With Chinese New Year just around the corner, it’s time for you to celebrate all your hard work from last year, enjoy a well-deserved rest and spend time with family.
However, why not also use this break period to reassess where you are in your career, for even bigger success next year? Use these eight tips below to help revitalise your career in China:
1. Take stock of where you are in your career
When you’re so focused on your job and the tasks at hand, it can be easy to lose track of your overall career path. This Chinese New Year, assess your current situation and think about where you want your career to be in the future.
Start by asking yourself questions such as whether you’re passionate about what you do, whether you enjoy your job and if you’re leveraging your key skills.
2. Set your goals for the New Year
Whether it’s working towards a bigger salary, delegating more, finding a mentor, joining a professional group, or searching for a new job altogether, take the time to plan what you want to get out of your career this year.
Write down your goals so you can refer back to them and then outline steps that will help you to achieve each of them.
3. Update your social media profiles
According to Smart Insights, Asia is helping to drive the growth of social media, with usage in countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore and China above the global average.
As a result, Asian businesses are finding themselves increasingly turning to platforms such as Sina Weibo, Renren, Tencent, Douban, WeChat and even LinkedIn for recruitment. Therefore, whether you’re looking for a new job, or are hoping for a promotion, it’s important to make sure your accounts are up-to-date, including checking your privacy settings.
4. Refresh your resume
In addition to your social media accounts, Chinese New Year is a good opportunity to update your resume.
Even if you’re not looking for a job right now, it’s always best to be prepared and have it ready. You never know when an exciting new opportunity may appear.
5. Start networking
As well as speaking with friends and family (to leverage their connections), use this time to network with industry professionals. Get back in touch with old contacts, reach out to previous colleagues, find networking events nearby, or even join college alumni networks online.
You never know when these connections may be useful to your career, or what opportunities may be waiting for you just around the corner.
6. Learn a new skill over Chinese New Year
Why not use the time you have over Chinese New Year to develop your skills? Find a course that boosts your existing knowledge, improving soft skills, or challenges yourself in new areas such as finance, IT or even management.
Developing your skills can help you to advance in your current role, increase your chances of a promotion and help you stand out against other candidates when applying for a new job.
7. Embrace advice from others
If you’re not sure where you want your career to go, don’t be afraid to seek help. Ask friends and family over Chinese New Year for their advice. Do your own research online, looking at career advice websites or following industry experts on social media.
You should also consider contacting a recruitment agency. A recruitment consultant will not only be able to help you find work in your chosen industry, but will also talk you through your aspirations and provide expert advice that is tailored to you and your specific career plan.
8. Enjoy a break over Chinese New Year
Although this may sound counterintuitive, taking a break can actually help your career.
For once, don’t feel guilty about not working and just relax! Work-life balance is important, so time away from the office can enable you to clear your mind, become more focused and feel positive and ready to face the year ahead.
