Happy New Year!

Today is the last day of 2010. For many people, the start of a new year is a time to make changes. Not me. I don’t believe in making new years resolutions, and if you’re serious about your career, neither should you.

I’ve made several changes in my life this year. Earlier in the year, I quit smoking. Currently, I’m working on not letting my dirty dishes sit over night. These were areas that I needed to improve and so I took action. There’s nothing special or magical about January 1st. The new year doesn’t imbibe you with any extra willpower. If you need to change something in your life, don’t wait for a special date like New Year’s Day or a birthday. Identify the problem, fix it and move on. It takes 21 days of repetition to form a habit and a lot longer than that to break one. So tonight and tomorrow, make the decision to take action in your life, but do it because it needs to be done and not because of the calendar!

Fill Up That Resume

A story in Am Law Daily suggests that while hiring in the legal industry is set to raise by seven percent in January 2011 from the current month, employers aren’t looking to the unemployed pool of lawyers to add on to their firms.

While by some standards it may feel like a catch 22 to be a recently laid-off lawyer who cannot find work because of your employment status, I have one sentiment to reiterate: LIFE ISN’T FAIR! Additionally, you have a responsibility to secure employment again and fight the stigma that is associated with being unemployed.

It’s important to stay busy while looking for a new job, and this applies to people in every industry, not just the law. Potential employers feel better about hiring someone who has filled the gaps in their resume, and staying active and involved is important for mental health. Here are some things you can do that will both keep you motivated and fill in any resume gaps:

1) Start A Blog:

Ideal topics for your blog will have to do with your profession. For example, if you’re a paralegal, start a job about the ins-and-outs of being a paralegal. If you’re a graphic designer, start a blog that tracks your latest designs. The key to starting a successful blog is finding your niche and really sticking with it.

2) Work Freelance

Network with your friends and family and see if there’s anything you can help them out with. It’s a great way to make money when you’re unemployed, keeps your skills sharp and gives you a line on your resume.

3) Work Pro-Bono

Commit some time to volunteering, especially in your given profession. Public service always looks good on a resume, and will definitely help fill that dreaded employment gap! Volunteerism is also a terrific way to network and often times can lead to paid positions further down the road.

Keep Up And Show Off

Nowadays, information on any and every topic is at your fingertips. Just hop on a computer, and you’ve got millions of websites, online forums, and online communities dispensing information of every type.

Remember this cliche: Knowledge is power!

This is the absolute truth, my friends. Knowledge is power. Whatever your industry is, know what’s happening in it. If you can walk into the office, or into a job interview, loaded with all of the ins and outs of your industries happenings, you’re going to demonstrate your passion for what you do, which is something employers definitely want to see.

If you can display this knowledge, it’s going to show employers and potential employers that you know what the people on top are doing and how they got there. In turn, they’ll see you as someone who is poised to raise in the ranks.

Use the internet wisely, people. There’s all sorts of information waiting for you. Are you looking for it?