5 Tips for a Mid-Year Career Boost

With the summer holidays in full flow, it’s a chance to relax, switch off from work and really get away from it all.

Yet in many ways, the summertime can be the ideal opportunity to take stock of where you are now and how you want the rest of the year to look by:

• Using a break from work to think about your career without day to day distractions or other influences

• Taking advantage of a quieter workplace and fewer meetings when you are in work

• Viewing the new school year in September as fresh start and spend the summer setting yourself up for success

• Checking in with yourself in a mid-year review

Whatever your preference, here are five actionable strategies to give your career a mid-year boost:

1. Check in on your goals for the year

Mid-year is the perfect time to review your progress against your goals, celebrate what’s gone well and assess what could be even better. 

What were your goals, hopes or aspirations for the year? How are you progressing? Is the same thing still important to you?

Try asking yourself:

• How do I want to feel at the end of this year?

• What will I be most disappointed about if I don’t achieve it?

• Where do I need to adjust my habits?

2. Invest in your learning

It’s an ideal opportunity to invest time in learning new skills or improving existing ones during your quieter periods. If you’re looking to take a short online course, workshop, or certification to enhance your skill set, check out what’s available on LinkedIn Learning or your company’s online learning platform.

If there is a more formal course you’ve been thinking of applying for, the chances are it will start in September or January. What might you need to do now to start the ball rolling with it?

Make the time to read or listen to podcasts that are going to expand your mind and help you grow in your career…which can also be done whilst lying by the pool with a pina colada in hand!

Where can you step up or fill in for colleagues or your manager while they are on leave? Covering meetings or projects can boost your visibility and profile and improve your business knowledge.

3. Challenge yourself

Set yourself a challenge to try something new, face a fear or step out of your comfort zone.

If you've been putting off speaking to your manager about how you want to develop, or about a potential opportunity - now’s the time to have a courageous conversation.

Curious about what it’s like to work in a different team or industry? Ask if you can shadow someone for half a day or speak to them about what it’s like. 

Meeting new people on holiday? Practice introducing yourself in a way that lets people know what you do. Opportunities can appear from the strangest of places!

4. Update your CV

If your CV hasn’t been touched since you started your current job, it’s already out of date. Summertime is the ideal opportunity to give it a refresh and make sure it showcases your most recent and relevant achievements.

Have you been meaning to update your Linked In profile? A polished, professional online presence can attract recruiters and new opportunities. 

Are you looking to elevate your CV to help you get that next level job, or perhaps you’re unsure of how your CV should look, how long it should be or what should and shouldn’t be included? 

I’ll be offering 30 minute CV clinics over the summer to help with exactly this! More info below…

5. Relax!

Taking time out of ‘business as usual’ without thinking about work, or your day job can be immensely beneficial and often leads to sparks of innovation, creativity or new ideas that otherwise remain undiscovered, hidden at the back of our busy minds.  

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Taking advantage of the summer lull to focus on your career development can pay off immensely. By reflecting on your progress, expanding your skill set, updating your professional brand and simply having time to think, you can position yourself for greater success in the coming months. Don’t let the summer pass by without making strides toward your career goals - start implementing these strategies today for a productive and rewarding second half of the year.

If you’re seeking support to grow your career and navigate the world of work as an introvert, get in touch to see how I can help: www.heatherhillcoaching.com 

I’ll be offering a limited number of 30 minute CV clinics for just £30 over the summer break - if you could benefit from a fresh pair of eyes and a professional opinion on your CV, email me to find out more via hello@heatherhillcoaching.com