Career Audit: The First Session

In this second piece, I focus entirely on doing your first career audit. You can find the first in the series about what career audits are, and why should consider doing one, at this link. For the first review session, I recommend blocking up to an hour of your time, and if you land up using less, then yay, free time. You can also break the three steps into different reviews if that feels more manageable. Set yourself in a comfortable space whether at a desk, on the couch. You will want to make sure you are in front of a screen where you can pull your LinkedIn profile up. For your resume review, you can use a printed version or one online; this is a personal preference (I spot errors more easily in the printed version). Finally for your action items: you know best if you are a write the to-do list down person or if you prefer putting stuff online.

Career Audit: Session 1

1. Resume review:
   • Spent at least 10 minutes reviewing your resume and making note of any updates that need to be made: Does it reflect your job title and responsibilities accurately? Are there any missing certifications? Is there stuff there that you want to delete? if you are volunteering or on a board, is it all there? The skeptics among you may be thinking what is the point, after all if I need a new job, it will be through referrals. You are most likely right but you will always need an accurate resume.
   • Outcome: A list of updates you need to make to your resume.
2. Feedback review:
   • Read your performance appraisals/reviews/any sort of feedback you have received professionally.
   • Try to get out of your head for this one. Read it as if you were looking at someone else's review.
   • Notice what stands out for you - does something feel particularly unfair? Is there appreciation you read and feel good about? Is your assessment of yourself in line with what you are reading - this is key. If there is a significant disconnect, that needs further follow-up.
   • Outcome: Make a list of skills and areas of learning which show up. It does not have to be too long, it does not need to include everything under the sun, just a few major things.
3. LinkedIn profile review:
   • If you don't have a LinkedIn profile, then instead of a review, you should set one up. There are many articles about this, here's one to get you started.
   • If you have one, have it open and check for the following:
     • Do you have a photograph?
     • Do you have a professional photograph?
     • Is your current title and organization listed?
     • Are all your positions listed?
     • Are there any certifications or degrees which are missing?
   • Outcome: Make a list of what needs to be updated on LinkedIn. Do you need a headshot? Do you need to transfer some descriptions over from your resume?

At this point, I would not be surprised if you feel tired or spent. This was A LOT. I recommend making sure you have your lists/next steps together - whether online or on paper - and leave them for now. If you were able to do this, you should be proud of yourself. It is not easy to invest in what does not seem urgent, especially when there are so many other things demanding your immediate attention. Your future self (or as I like to joke Shruti 2.0 v1) will benefit tremendously from this exercise.

Stay tuned for session 2!