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The Salary Tutor:

5 Ways to Get Ahead During Summer

Summer Presents Unique Opportunities for You to Advance Your Career

2. Review Your Plan

What significance does Monday, July 2 have? It’s about the halfway point of the year, a good time to ask yourself how things are going. If your New Years resolution was to get a promotion or reach certain goals, are you on track to meet them? If so, it might be time to summarize your accomplishments and ask for a raise. If not, what can you adjust to ensure that the second half will be successful?

However, what if you assess where you are and don’t like what you see? Are you working in a job you don’t enjoy, with co-workers you can’t stand, and a manager that stresses you out? Or maybe you just realized that the career you are in is not a good match for your skills and passions.

For many businesses, the summer months of July and August are much slower, both in terms of business and hiring. Take advantage of this time to prepare for a career change:

  • Update your resume
  • Create a web presence and a portfolio of your best work
  • Go on informational interviews to learn more about new opportunities
  • Research the market value for salaries for someone with your experience

When September rolls around and companies renew their focus, you’ll be ready to go.

 

  • Jim Hopkinson

    Jim Hopkinson is an author, writer, and speaker living in New York City. His focus is on career development for the new economy, showing how new media, technology and branding are changing how people look at their career and lifestyle. Read more...