Yahoo Finance 6 Tips for Transitioning Your Summer Career Habits Into Fall
As tans begin to fade and summer winds down, there's no denying it: Crisp fall mornings are on the horizon. And while the past several months were probably characterized by a more casual dress code, summer Friday hours, a lax schedule and a lighter commute, the onset of fall means it's time to shift gears.
As temperatures start cooling off, both work schedules and job-searching regimens typically ramp up to full form. Here are several ways to ease the transition and get into the zone to focus on a successful autumn for your career:
1. Forget summer hours. Sure, you may be accustomed to working from home more than usual or calling it quits on Fridays at 3 p.m., noon or perhaps earlier. But after Labor Day, the first week or two you'll feel an adjustment to your schedule.
[See: 8 Ways to Beat the Mid-Afternoon Slump.]
On the flip side, even though you'll likely be working more hours, there may be more interesting projects in store. Your workload will probably ramp up as your schedule fills with meetings over the next few weeks. Just set those expectations for yourself and look at it as a chance to be more productive.
2. Get networking. As PTO schedules wind down, face time can and should ramp up now that people are back from vacations. Use this as an opportunity to start getting time on people's calendars, and as you reach out, make it a priority to be diligent about following up as well.
Whether you're looking to land informational interviews with new contacts, build on existing contacts or share information, you should make it a priority to stay on top of schedules as people will probably be more available when they initially get back to the office. That said, the first several weeks of September may be hectic as everyone adjusts to their new schedules and heavier workloads, so continue to persistently follow up to get face-to-face meetings scheduled on your calendar.
3. Be mindful of clothing. In case your human resources department doesn't issue an official reminder about casual summer clothing being a thing of the past, refresh your knowledge just in case by looking on your company's intranet site.
From your footwear to the fabric of the clothing itself, ask yourself if you would be proud of how you look if the CEO were to come into your office and stop by your desk without warning.
Consider this as well: Just in case your office is still super casual and the company culture is lax throughout the year, dress appropriately. That means you should ditch the flip flops. How you dress equates to how people perceive you and, most importantly, it's a reflection of how you perceive yourself. Leverage the fall as a time to add to your wardrobe and strive for a polished look.
[See: 10 Job Resolutions to Revitalize Your Career in 2016.]
4. Overestimate commutes. Before roads and subways get packed again, take a moment to bask in the glory of the lighter commutes of the past several months.
The moment's over: Now remember to leave early enough to get to your job on time! As you're making that transition into a heavier commute, treat it like you're new on the job. Take it seriously, and leave enough time to get to work early. And on the way home, leverage additional time to perhaps enjoy listening to a newly discovered podcast during your commute.
5. Plan your daily schedules. As your schedule gets more packed during the workday with meetings, calls and potentially more work, make the most out of it by staying in full-on work mode. In case you checked out during the summer (and this applies to your job search as well), be grateful for the fall as a time to get back into the zone and pursue opportunities -- internal and external -- to amp up your career game.
[See: 16 Things You're Doing All Wrong on LinkedIn.]
6. Make time for you. As you take care of your career by getting on your boss's calendar to revisit your goals and meet with your mentor and mentee, don't forget to take care of yourself as well. The New Year isn't the only time for resolutions!
As beach days fade away, ensure your professional and personal schedules don't get too intense on all levels at all times. Remember, take time for you. The more self-care you practice outside of work, whether it's yoga, a photography class, running club or other hobby, the greater the chances are that you'll be more productive and happy back on the job as well.
Vicki Salemi is an author, public speaker, columnist and career expert for Monster, a global leader in successfully connecting people and job opportunities. Utilizing empowering insights from her more than 15 years of experience as a former corporate recruiter, Vicki advises job seekers through regularly contributed articles to publications like Forbes.com, and in interviews with many top media outlets, such as NBC News and USA Today. More information can be found on Twitter @vickisalemi and @monster.
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