5 Tips to Seize Your Summer!

Happy almost summer! With all of the madness surrounding us in the news, I am here to empower you to SEIZE YOUR SUMMER!

(Btw I was sooo tempted to say SEAS YOUR SUMMER, in honor of the beach, but alas, haha...)

But, seriously, let's start right there to kick-off our 5 Tips to position yourself for success this summer.

1. PLAN FUN DAYS!

Carve out 30 minutes to plan at least 2-3 fun trips/activities for yourself this summer. I get it can be stressful to allocate time and money in our hectic lives, but trust me-- it will be much more stressful if you wake up September 1st filled with regret that you didn't do anything fun this summer. Know what I mean?

2. ATTEND IN-PERSON NETWORKING EVENTS!

Research and register for free and/or affordable meetings and events in your field of interest in your area-- ideally in June, as business gatherings tend to decrease in July and August. Hint: Showing up, asking interesting questions, listening, and following up are much more important than "having the right pitch" - So... Trust me and Go for it! People want to know you!! AND... only about 20% of job opportunities are posted online; the remaining live in the "invisible job market" -- AKA through networking and conversations.

3. JOIN LINKEDIN/UPDATE YOUR LINKEDIN PROFILE!

Have you heard anyone say if you don't have a LinkedIn profile, it's like you don't exist professionally? While that might be a bit dramatic, I want to underscore the importance of "showing up" online and communicating clearly the value (skills, abilities, interests) you offer so others know how to relate to you, including connecting you with key people in their professional network. Insight for jobseekers: I do not love (or even like) LinkedIn's public #OpenToWork feature. While it can be useful to privately target recruiters with this information, I don't like this as your leading line. Why? You are much more than your current employment status.

4. CUSTOMIZE YOUR LINKEDIN CONNECTION REQUESTS!

Find individuals (and Groups!) of interest on LinkedIn and proactively reach out to them with a Giver's (vs. Getter's) mindset. Be sure to introduce yourself and express your sincere interest to get to know them and their work in the world. When sending a LinkedIn invite, be sure to "warm-up" or customize your invitation ("Add a Note" on desktop version) vs. sending a "cold" request. Hint: If sending an invite request from your mobile LinkedIn app, be sure to hit the 3-dot icon to the right, then select "Personalize invite" to include a note before sending your request. Go ahead and give it a try now with someone you've been wanting to connect with! I suggest you practice sending customized invites from both the desktop and app versions of LinkedIn.

5. TAKE A CALCULATED RISK!

What is something new you can try this summer to get you closer to the career trajectory you want to be on this time next year? Take a trip to expand your horizons? Volunteer for a cause you are passionate about? Get a new industry certification? Pitch your entrepreneurial idea? What else can you do to stretch and grow this summer? It's not just about stepping outside of your comfort zone; but also expanding it entirely. Reminder: "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." - Wayne Gretzky

To Your Success,

Amy