image courtesy of www.pinterest.co.uk 

#1 – Set up your Facebook/ Twitter/ Instagram privacy settings
You don’t want your boss or future boss to see your drunk party photos in the same way you dont want a potential client to see your bikini shots from that holiday in Mexico. Facebook *insert name of all social media websites* allow you to customize your privacy settings; you can formulate groups as to who see's what or hide certain posts from your boss.... anything I post between the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 ? Yeah you guessed, its hidden from my boss, my Instagram? private. I have to be especially careful in my line of work; hypocritical to be defending somebody who got paralytic on a night out and became involved in a fight too have photographs of myself being sick in a gutter uploaded the next day *disclaimer* this has never happened.. it was a corridor and I had food poisoning, it was definitely nothing to do with Tequila. 

#2 -Update your CV 

Whether you are looking for a new job or not ensure your CV is up to date; you don't know when you may need to rely upon it. Not only that writing your achievements when they are fresh in your mind means you will automatically include more detail, can you remember the specifics of that project you oversaw 8 months ago? No me neither. It can also assist you if you are having a 'down day' look over what you have achieved and be proud of yourself. 

#3 - Utilise Linkedin
Your Linkedin profile is your shop window to recruiters and potential employers, and the first place which potential recruiters will look when they are considering contacting you. Treat your LinkedIn profile like a summary of your greatest hits. As you make new contacts throughout your career, add them on LinkedIn so you can always have a pulse on what they’re up to; it can be a great way to break the Ice or put a face to a name you've known for a while. My Slimming World leader happens to be a caseworker at a forensic company I speak to on a weekly basis, I'd never of known without Linkedin. 

#4 – Get your name known 
Send a follow-up email or note after a meeting, always follow through on what you say you will do. In my job I quite often work alongside Mental Health Advocates; it can easily be a flippant comment that you will contact them with information, or confirm an outcome to them and then something more important comes in. I set aside five minutes a week to deal with all these such e-mails. It keeps my name in their mind, and I fulfill the undertakings I make which can in turn lead to further work. It also shows dedication to your client. 

#5– Know your worth.
By this time, you may have had a few jobs, taken on some projects, and conversed with others in your field. Know your own worth, I work in a firm who regularly send out client feedback questionnaires; I keep a copy of everyone I receive. Not only for a pick me up on a bad day but it also helps me identify areas for improvement. If I have a appraisal or fee earner review I read over some of these ahead of my meeting, it helps me feel prepared and go in knowing I can do the job I have and I can do it well. 

#6 – Always show up 10 minutes early

Think of this as more of a life lesson than anything—but punctuality is among the most important of professional habits to adopt. It’s an honest indicator of your organizational skills and overall reliability.

#7 – Get and stay, organized.
Use a to-do list and make sure your physical workspace is a neat and tidy environment. Easier said than done in some circumstances but set up a system, if others leave work on your desk arrange a "in tray" or separate "in desk" ... I know myself I cant focus if my desk is littered with different things, I therefore have a side desk where any new work coming in to me goes until I have chance to look at it. 

#8 - Dress for the job you want.
We all know that clothes are an important form of nonverbal communication, so do your best to avoid those side-eye glances. Bright clothes might be in fashion but do they send across the statement you want? I love some of the outfits portrayed in Suits but if I wore them in court I would be held in contempt! It is all abut striking an appropriate balance