Gong Xi Gong Xi! Chinese New Year is coming up, and most of us are filling or anticipating red packets, cooking for family, or… planning a more subdued celebration with the pandemic still looming.
But if you’re looking to get some cash this New Year, it’s best not to rely on those hong baos. Most of us want a more permanent source of improved income, be it through a raise, a better position, or some other means.
So we’ll start Chinese New Year with some new year nagging: You’ll never make great gains if you don’t start working on yourself!
We’re talking about things like…
1. Brushing up your CV and Cover Letter
This year of the Ox, apply his hard work and diligence to your own career. If you’re on the lookout for a job, the first thing to do is look over your CV and cover letter. Check out our tips and tricks for how to improve them and make a great first impression! (And don’t forget the USP Slide!)
Importantly, mention how the pandemic affected your work and how you dealt with it. If you were retrenched, use your cover letter to convey your enthusiasm for your next position and mention what you did in the intervening months. Start your new year with a new look – for yourself and your job!
2. Network Extensively
There may not be a reunion dinner, but family is always there for you. Reach out to friends and relatives for help and advice. We guarantee you’ll be surprised by the connections they will reveal!
Those who are jobsearching can make that fact known, so that relatives who know of openings can refer them to the proper connections. And if “how to get a promotion” is the question you want answered, others who work in your field may be a great source of tips.
3. Improve existing skills
Everyone dreads the nosy relative who asks how much everyone makes the reunion dinner. While you could avoid the question through social isolation, a better option is to have a paycheck you wouldn’t be ashamed to talk about (though of course, you don’t need to mention it if you don’t want to).
Net that raise by improving your job performance through a training course or diploma. This could be for a specific field, such as Kubernetes or Cybersecurity, or acquiring vital soft skills to better navigate your workplace or provide better customer service. And if you are on the lookout for a better position, a better-qualified resume can only help your chances.
4. Get a side business
Everyone has a friend or two who now runs an Etsy shop or does freelance consulting. Join these entrepreneurs by learning how to start your own business, or maybe taking your hobby to a professional level. Others have decided to learn new languages, from Chinese to Japanese to French, to get an edge in the market.
CNY is a time of meeting reconnecting with old friends and relatives, so use that opportunity – you might just meet your next business partner or a great new startup idea!
So while you scroll through new year’s greetings, scroll through the job postings on offer as well. You’ll be surprised at what wealth awaits from grasping a single chance!
New year photo created by freepik – www.freepik.com