Want to Get A Head Start …?
THE JANUARY JUMP: WARM UP
Happy New Year!
We will begin the January Jump on 8th January. If you are ready and raring to go sooner, you might like to get ahead with these optional warm up tasks.
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Warm Up Tasks
Here are a few simple things you can do to get ready for the January Jump.
1. Your Email Address
Whether you are job searching, hoping to return to work, or aiming to step up in your career, you will need a personal email address for applications, your CV, setting up meetings and more. Before the Jump begins in earnest, this is a good time to take a moment to check your email address.
These days, it is best practice to use a Googlemail email account, usually configured as firstname.surname@gmail.com. If your name is already taken, you may need to add a location or some numbers (not your year of birth) in order to secure your chosen email address.
Why not use Hotmail, Yahoo, AOL or other emails? Whilst there is no absolute rule against using them, most recruiters, headhunters and employers we deal with (including Internationally) consider these other email options to be slightly dated. You may have been an early adopter when you first set up your Hotmail or Yahoo email address, but most people have since moved on to Gmail, and it has become the expected default.
Gmail is free and quick to set up. This new email address can be used solely for work/career emails if you so choose, with an auto-forwarder set up to send any emails to your existing email address.
2. Dig Out Your CV
Most of us have a CV. It may be in need of a little polishing, an update, or a complete overhaul. For now, simply find the latest version of your CV and store it ready for the Jump.
If you don’t have a CV – or can’t find yours – don’t panic. Spend just a few minutes now writing down your job titles, education/qualifications, and relevant dates. During the Jump you will work on completing relevant sections of your CV.
3. Find Your LinkedIn Logins
If you have a LinkedIn profile, ensure that you have your login details to hand. You don’t need to do anything else – in fact, please don’t do anything else yet. We will take you through a step-by-step process for updating/polishing your LinkedIn during the Jump.
4. Clear Your Desk or Workspace
A tidy desk equals a tidy mind, or so a previous boss of mine used to say as he raised an eyebrow at my messy desk. While that may or may not be true, and I often confounded him by finding exactly what I needed in my ‘organised’ piles of papers, it is true that empty space brings a sense of peace to most people. And with less visual clutter in the way, it’s easier to focus on the task at hand.
So, whether you are going to be working on the Jump at your office desk, home office, on your dining table or in a cafe, aim to start with a clear workspace.
5. Notebook at the Ready
I recommend keeping your notes for the Jump together somewhere. As we progress through the Jump, the tasks build on each other, so you will refer back to previous tasks and will want to have those notes to hand. You may want to get a new notebook, or create a new folder for the Jump notes on your laptop or mobile: whatever works best for you.
Now you are all set up and ready to jump into the Jump! We’ll be back in touch with the first Jump task on 8th January. Looking forward to getting started!
Coming up in the January Jump…
Stay tuned for free advice, expert tips and easy tasks to help you update your CV and LinkedIn, make your next career move, and much more…
Find out more about the January Jump on the January Jump Homepage.
Join in the January Jump Conversation
Ask a question or let us know how you are getting on with your January Jump.
If you would rather ask your question privately, email us with the word “private” in your email title. We aim to answer all questions publicly (because someone else will probably be wondering the same thing) but we can do so without using your name.
Sorry we cannot provide legal advice or bespoke career advice as part of the Jump.
Please contact us separately if you would like to enquire about these services.
Already joined the Jump? We’re delighted to have you on board. Please ensure you have confirmed your email address (you should have received an email from us, which you need to click).
How about inviting some friends to join you? Research shows that people who talk about their goals are much more likely to achieve them. Signing up for the Jump is a fantastic first step. But what about inviting a friend or two to join you – to nudge you along and help celebrate at the end?
Want to share the Jump with your workplace or network? Great! Please get in touch and we’ll help you to spread the word.