10 Things You Can Do In 5 Minutes

10 Things that you can do in 5 minutes. So what are you waiting for? Find out what can improve your life.

The holidays are a time when even the busiest people have the opportunity to slow down, to think, to plan for the future. Of this time you can devote to audit your professional image. Check how you are represented in the network: what information about you will find employers, colleagues, your Manager – if they ask for such a purpose.

Collect information that will help you throughout the year to monitor the situation on the labour market.

Update the links with colleagues.

In a word, lay the Foundation for professional development for 2016.

1. Check out what Google knows about you

Enter a search string, your first and last name. The search results is the basis of your professional image on the Internet. There is something to work with, right?

2. Make a list of companies where you would like to work

Even if you have a job – let the list be available. Track the activity of these key companies: follow the news, look in the section of vacancies. This is useful from several points of view. You will be aware of professional trends: which areas of the business develop faster than others, what specialists are most demanded how to change the requirements for specialists of your profile. It helps to develop professionally: in time to replenish the Treasury of knowledge and skills, to improve their skills.It will help you if you need to look for a job: you will be able to contact the company of your dreams, knowing what qualifications are there that value.

3. Update your contacts with their former colleagues

Now for this particularly auspicious moment: you can congratulate the colleagues with the recent holidays and to remind yourself.

Write small letters to former colleagues with whom you would like to maintain contact. Ask about their business, a few words that tell them about yourself. Wish a productive start of the new year. At the end of the letter mention that you would love to continue the dialogue in a convenient common format.

4. Update your photo on LinkedIn

True for those whose profile is a picture of a decade ago.

Recommendation relevant to other social networks, if they are focused on professional image (which is highly desirable).

5. Check how many people read you on LinkedIn

True for those whose profile is somewhat neglected. Only 5 people are reading about you? It is time to increase the presence in the most popular professional social network.

Start to post regularly. Let it be industry news with your short review, if you don't have time for more detailed articles.

You will know it after a couple of weeks that how it worked. Did Readers increase in numbers? Let it motivates you to continue the activity. Over time, it is desirable to increase the speed: do not have to write more often; it is important to write informative, to participate in the life of professional communities, to provide analytical materials, which testify to your competence.

6. Make a list of books to read

We are talking about books or self-development. Of course, fiction is also included in the list of works that help to find answers to important philosophical questions, inspire, expand horizons.

7. Make a wish list

Your desires, not goals. Dream, fantasize.

You may find that your list of targets is outdated: the soul has long been committed to other values, and you still go for the rut, established a few years ago.

Dreams are good because they show our true motives and motivations: what we really want.

8. Make business cards

If you don't – order.

If you have to think about it, isn't it time to update the design, change/add information (profession/specialty, contact information). You might decide that the business card should have the url of your LinkedIn profile (if filled), or your blog address.

9. Zero out your Inbox

It will be hard, but you have no idea how much this weakens our internal tension: the awareness that all issues that have accumulated over the past year, laid out on shelves or closed.

10. Make a list of people with whom you want to communicate in 2016

This is perhaps the most enjoyable.

In the list you can include professionals, whose success motivates you; representatives of companies with whom you would like to cooperate; recruiters and coaches; just interesting people whose example inspires you.

Opportunities for communication also need to be find out. And they are certainly there if you will keep eyes on the list of desired interviewees. It is important to track what events are happening in your professional industry.  Meet Interesting people at conferences, seminars, workshops, trainings, business breakfasts and other events-oriented professional environment.