Students blog

It’s finally here! We’ve made it another 365 days around the sun, so you know what time it is…It’s time to make your New Year’s Resolution!! If you feel stuck in a rut or intimidated, don’t fret. Follow these steps to set an achievable goal to work towards over the next twelve months.

1. Start by reflecting on this year.

Reminisce on the high and lows, the triumphs, and the challenges. Take a look over your personal journal entries that you’ve written over the year. Recognizing all of what you’ve experienced during the last year can help you home in on where and how you want to improve.

2. Think about just one goal and the several ways you can achieve it.

Try to avoid taking on more than you can handle. You never know what circumstances or curveballs the new year can throw at you, so commit to just one resolution. However, you should be thinking about multiple ways in which you can accomplish it. For instance, if your resolution is to prioritize physical fitness, recognize that it doesn’t mean you have to go to the gym all the time. You could do at-home workouts, do yoga beside your bed in the morning, go on hikes with friends, incorporate more fruits and veggies into your diet, or reduce the number of sugary drinks you consume. You have more freedom than you think when it comes to setting resolutions, so don’t make it monotonous – try to have fun with it!

3. Write down your New Year’s resolution.

Once you’ve decided on your goal, make it concrete! It is scientifically proven that you are more likely to achieve your goals when you write them down, so write your resolution in a journal or use your creativity by making a vision board. Whatever your choice, make sure you put it in a place where you can see it every day so you can be reminded of your commitment and receive the motivation you need to take action and follow through with your resolution.

4. Check in with yourself regularly.

If you write down your resolution and look at it every day, it should be pretty hard to forget about it, but things happen! Put daily or weekly reminders in your phone to ensure you remain accountable to what you committed. At the end of each month, self-reflect and record your progress to see if you’re already fulfilling your ambitions or are on track to meet your goal by year’s end. If you need to make any adjustments to what you’re doing, feel free to put those into place at this point.

Feeling more prepared now? Good – because you’ve got this in the bag!! Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

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What is one of the most important responsibilities of a college student? Selling yourself. More specifically, selling yourself in writing. Given our increasingly competitive environments, students have had to do this more than ever before! Whether your objective is to get hired by a recruiter, or just to request a favor from a busy individual, excellent communication skills are a MUST. Your utmost goal is to show that you are one in a million, not one of a million. In this brief article, I will highlight several tips for writing stellar emails.

Be GENUINE.

Be you. If you are not, you are fooling yourself and the recruiter. And you could end up in a job that makes you miserable.

Show two qualities – warmth and competence.

Warmth, so that they will want to enjoy a coffee with you. Competence, so that they will want to hire you. Can you think of a story that might make the person smile, or even laugh?

Mention mutual connections.

Name someone you know whom the individual you are writing to also knows (and respects). Or have that someone introduce the two of you. Mutual connections are a great element in building rapport.

Find similarities.

Try to compare yourself to the individual. Or mention something you have learned from them. Example: “Like you, I decided my strength was in finance, not marketing.”

Keep it brief.

Make sure there is an “ask” or next step. Keep the ask small and specific. Be direct. Make it easy to say “Yes!”

Check it for accuracy!

Then, check it a second and third time! Ensure proper grammar and spelling of names.

BONUS TIP:

With increased virtual communication, email introductions have become dull and typical. Try something new to impress your audience! Here is an example.

“I hope this email finds you well.” NO. This makes you one of a million.

“Greetings from sunny California!” YES! This sets you apart.

By applying these simple steps to your email content, you will surely stand out and display yourself as a remarkable candidate. Well, what are you waiting for? Go and reach out to that recruiter you have in mind! Best of luck!

Pearson Students: What are your favorite email openings? Share in the comments below!