6 Career Resolutions To Make In 2023

The new year is a great time to set new goals for yourself, and 2023 is no different. While there are many other areas of your life where you could set resolutions, you may want to focus on your job or career. If you are looking to level up at work or launch your career, here are a few goals you may want to set for yourself.

Create a healthy work-life balance

Many people struggle to have a healthy work-life balance, especially since working from home is still so prevalent. It can be challenging to set boundaries, especially if you want to impress your boss. However, it is important to create these boundaries to help maintain your mental health. Unless you are expecting something outside of working hours, do not answer phone calls, texts, or emails pertaining to work. Participate in hobbies and get into an exercise routine. Keeping work and personal life separate from each other will help you maintain your peace of mind while being successful in all aspects of your life.

Get a summer internship

If you are a student or are graduating in the spring, having a summer internship can help your resume stand out to future employers, especially if you do not have anything lined up for fall yet. Start looking as soon as possible as many large companies start looking for, and hiring, interns months before summer arrives. Apply to as many internships as possible just in case you do not get your dream internship, and make sure you keep track of where you have applied. Secure letters of recommendation in advance so those you ask have enough time to write them for you.

Find a mentor

No matter how great your grades are, it can still be difficult to navigate a career field, especially if it is a competitive field. Having a mentor allows you to have access to someone who knows your chosen field and can help you make connections. A mentor may also be able to give you advice as to where to apply or what kinds of internships to have while you are still in school. They can tell you what classes are important to take if you have electives to fill. Many college and university career centers have mentorship programs where current students and recent grads are matched with mentors who are experts in their fields and are willing to aid the mentees in their careers.

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Attend a career fair

Whether you are looking for a new job or internship or are just launching your career, career fairs are great ways to meet recruiters in your field at companies that are hiring. Check out your college or university’s career center to see if they have any career fairs planned. Most schools have at least one per academic year. Make sure you do your research to find out who will be at the fair and which tables you would like to stop at. Have copies of your resume available for each company you are hoping to meet, plus extra copies in case you see other companies you want to connect with. Have a list of questions handy and dress professionally. Be patient and wait your turn to meet recruiters. After the career fair, be sure to reach out to those you connected with to thank them for their time.

Utilize your school’s career center

If you are a current student, it can be tempting to solely focus on passing your classes. While this is important, you also need to be thinking of life after graduation. Luckily, your school has a career center that has resources to help you prepare for your transition. They likely have job and internship boards, interview practices, career fairs, and career workshops to help you break into your field. Your individual department may even have its own career center with resources specifically geared to your chosen field. Make it a goal to meet with a career counselor at least once or twice to have your resume looked at or to get assistance in looking for a job or internship. The career center is included in your tuition and fees, so make good use of this resource that is available to you.

Take an online class

While you may be in school or you graduated already, you may feel like you are missing out on skills that you will need in your field. It is impossible for your professors to teach you everything, and you may have had to miss out on taking a class you wanted to take in order to meet your school’s requirements. Luckily, there are online platforms that offer classes in a variety of subjects. Many times, these classes are free or low-cost and provide certificates upon completion. Taking these classes allows you to continue learning and it shows employers that you are motivated to learn as much as you can in the field.

2023 can be the year you start or improve your career. Setting goals for yourself is a great way to accomplish all you want to this year.