’re more productive after you’ve had a restful night of sleep. Check out the article to find out why Mashable compares coming to work chronically tired, to coming to work tipsy!
3. Google yourself. Does that infamous YouTube video you made in college still exist? When was the last time you cleaned up your social media? Googling yourself is especially important if you are currently job searching or plan to start in the near future. Oftentimes, the results of a google search could be the first impression you make on a recruiter or a potential colleague.
4. Choose a skill you want to improve in 2016. Your weakness could be what is holding you back from moving up in your career. Come up with a plan now to figure out how you can better yourself this year.
5. Write out your one-year plan. Take the time to determine what you want to accomplish this year. For example, if you want to become a care provider, you could look into the steps required for becoming a registered NDIS provider. Similarly, if you have goals in mind and how to get there, you would be able to act on them. Set short-term goals for yourself to track your progress toward reaching your year-end goal. Even if you are completely satisfied in your current position, set goals for yourself and aim to become the best you can be at what you do.

 

Check out the full article for more tips on making 2016 the best year of your career yet!

 

7 Powerful Words That Get You What You Want

Regardless of your position at work, it is inevitable that you will come across a situation where you need to convince a coworker to see your point of view or sell your boss on your new idea. Gaining rapport from the team is a natural skill for some, but others might unknowingly speak or act in ways that their coworkers are less impressed with. Good leaders become successful by having the ability to convince others to buy into their vision and motivate people to work hard to help them accomplish their goals. This article published on Inc.com, gives you the right words to use the next time you need to be the most persuasive person in the office.

 

Here are the 7 most powerful words to help you get what you want:

1. You
2. Imagine
3. Act
4. Because
5. Now
6. Believe
7. Guaranteed

 

Check out the full article for explanations and suggestions of how to use these power words to your advantage.