In 2010 I will..

By Guest Blogger, Suzanne Thompson, Senior Recruiter for Sodexo's Talent Acquisition Group.

Here we are already 3 months into the New Year and as Lorna mentioned in her blog post last week – it really is hard to believe. Time flies when you’re having fun, right?

In my role as a Senior Recruiter for Sodexo’s Facilities Management Team I have the pleasure of connecting with a variety of professionals as they search for a job at Sodexo. Some of these professionals are just starting their careers and others are looking for a change. All of these candidates have one thing in common though - the desire for something new and a job at Sodexo.

Every year in January or February I will inevitably speak to a candidate whose change is a direct result of a New Year’s career resolution.

So in January’s issue of Sodexo Career Connection (our careers enewsletter that is full of job related stories, like benefits and career development at Sodexo) I decided to write an article about New Year's resolutions and careers. I wanted to hear from readers what they thought they would do with their career in 2010. Did you take our poll? I hope so because the results are in...

- 21% of the readers, who participated in our online poll, are considering a career move to a new company. I, along with my colleagues, have the pleasure each day of talking with candidates who are looking for opportunities at Sodexo. Personally, I have been with Sodexo for 19 years and have found the possibilities for career growth and career development to be endless.

- 19% are looking to update their resume. There are many great resources out on the internet for resume writing. CareerBuilder along with others, have tools available to assist with resume development.

- 17% plan to enroll in a class to enhance a current skill or gain new skills. As mentioned in Career Connections November 2009 issue, Sodexo has not only maintained its traditional education benefits, it has also sought to find creative new ways to invest in our employees and their personal and professional development.

- 15% want to work with a recruiter to build a search strategy to find a new job at Sodexo. Sodexo offers many tools to enhance the job search. Try our Job Widget , set up a Job Agent in Sodexo’s Career Center or a Twitter Job Alert and let the jobs come to you.

- 13% will practice interviewing skills. Have you thought about checking out YouTube interviewing techniques? Whether you are a current employee going for a new position or looking to join an organization such as Sodexo, do your homework on the company and practice, practice, practice your interview skills!

- 13% will leverage personal and professional networks through social media (i.e. LinkedIn, Twitter, blogs, etc.) Social Networking is a great way to learn about job opportunities at Sodexo, learn about upcoming conferences where Sodexo may be, or even how today’s news will impact all of us. Make the commitment today to Network with Sodexo.

- 2% responded that they were satisfied with their career. I always say, “Keep your eyes open as you never know what door may open.” It’s possible that while reading this blog, a news release, or a career connection newsletter article that door may just be opening.

So, what do you think of the results?

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Suzanne Thompson is a Senior Recruiter for Sodexo's Talent Acquisition Group. She began her career with Sodexo more than 17 years ago in operations for our Health Care Services. Three years ago she moved to Sodexo’s Talent Acquisition Group recruiting for Engineering & Environmental services and is now recruiting for the Health Care Engineering team in the East. Suzanne has 4 kids, 2 dogs, 2 cats, and a husband - whom she loving refers to as her 5th child. I invite you to connect with me on LinkedIn OR Twitter.