By Nichole Dunne

If you’re like me, you might love all the Life Hack posts online. There are so many hacks out there to make life easier, like how to use a Mason Jar for just about anything, to learning how to waterproof your new Spring shoes with Bees Wax for that next rain shower.

As a recruiter, a common question received from job seekers is what are the best “hacks” on how to begin online networking. If you are in the job market now or may be in the future, you might already have your own experiences in how meeting new people has helped you in your career path. But when growing our network can be a full-time job in itself, where do we start? And how?

In a technology driven world, the solution begins at our fingertips. Just like anything, it’s best to keep things simple by taking things step by step, and not get overwhelmed by the number of resources out there.

Before starting to network, it’s important to know what you are looking to achieve. Whether you have a specific position in mind for your next role, or you are simply wanting a change and seeking career suggestions from others, make sure to have an objective in mind. Reflect on what you do and do not enjoy about your current or most recent job to help identify what is meaningful to you, then do research to develop a goal that will lead you in the right direction.

With today’s society utilizing Social Media as a leading form of communication, LinkedIn with its 433 million members in 2016 is a top resource for you to meet new people and build your network. If you don’t already have a page or it could use some attention, personalize your profile to include details of your strengths and goals for what you would like to achieve. Be professional, but go wild! — This is your place to showcase your accomplishments! You can find profile tips here.

The key to remember with networking is that it takes time. Do not go button-crazy with requesting connections of people you do not know. Instead, find groups where you can share your own expertise along with your interests of growing your career. Focus on the personal relationships you have with each new connection, and this starts with finding common ground with those you want to know better.

By providing your own expertise and offering to help others in your own shared industry, the relationships you will build through time will open that networking door for you.

Thanks for tuning in to Paper Trail by Corporate Brokers! We know you’re dying to start building your online network and you should definitely check out our LinkedIn page while you do it!

Nichole Dunne is a National Account Manager at Corporate Brokers. She works with clients in the financial and pharmaceutical industries, matching them with candidates with experience in operations, finance, business analysis, and project management. When she’s not at work, you can find her tackling the latest DIY project on her list, hiking, or dancing her heart out at EDM concerts! Say hi on LinkedIn!

The Best Hacks for Online Networking was originally published in Paper Trail by Corporate Brokers on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Today is International Women’s Day! Around the world, people are celebrating what it means to be a woman.

Women have struggled for centuries, and continue to struggle today, for equality, rights, freedom, and respect in their communities. One place this struggle seems to be ever-present is in the workplace.

We believe in the power of empowering fellow females to be their very best, so we decided to round up all the ladies at Corporate Brokers and ask them to share their advice and stories for other women:

“I heard this piece of advice for women in the workplace that has stuck with me, it’s: ‘don’t apologize’. Women are often scared to be themselves, constructively criticize someone’s work, or offer opposition because they’re afraid of being called the dreaded “B” word. We don’t have to be afraid of being a woman — it’s who we are. We need to be more confident being who we are, saying what we feel, and getting the results we commit to.”

— Anne Riddle, Business Development Executive

“Don’t let anyone tell you what your goals should be or how you should achieve them. You (and only you) can decide what’s right for yourself. Sometimes deciding on those goals takes time, so don’t feel pressured to have a plan for every single thing in your career. Do what you think is right for you. Everyone else’s words are merely suggestions or distractions.”

— Madison Jeffery, Marketing & Brand Strategist

“Any woman can rule the world with a determined mindset and a really comfy pair of high heels.” — Alex Ambrose, Recruiter

“I love this quote from Justin Timberlake’s speech at the iHeartRadio Music Awards: ‘Anyone who has treated you unkindly, it’s only because they’re afraid or they have been taught to be afraid of how important you are. Because being different means you make a difference.’ I think it really applies to women and how our differences allow us to make a different kind of impact on something than men.”

— Alissa Gruetter, Accountant

“Set small goals for yourself instead of huge unattainable goals. Chip away at your small goals and your ultimate successes will follow. Know who your competition is and always be one step ahead, working harder than they are.

In addition, find balance early on in your career. Women need to find the balance for self-care, social relationships, and work demands. To set yourself ahead of your colleagues and on the path for success it is imperative to take care of yourself both physically and mentally. Put yourself first and don’t say yes to everything.”

— Faith Wildesen, Business Development Executive

“Speak up for what you want. Make it known what your career aspirations are!” — Janell Toliver, Recruiter

“Have thick skin and never lose sight of your goals — you’ll reach them! I was the first woman in Corporate Brokers history to hit the Power Brokers Contest. I will be the first woman who is not a spouse attending the Power Brokers Trip; changing the game and the dynamic of an elite group of individuals after nearly 14 years!”

— Stacy Klein, Executive Search Associate

“Always be yourself and be proud. Never let anyone intimidate you. Whenever I get nervous around male colleagues I just think: we are all human, everyone puts their pants on the same way every morning, don’t be scared!, and it works. We are all equal, whether our peers are male or female.”

— Amy Nesspor, Recruiter

“Don’t let anyone tell you how you are supposed to react, what you can achieve, or how assertive you should be based on being a woman.” — Carsen McBride, Recruiter

“Forget about trying to be perfect. Set yourself up for success by much preparation and focus on being strong and confident rather than focusing on past mistakes. There’s so much pressure on a woman which makes it easy to fall into the idea of needing to be the perfect business woman while being the perfect girlfriend, wife, mother, friend, etc. Be your best self; perfect does not exist.”

— Nichole Dunne, National Account Manager

“Be reliable, own your responsibilities. Trust in your ability, but don’t be afraid (or too proud) to ask for help.”

— Barb Amabile, Business Operations Manager

“Surround yourselves by others on the same mission as you! And they don’t have to be people of the same sex. Be a part of companies and organizations that want you to be a successful and support you on your mission to be so. Be friends with women that you admire and that make you feel empowered. Mentor younger women and take them under your wing. Never apologize for anything related being a woman — whether it’s having an off day because of cramps, your heel broke, needing a clean area to use a breast pump, or getting teary eyed after a powerful meeting. Revel in the magic that it is to be a woman and never forget it! :)”

— Patricia Alderton, Recruiter

We hope you’re as inspired by the women around you as we are. There are few things more important for women (and everyone else around the globe) than to support each other and stick together! Happy International Women’s Day!

Thanks for reading our post on Paper Trail by Corporate Brokers! If you haven’t yet, you should totally click the little green heart below to recommend this article to others. Oh, and check out our open positions so you can get an awesome job that let’s you be the best lady boss you can be!

Career Advice & Inspiring Stories from the Boss Ladies of Corporate Brokers was originally published in Paper Trail by Corporate Brokers on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

1. You spend forever creating and formatting the perfect resume.

2. You scour the internet for open positions that are even remotely related to your skill set.

3. You go back and tailor your resume to fit the job description and craft the most amazing cover letter on the face of the planet.

4. After what feels like years and 70 billion submitted applications, you get a call for a phone interview.

5. You go into stalker mode and find out every single bit of information you can about the company and your interviewer.

6. You power through the always awkward phone interview and pass with flying colors.

7. It’s the best day ever when you’re invited for an in-person interview.

8. You practice your elevator pitch in the mirror and go over every possible interview question someone could ask you.

9. You try on every suitable piece of interview clothing you own before finding the perfect outfit.

10. You go to the interview and absolutely crush it.

11. You call your friends, your parents, your grandma, and your dog to tell them all you totally nailed it and will probably get a congratulatory call from the President any minute for your stellar performance.

12. A few days go by and you start to panic because you haven’t heard anything from the hiring manager.

13. You slave over the perfect follow up email and then feel like a bothersome pest when you send it.

14. You spiral into an ice cream-filled abyss of waiting to hear back from anyone.

15. You FINALLY hear from the hiring manager and (hopefully) have a confetti gun ready because YOU GOT HIRED!

Hey! Thanks for checking out Paper Trail by Corporate Brokers! If you need a little help with the roller coaster that is the job hunt, have no fear, you can check out our open positions and get in touch with a recruiter!

Don’t forget to hit the little green heart and recommend this article to others. We’d really appreciate it!

The Stages of the Job Hunt Explained in GIFs was originally published in Paper Trail by Corporate Brokers on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

By Madison Jeffery

Getting rejected from a potential employer (or anyone else for that matter) is probably one of the worst feelings ever. You put all that time into tailoring your resume to the job description, writing the perfect cover letter, going to interviews, and figuring out how to follow up without being the most annoying person ever, all to have them say “Eh, thanks but we’re gonna pass.”

It’s extremely frustrating, but dealing with rejection is something everyone has to do. We know after a big rejection (like one from a dream employer) you might feel like throwing in the towel, screaming at the top of your lungs, and going to live with the penguins in the arctic. While penguins are pretty awesome, there are definitely more practical ways to get yourself moving forward in the job hunt.

Take a breather.

It’s okay to take a few days or even a week off from your job hunt. Especially if this particular rejection came from an employer you were super excited about. Take the free time to treat yourself to a drink, a nice dinner, or something else that helps you de-stress. You’ve put in a lot of hard work up to this point and it’s important to reward yourself for it.

Ask for feedback.

This one can be difficult for some people, but it can also be really helpful for future interviews. If possible, email your interviewer thanking them for their time and ask for some feedback. What did they like or dislike about your resume? Your interview skills? Where do they think you could improve the most? Having those tips from a hiring manager can do wonders for you when you’re prepping for the next interview.

Keep a positive attitude.

Probably the most imperative point of everything we’ve talked about in this article, keeping a positive attitude is key to maintaining a successful job search. It’s easy to let yourself fall into a deep, dark hole of “I’m never going to find a job and I’ll have to live with my mom forever.” That hole isn’t helping you get a new job. If you’re having trouble staying positive, try reading an inspirational book about a person you idolize.

Doing the three things listed above will definitely give you a boost when it comes to moving forward after a rejection. Always remember, something awesome will come along and you’ll get to leave those rejections in the past (although we won’t judge if you do end up going to live with penguins — we’ll totally come visit).

Thanks so much for checking out our latest post on Paper Trail by Corporate Brokers. If you don’t feel like going to live with penguins and want to check out new jobs instead, you can do so here.

Madison Jeffery is Corporate Brokers’ Marketing & Brand Strategist. She handles everything branding, marketing, and communications. When she’s not at work, you can find her with her nose in a book or stopping to pet every dog she sees on the street. Check her out on LinkedIn!

3 Ways to Move Forward After a Rejection was originally published in Paper Trail by Corporate Brokers on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

By Tyler Stubbs

Everyone knows how stressful work can get. Many people dedicate the majority of their lives to work in order to provide for themselves and their families. But being at work so much doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. You can totally have fun during work hours (without getting in trouble).

It’s vital to bring some fun into the office every once in a while. Creating time for the team to come together and relax gives everyone the opportunity to learn, understand, and appreciate each other. Why are these things so important? I’m here to tell you.

It makes people happy.

You can generally assume that people are happy when they’re having fun. That’s why it’s called fun! Increased levels of happiness in employees can lead to increased productivity. When work gets stressful, take a moment to step away and focus on the good parts of your day. When you return to your desk, you’ll have a revived positive mindset which will help you get more done.

It relieves tension.

It’s easy to get caught up in work problems with team members. It’s certainly not news to anyone that not everyone in the office is going to get along 100% of the time (sometimes, you just want to hurl your stapler at Bob because he won’t stop talking so loud. Pro-tip: don’t throw the stapler). Making time for the team to come together and think/talk about something other than work provides an opportunity to release some of that stapler-throwing anger.

Another great way to bond? Have everyone participate in competitive team events. Putting employees in a situation that forces them to work together, stay positive, and come up with a solution is a great tool for creating tight bonds around the office.

It gives your mind a break.

Sometimes, you just can’t think straight. Which isn’t always helpful when you’re trying to solve a problem or complete a project at work. Best trick? Put whatever you’re stuck on down, take 15 minutes to go do something fun (like eat all the cookies in the kitchen) and walk it off. Then, you can pick your project back up and come at it with a clean slate.

According to the book 301 Ways to Have Fun at Work, there is a direct link between levels of fun at work and levels of productivity, good customer service, creativity, and innovation. Everyone likes to have fun, so try bringing some into the office! It’ll pay off in a big way.

Hey! Thanks a bunch for checking out Paper Trail by Corporate Brokers! Looking to land a job in an office where there’s a whole lot of fun? We’ve got you covered. Check out our open positions here.

Tyler Stubbs is a recruiter at Corporate Brokers. He helps candidates in the marketing/communications, analytics, accounting, and HR industries find their perfect job. When he isn’t match-making, you can find him playing poker, reading, or watching sports. Say hello on LinkedIn!

The Importance of Fun in the Office was originally published in Paper Trail by Corporate Brokers on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

By Madison Jeffery

Navigating the career world isn’t easy. Which is exactly why we write this blog. Lucky for you, there are tons of resources out there besides Paper Trail to help you figure things out. This week, we’ve compiled a list of our favorites:

How to Spring Clean Your Social Media Platforms (and Make Them Recruiter-Ready)

How to Spring Clean Your Social Media Platforms (and Make Them Recruiter-Ready)

This article from our friends at The Muse is a great tool for making sure you’re on the right social media platforms and that they’re helping you get further in you job search. They outline reasons for using and best practices for platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram, as well as Pinterest and Snapchat. Even if you feel like you have a pretty good handle on social media, you should read this article — it’s got great tips for every level of user.

Go From Wannabe to Being With This Important Mindset Shift

Go From Wannabe to Being With This Important Mindset Shift

This amazing post from Robin Camarote on Inc. is great motivation for anyone, but especially impactful for those of us who struggle with validating our skills and dreams. Wannabe Syndrome is something many people struggle with, especially when trying to break into a new field or accomplish a dream that isn’t widely “approved of”. Robin outlines awesome tips to help you change your mindset about achieving your goals and validating your actions for yourself.

4 Reasons You Don’t Like Networking (and 4 Better Options You Will Like!)

4 Reasons You Don't Like Networking (and 4 Better Options You Will Like!)

Another great piece from The Muse, this article is for every person who has ever been awkward at a networking event (don’t lie, we’ve all been there). The truth is, networking events can be unbelievably helpful for your career and sometimes they’re a necessary evil. Luckily, there are ways to make sure you enjoy yourself as outline in The Muse’s post.

What It’s Really Like to Work Remotely

What It’s Really Like To Work Remotely

One of our very own articles (and one of the top three most popular on Paper Trail), gets those of you considering or transitioning to remote work an inside look at what it’s really like to work from home. With first-hand input from our remote consultants, you can get an idea of what working from home involves and if it’ll be feasible for you.

11 Awesome Pieces of Advice We Heard From Sophia Bush, Michelle Obama and Other Mentors This Year

11 Awesome Pieces of Advice We Heard From Sophia Bush, Michelle Obama and Other Mentors This Year

Who run the world? Girls! And the ladies featured in this inspirational article from Levo will help the boss ladies and gents in the business world claim their thrones as well. A great read for a quick, motivational boost that will have you pushing through a work slump in no time.

What are some articles that have helped you in your career? Let us know in the comments. We can’t wait to read them!

Hi there! Thanks so much for reading Paper Trail by Corporate Brokers. We know you’re feeling pretty good after all the inspirational articles in this post, so take that good energy and apply for one of our open positions.

Madison Jeffery is Corporate Brokers’ Junior Marketing Associate. She handles everything branding, marketing, and communications. When she’s not at work, you can find her with her nose in a book or stopping to pet every dog she sees on the street. Check her out on LinkedIn!

These 5 Articles Are the Career Boost You Need was originally published in Paper Trail by Corporate Brokers on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

By Dan Donohue

When candidates embark on the job hunt, many are searching for the ideal permanent position with a vast array of benefits and long-term security. Sounds good, right?

As nice as it may be to find the perfect permanent position, it’s not always a possibility. According to the American Staffing Association, more than three million temporary and contract employees work for America’s staffing companies during an average week. Not to mention, over the course of a year, America’s staffing companies hire nearly 16 million temporary and contract employees. So when you’re on a job search, make sure not to look past any contract positions as you may be passing on your next great career opportunity.

I know it can be difficult to see the benefits of a contract position if you’ve never had one before, so I decided to lay them out for you:

You can get back to work quickly.

Searching for a permanent job can be a long and drawn-out process. There are multiple steps, interviews, and approvals that need to get done on top of the hiring manager’s regular duties. That means you and other candidates might be pushed to the back burner if something important comes up. When you’re in line for a contract position, you’re usually working with a recruiter whose sole job it is to get you hired. That expedites the hiring process.

You can evaluate before you commit.

Contract jobs often come with the opportunity for permanent employment after the contract period. The best part about it being a contract? You get to seriously evaluate the employer and the employer gets to evaluate you. It’s a great opportunity to see if the organization is somewhere you can envision yourself working long-term.

It could turn into a permanent role.

As I mentioned above, many contract positions can lead to a permanent role with the client. The American Staffing Association states that one-third of contract employees were offered a permanent job by a client where they worked on an assignment. Getting your foot in the door at top-notch organizations can open a lot of doors for you down the road.

You gain new skills.

Taking on a contract assignment is an awesome way to meet new people and make yourself marketable for future positions. You’ll usually have access to a ton of colleagues with varied skill sets, so it’s easy to rub shoulders with them and learn new things. Once you’ve got those new skills down? Add them to your resume.

It builds up your network.

There’s no question about it, when you work in a contract role, you’re going to meet new people and expand your network. Networking has become a key component in landing a job in today’s market. Having a large and varied group of professionals you can talk to allows you to learn about job opportunities that may not even be on the market yet and can lead to getting your resume in front of the right person. Whether you’re actively or passively job searching, cultivating relationships in the workplace is always rewarding.

Looking for a new job is never easy, but if you were counting out contract positions, it was probably even harder. Now that you know how great contract roles can be, you’re opening a whole new book of opportunities.

Hi! Thanks for reading Paper Trail by Corporate Brokers! We’re guessing after that amazing article that you’re about ready to get hired at a new contract position, so check out our job board and apply for one today!

Dan Donohue is a business development executive at Corporate Brokers.

5 Awesome Things You Never Knew About Contract Positions was originally published in Paper Trail by Corporate Brokers on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

By Madison Jeffery

The New Year can be an extraordinarily exciting time in life. It’s a chance to start fresh, come up with awesome goals for yourself, and recharge your batteries in life, work, and other areas. But it can also be a pretty daunting time if you’re not quite sure how exactly you’re supposed to achieve all those things.

I actually get super stressed out when I think about the New Year. I have all these people asking me what my resolutions are or what I want to achieve or how I want to change in regards to my career in 2017. Well… the short answer? I have no clue, guys. Making time to think about my work life so deeply is, quite frankly, frightening and difficult.

Now, that’s not to say it shouldn’t be done. So for my pre-New Year resolution, I decided to find the answer. How will I kill it in my career during 2017? When in doubt (and with no extra book reading time), I head to my digital podcast library. Here are the three podcasts you need if you’re like me, and want to know the best way to rock your career next year.

Find Your Dream Job

This podcast covers everything from finding a job to advancing your career to loving your current gig. It’s a great motivator with actual tips and stories to help you get going at work. Here’s a quick 5 minute bonus episode about finding your passion:

Paychecks & Balances

In this podcast, hosts Rich and Marcus take you through ways to get your life together financially and professionally “without boring you to sleep”. Every Tuesday, they release a new episode (usually aimed at young professionals) full of actionable tips. My favorite part? Their style. It’s like you’re sitting in the room, having a conversation with friends rather than listening to a radio show. Here’s an awesome episode:

PB19: Make Yourself Indispensable | Paychecks & Balances

Career Day

Career Day, hosted by Carissa Weiser, is a new podcast that chronicles the stories of people in their careers. Need to get inspired? This is your ticket. Carissa talks to people around the world and turns their career stories into a must-listen narrative. Disclaimer: you’re going to get addicted to this one. Here’s an episode for you to check out:

Risk - Career Day

If you’re like me, and many others out there, it’s not always easy to come up with career goals for an entire year the week before January 1st. The bottom line is: don’t feel rushed. Even if you come up with a small goal, you’ve done something. To come up with your big ones, check out these podcasts and really think on where you see yourself in the coming months. Good luck and be sure to recommend other motivating podcasts you love in the comments!

Thanks for reading this article on Paper Trail by Corporate Brokers! If your resolution this year is to grab a new gig, you can start by checking out our open jobs. And, as always, be sure to click that little green heart to recommend this article to others.

Madison Jeffery is Corporate Brokers’ Junior Marketing Associate. She handles everything branding, marketing, and communications. When she’s not at work, you can find her with her nose in a book or stopping to pet every dog she sees on the street. Check her out on LinkedIn!

3 Podcasts You Need to Rock Your Career in 2017 was originally published in Paper Trail by Corporate Brokers on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

By Patricia Alderton

2017 is just around the corner, and while many companies may not be hiring right now due to end-of-year constraints, you should still be ready for when they start.

As a recruiter, I’ve talked to my fair share of candidates that are both actively and passively in the job market. One thing I’ve learned is that the job search process is intimidating for all — especially during the holiday season! You already have so much going on with holiday parties, gift shopping, and wrestling with Christmas lights; do you really have time to keep on top of a job search too? You bet.

Here are my top five tips for navigating your job search through the holidays:

Get in the hiring spirit early.

Get motivated! Many organizations renew their budgets at the beginning of the year and managers start aggressively hiring. According to CNN Money, the U.S. Economy added 257,000 jobs in January 2015, which was the largest amount of growth since 1999. Don’t miss out on that new year hiring increase!

Consider posting your resume before the New Year kicks off, rather than waiting until mid-January. This way, you have time to get through the hiring process, which can sometimes be lengthy depending on the organization!

Dust off ye olde resume.

Clean it up and make it nice! Don’t forget to add the projects and major contributions you made over the past year. Make sure your direct contact information is updated and correct. Using appropriate fonts and engaging headers is also key to catching a recruiter or hiring manager’s eye.

Your resume is often the only opportunity you have to make an impression to a hiring manager, so take it seriously!

Shape up the LinkedIn profile.

LinkedIn is a huge tool used by recruiters. My top tip? Make sure you add keywords. For example: you’re an IT Business Analyst looking for a job. You would include keywords such as “request for proposal, visio, joint application developer,” etc. Recruiters use keywords such as these in order to search profiles on LinkedIn.

Be sure only to include keywords related to skills you already have!

Believe in the magic of networking.

Networking is often the most under-utilized tool in the job hunt. Your former colleagues and friends will most likely know about any openings at their company and may be able to help you get a foot in the door.

You can network face to face at Meet Up events, through LinkedIn, over the phone, through text, or even through email. If you’re not one to flat out ask if someone is hiring, take an easier approach. It’s fine to just ask for advice from your network on how they handled their job search.

Be positive!

There is a job out there for you! Stay positive, apply for positions, and talk to recruiters when they call. Job hunting can sometimes be a long and tedious process, but don’t give up! Don’t settle for just any job, and always value your worth as a candidate.

So, go grab a tall glass of eggnog, turn on Elf, and get to job hunting! I know you’ll rock it and that dream job door will open for you before you know it. Happy holidays!

Hi there! Thanks for checking out our latest post on Paper Trail by Corporate Brokers. We hope the tips listed above will keep your job search on track this holiday season! A great place to start? Right here, on our career board!

Patricia Alderton is a technical recruiter at Corporate Brokers. She finds the best of the best for DevOps and Network Engineer positions. When she’s not at the office, you can find her with a cup of coffee in hand and hanging with her infant son, Charlie. Say hello on LinkedIn!

The Best Ways to Avoid the Holiday Job Hunt Slump was originally published in Paper Trail by Corporate Brokers on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

By Janell Toliver

The end of a year puts exciting things on your calendar: the holidays, family time, (usually) lots of time off from work, decorating, and tons of yummy food, to name a few. Another thing that comes with year-end? Performance reviews *shudder*.

Performance reviews can be extremely intimidating and stressful. Did you fix all the things you needed to since your mid-year review? Did you get worse at anything? Better? Have you hit your goals as expected? The questions can spin into an endless swirly-twirly tornado of anxiety in your brain.

The good news is, I’m here to help you prep. Taking the five steps listed below will have you well on your way to a nicely structured and productive review that will (hopefully) leave you and your manager happy.

1. Review mid-year suggestions.

Take a look at your mid-year review. What did you and your manager talk about? Highlight the areas where improvement was needed and make yourself a list. Highlight the areas where you did great and write those in another list.

2. Give examples.

For each of your lists, write examples of how you improved or maintained a skill. Did you manager mention you needed to attend more networking events? Compile a list of all the events you went to and your takeaways from each. When it comes time for your year-end review, you’ll have tons of tangible results to share with your manager.

3. Identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Have a list ready to discuss where you think you need improvement or are doing really great. Year-end reviews are a perfect time to show initiative and discuss how you can best develop your skills with someone who is well positioned to help you.

4. Create goals for the future.

Make a list of short term (12–18 months) and long term (3–5 years) professional goals to discuss with your manager. Try to base some of them off of where you could use improvement. For example, if you could do with a little more financial knowledge, make it a goal to learn and understand the business finances.

5. Be honest.

Being honest with yourself and your manager is key to a good year-end review. You have to own up to the goals you didn’t hit or the areas you didn’t improve on as much as you hoped. As long as your list of improvements/accomplishments is longer than your “needs improvement” list, you shouldn’t get too bent out of shape.

The most important thing to take away from any performance review is that everyone always has room to grow. No matter what areas you need improvement in, you should always strive for more. Create more goals, commit to them, and own it when you fail AND succeed.

Happy Holidays! Thanks so much for reading Paper Trail by Corporate Brokers. Don’t forget to check out our open positions and give us a call! Oh, and we’d love it if you would click that little heart and recommend this story to others.

Janell Toliver is a technical recruiter at Corporate Brokers. She looks for the best project managers the tech world has to offer! When she isn’t at the office, you can find her traveling to a tropical island or hanging with family. Say hello on LinkedIn!

5 Steps to the Best Year-End Review You’ve Ever Had was originally published in Paper Trail by Corporate Brokers on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.