How to Ring in 2017: 5 Easy Things to Do!

Happy new year! 5 easy things to do now for your career:

Update your LinkedIn account. Does it have a good photo? Did you include your latest awards, publications, talks, or achievements? You want prospective employers and clients to find you for the right reasons.
Understand what the job market is doing right now. To get a snapshot, enter your title/field of expertise on indeed.com. See how many jobs come up and what employers are looking for.
Fill in any holes in your skill set. Do you meet the key requirements of job descriptions you pulled up on indeed.com? If so, add those keywords and hot topics to your resume and LinkedIn profile. If not, make a plan to acquire those skills.
Make your own luck. You have to be self-aware to get yourself in the right place at the right time. Identify the power brokers determining your career. What kind of impression do they have of you? How do you strengthen or change that impression? Are you looking to change jobs or industries? If so, who can connect you to these new areas? Serve as your own zealous advocate, and create a plan!
Talk to people, not just about work! Lawyers notoriously hide at their desk, but to get referred jobs, you need to stay top of mind and to forge a connection. Show interest in your clients beyond the transaction you are working on, for example. Reach out to old coworkers and classmates now, when you don’t need anything from them! (Who wants a call or email out of the blue asking for help?)