You can now find My Career Advisor advice and resources, along with the AU Intern blog, and a host of new AU blogs at blogs.american.edu. Take a look, bookmark the new digs, update your RSS feed, and let us know what you think.

Thanks!

The new year is also a great time to think about your professional goals. Whether you’re a freshman deciding on internships or an alum starting a new career, use this time to think about where you are in your career and what steps you need to take to bring it to the next level.

Here are some sample career resolutions to consider:

• Maintain old relationships and build new ones. We know that networking is a critical aspect of career exploration and job searching. In 2011, keep in touch with personal contacts you’ve made over the years to learn more about what they do and what career-related information they can share. Use in-person and online networking opportunities to meet new people who can also offer their experiences.
• Develop a resume that best highlights skills and experiences. Think about your resume as your personal marketing tool. In that frame of mind, does it accurately represent who you are and the talents you bring to the table? Think beyond the duties of the jobs and internships you’ve previously held and consider what you actually accomplished and what skills you developed. Reflect your skills and accomplishments on your resume to catch the attention of employers.
• Find new ways to develop needed skills. In an earlier post we talked about some skills you’ve gained here at AU that will help you in a career. While AU does a great job of preparing you for the real world, you can still pursue other opportunities to develop professionally. For example, if you’d like to improve your writing, consider penning book reviews on Amazon or contributing to a blog. If you’d like to work on your interpersonal communication skills, join a group on- or off-campus and get some practice conversing with others.
• Consult with a career advisor. The AU Career Center is here to help you in your career journey. Speak with an advisor about where you are now and where you’d like to go. Ask for guidance in your search for the right job or internship.

What resolutions do you have for your career or internship search? How do you plan to meet your goals for 2011?

January 19 is the first deadline

http://www.gsvc.org/

Here are some GovLoop facts:

• As of today, there are more than 35,000 members representing government agencies at all levels, consulting firms and contractors in the United States and abroad.
• Much liked LinkedIn, GovLoop is used for professional social networking. No awkward photos or wall posts here.
• GovLoop is highly interactive. Members respectfully share ideas and opinions through blog posts, discussion forums and groups.

As with any new social networking site, getting started can be intimidating. Below is some advice I’ve paraphrased from my former colleague Josh Joseph to help you become an active GovLoop member:

• Make a professional profile. Indicate your experience and areas of interest. Include an appropriate photo of yourself.
• Find fellow members near you. As a student in Washington, DC, you have access to thousands of professionals working in careers related to government. Use the search feature to look for individuals working locally on issues you care about. Ask them to become a “friend.”
• Become a member of relevant groups. GovLoop offers a search engine and a directory of groups to make it easy to find groups. Consider joining agency- and issue-specific groups and others that pique your interest.
• Join (and lead) the discussion. Offer your opinions and insight in any of GovLoop’s daily discussions. Create new discussions and encourage others to participate and share their thoughts.

By being active on GovLoop, you will likely make new professional connections, and you might wish to continue networking with these individuals online or in-person. These connections can help you to explore your professional interests and potential career paths. And, if you’re so inclined, add me as a GovLoop friend!

Here is a brief winter reading list to help you think about your future career and the things you can do now to set yourself up for success.

1. You Majored in What?: Mapping Your Path From Chaos to Career by Katharine Brooks

If you’re feeling lost in the chaos of your career search, there are a number of steps you can take now to get some clarity. Of course, you can pay a visit to the Career Center. You can also read You Majored In What?, a book that will help you take a positive approach to career decisions by using your multitude of talents and interests to find clues about potential career paths. Brooks guides you through a series of exercises to help you learn more about yourself and how you can leverage your skills in a rewarding career.

2. Getting From College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World by Lindsey Pollak

Author Lindsey Pollak was once in your shoes. She can relate to the stress of making major career decisions, and her book offers a series of tasks that you can undertake to be successful in your job search. Pollak’s advice largely echoes that of your Career Advisor, including maximizing opportunities to network with professionals, taking plenty of time to prepare for interviews and managing your reputation on the Internet.

3. Jobs That Matter: Finding a Stable, Fulfilling Career in Public Service by Heather Krasna

Many AU students have a strong desire to serve others and are therefore attracted to careers in the public sector. Jobs That Matter offers some great tips to help you find and apply for opportunities in government (at all levels), nonprofits and other organizations. The book also features helpful profiles of professionals working in these industries.

4.  Ask For It: How Women Can Use the Power of Negotiation to Get What They Really Want by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever

While this book won’t help you determine which career is right for you, it will teach you the important skill of negotiation. In their first book, Women Don’t Ask, Babcock and Laschever found that men negotiate salary and promotions at a much higher rate than women. In Ask For It,  Babcock and Laschever offer a four-phase strategy to help professional women improve their negotiation skills. And even though the authors’ research centers on bolstering the bargaining power of women, the advice in this book is equally helpful to men hoping to become more comfortable with negotiation.

The Foundation also provides cash grants to enable student photographers to have the financial ability to produce a picture story that furthers the Foundation’s goals of promoting world peace and cultural understanding.