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Your career is more than any project you are working on or your current job. It sets the course for your professional future, which is why a career checklist is so important. It will give you something to work towards even on those days when you lack the motivation and help you measure your success and progress.
Here are 22 important items you can’t afford to leave out of your career checklist in 2022:
1. Reflect on the previous year
As you wait for things to pick up in the new year, use those first few days to look back on the past year. Think about the goals you had set (if any) and whether you achieved them. Give yourself a pat on the back for all the efforts you made towards personal and professional improvements. If there are any goals you weren’t able to meet, don’t worry, you can always carry them forward to this year’s list of objectives. You can also use this time to work on crafting the rest of your career checklist.
2. Set SMART goals
I am sure you have some things you want to achieve this year, even if you are just planning to freestyle it. Well, it is always good to write down your goals for the year somewhere. It doesn’t even have to be in the form of a list. You can set up a mood board if you are more of a visual person like me. Make sure your goals are SMART - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. This keeps you from setting yourself up for disappointment if things don’t work out as you imagined.
3. Update your resume
The first quarter of the year is usually the best time to job hunt, so naturally this is a good time to revise your CV. Updating your CV to include your recent achievements will ensure you’re ready in case any opportunities come up. Make sure it is in a modern, ATS-friendly format so that it works in your favor.
4. Work on your digital presence
Take some time to update your digital portfolios and LinkedIn profile to reflect any current achievements and information. Focus on your headline, summary, and accomplishments on LinkedIn. Your headline should give a brief description of what you do aside from your job title. You can ask colleagues to give you their perspective on this. Your summary should specify your passions and skill sets in paragraph form. Update the accomplishments section with any recent courses you’ve done or awards you’ve received. You can also ask for endorsements from colleagues.
5. Declutter
Out with the old, in with the new. There’s nothing like a good decluttering session to clear out any junk from your mind, your life, and your workstation, which is why this is essential to your career checklist for 2022. Schedule some time to organize your documents and email inbox. Organizing and decluttering helps to clear your mind making it easier for you to focus.
6. Create a career map
If you don’t have one yet, then add this to your career checklist. A career map will help you determine where you are headed in your career from your current position to your final career goal.
7. Follow up with your contacts
This is essential to your career checklist. Reconnect with your former colleagues or people within your network by sending a brief cordial message on LinkedIn or via email. You can suggest catching up over coffee. Such small but meaningful gestures show people that you appreciate and value the impact they have had on your career. It is also a great way to get your foot in the door in case they know someone who is hiring.
8. Find a mentor and check in with them
Do you have a mentor? If you don’t, maybe this is the year you find one! As you move forward career-wise, you will experience opportunities and obstacles that require careful navigation and this is where a mentor comes in. Mentors are experienced professionals who have been in your shoes and are in a position to offer valuable career advice. Look for mentorship opportunities within your desired industry to help with your career progression.
9. Learn a new skill
Depending on what your next career steps are, you may need to develop some new skills to get you there. Find courses and activities that will help you gain the relevant skills you need in your career. If there is training at work, do it. You can also find free and paid courses online for practically any skill out there. You can take classes after work or do them online depending on your preference and schedule. Learning new skills and discovering new passions has benefits for your career. It is also a good way to make yourself more well-rounded. Alternatively, side gigs and volunteer work can also help you gain and practice the skills you need to succeed in your career.
10. Find networking opportunities
Networking is all about who you know and what they can do to help you in your career. Your contacts can tell you about new opportunities, refer you for jobs, and connect you to other professionals. This is why you should find out about any networking events being held by professional organizations during the year and try your best to attend them. Networking on social media has its advantages, but sometimes a bit of face time can work to your advantage. Join professional organizations, form a committee at work, or even serve as a mentor. All this can help you meet like-minded professionals who can keep you excited and engaged in your career. Here are ten questions you can ask during networking.
11. Keep a journal
Journaling has plenty of benefits for your mental health and personal life, but it can also help with your career. Keeping a journal can help you deal with work issues and assess your career progress. Consider it a cheap and easy way to develop professionally.
12. Have a mid-year check-in with yourself
Once a few months have gone by, it is always good to check back on the progress you’ve made during that time. Look at the goals you set at the beginning of the year and see if you have accomplished any of them. I’m sure it will feel good to check something off your list. If you also encountered any challenges in this time, determine if you will need to adjust your plan accordingly to stay on track.
13. Go for that salary raise or promotion
Depending on how long you have been in your role at work, maybe it is time to actively start climbing the career ladder. If you have been thinking of asking for a raise at work, then do the necessary preparation and go for it. You never know, it might come with an unexpected promotion.
14. Take on more responsibilities at work
If you want to progress in your career, you will have to show your supervisor that you have what it takes to handle more responsibilities at work. Ask for more assignments or volunteer to take the lead on certain projects. This will challenge you to gain more experience and develop your skills further.
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15. Brush up on your interviewing skills
Hiring is always ongoing throughout the year. If you are actively sending out job applications and have scheduled interviews ahead, take the time to research, prepare and practice. This will ensure you are ready for any interview that comes your way. A career coach will come in handy in this area and help give you a competitive advantage.
16. Re-evaluate your time management
Many of us are guilty of multitasking with our to-do lists and this only reduces productivity. That is why you may want to add this approach to your 2022 career checklist. Schedule your tasks according to your daily energy levels by handling tasks that require the most brainpower during the mornings. This is when you are more focused and energized for the day. You can catch up on emails and other low-effort tasks during the mid-afternoon slump. Set durations and alarms for each task so you can focus and reduce any distractions until it’s time to work on the next thing.
17. Improve on your work-life balance
Think of ways to achieve a better balance of your personal commitments, family, and work this year. Especially, if you work from home most of the time because it is easy for the lines between your work and personal time to become blurred. To achieve a better work-life balance, consider your personal needs, and set boundaries for yourself. This will help you improve your career engagement and overall well-being, especially in terms of avoiding burnout.
18. Frequently ask for feedback
Schedule time with a client, a vendor, a colleague, supervisor, or mentor during the year to get feedback on how you’ve been doing and ways you can improve. Make it a brief, informal conversation to take the pressure off as you gauge your next steps.
19. Work on your interpersonal skills
Whether you are introverted or just socially awkward, it always helps to work on your listening and speaking skills as well as body language. This will help you feel more at ease in group settings and change how well you connect with others. It may seem like a small thing to add to your career checklist, but it can affect how people view you professionally. Interpersonal skills are essential for connecting with colleagues, lobbying for a promotion, or even during interviews.
20. Revisit your goals and set new ones
Look back at the goals you set at the beginning of the year and see what you achieved. Now set some more objectives and knock them out of the park!
21. Prepare for your year-end review
You’ve been putting your best foot forward all year and now the year-end review is here. Make sure you have done all your preparation the same way you would for an interview. Collect all your relevant documents, information, and statistics showing how you’ve been an asset throughout the year.
22. Make an inventory of your achievements
Take note of all the professional accomplishments you have achieved during the year. It doesn’t matter how small or big your contribution was; seeing all your successes in one place is a good way to boost your morale. This will also help you prepare for any job applications or upcoming promotions.
Conclusion
This career checklist may be long and comprehensive but it is not mandatory. It is simply a guide of ideas to give you direction for the year. To maximize this checklist, it is best to go back to it after every three months to review your professional progress. This will help you monitor your actions and keep you on a positive path for your future.
What would you like to add to this list? Share with us in the comments.