A New Year, A New You

The New Year represents a fresh start and a new opportunity to reinvent yourself for an exciting future.. Even though the job market may be favorable for you in the coming year, it’s still important to focus on enhancing your professional appeal so you can take full advantage of new opportunities. If you’re looking for ways to reinvent your professional image during a 2012 job search, consider the following three tips.

Give your resume a makeover

Your resume is a fundamental component of your professional image because, in many cases, it’s the only first impression you can offer to potential employers. Having a resume that highlights your best attributes, reflects your current status, and reads easily is essential for getting noticed in a sea of other potential, and highly qualified candidates. One of the best ways to revamp your resume is by replacing passive verbs with active verbs. For example, your job history may include a list of responsibilities you had with each company. Instead of listing what you were hired to do, detail what you actually did for the company. This might include changing something like “responsible for marketing projects” to “increased company sales by 15% with a new marketing technique.” This shows how you actively contributed to the company, and how the company benefited from the changes you implemented.

Refresh your wardrobe

Your appearance may not be quite as important as your credentials, but a polished look and a well-chosen wardrobe can make a big difference with an employer’s willingness to hire you. When you work for a certain company, your image and your behavior is a reflection of that company’s image. Having an image that exudes professionalism, class and success can increase your appeal. Purchasing a new suit or outfit may be a bit out of your price range, but an investment in your image truly does pay off in the professional world.

Enhance your education

Perhaps employers have been passing over your resume because the education section is minimal or non-existent. A higher percentage of job searchers now hold college degrees, which means that standing out with a college degree is increasingly difficult. Extending your education is an effective way to stand out among the competition and improve your skills and experiences to prepare you for a professional environment. Options for higher education have recently become easily accessible; there is really no excuse not to extend your education for the job search. From community colleges to an http://www.aiuniv.edu/Degree-Programs/School-Of-Education“>  , you can fill out your education section with a worthwhile investment of your time and effort to continue working towards your career goals.

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