2016 is the year to act on your New Year’s resolutions. Do yours include taking a step closer to landing an exciting career in finance? If so, we’ve got some tips to help you achieve this goal.

Stay informed. Nothing is more important in today’s knowledge economy than information. It isn’t enough to just take academic courses, you need to stay up to date with the news and what’s going on around you. Whether you are applying to grad school or a new job, you should be able to demonstrate that you are aware of current issues that affect your industry and environment.

How can you achieve this? Put aside 15 to 30 mins of your day to read or watch top media outlets. Learn about what’s happening in your particular industry, business, in your city and around the world. Don’t forget that political and social events can have a great impact on markets and the financial sector. Developing a habit of reading the news will help you stay competitive and succeed in your career. Click here for more tips on how to stay current.

Network. While staying informed is important to impress potential employers or colleagues, getting that first meeting is critical to be considered for an exciting opportunity. What should you do to get it? You’ve heard it before, network!

Networking might seem overwhelming, but it’s nothing more than connecting with people with whom you have something in common, in this case, an industry or a career. Whether you want to learn how they got there, or inquire about future employment, you have to be engaging. Use LinkedIn, prepare questions and answers—remember that this should be a two-way conversation. Whatever you do, don’t forget to say thank you.  Here are more tips on how to network effectively.

Upgrade your knowledge and skills. Long-term career success depends on your ability to adapt to current and future environments. Market needs dictate talent needs, so if you want to be competitive, you should aim to specialize in areas with current and projected high-demand. While a bachelor’s degree gives you a necessary foundation, often completing a specialized degree or certificate can boost your career and open doors to challenging opportunities.

As mentioned in our previous post, in today’s job market there is an increased need for risk management professionals. Rotman’s Master of Financial Risk Management (MFRM) taps into this market and prepares you to become a risk management leader. This program is for you if you want to work in this challenging sector and ensure that you’ve got the skills to succeed. Learn more about our program on our website, or visit our events page to sign-up for information sessions and webinars.

For these and other tips check our blog regularly this year.

Best of luck in 2016!