August recess is quickly approaching and that means a quiet(er) month for many DC workers. So if you’re about to find yourself with a few less meetings and need help filling your time, consider a revamp of your self-promotion approach.

1. Update Your Resume. You may not be actively looking for a new job, but it’s a good idea to keep your resume up-to-date. Before moving to DC, I had worked at the same agency for 5 years and hadn’t updated my resume in as much time. Take it from me, you don’t want to let that much experience build up and then suddenly have to boil it down to a few key points. Use some of your free time to think of specific, tangible actions you’ve achieved in the last year and add them to your resume. This will help you jump start a job search once you are ready to start looking, or even help you prepare to ask for a raise or promotion with your current employer.

2. Create a Website. Public relations has absorbed a lot of digital responsibilities, so it only makes sense for a PR pro to have their own website. Creating your own site may sound a little intimidating, but don’t fret! WordPress is extremely user-friendly and allows anyone to easily build a site without having to know the difference between a div class and id. If you still need a little help getting started, my friend Jessie has written a free e-book to help guide you through choosing a domain name and the installation. You also need to decide what to do with your site. You can blog, create an extension of your resume, or do both. Add a website link to your resume and potential employers can look at writing samples or campaign case studies before you even get a call to set up an interview.

3. Network! Go to that industry happy hour you keep putting off because of long days or late meetings. You never know when those new connections will pay off, so get out there and meet people. If you need a networking event to get started, look no further than PRONet! We’re having a trivia night on August 15 at The National Press Club. Join us, win prizes and meet new people!

Recess and a calmer DC are around the corner, and you have a roadmap to overhaul your personal promotion tactics. Now it’s time to get started!

See this post on the PRSA-NCC blog: http://theprsanccblog.com/2012/07/21/overhaul-your-personal-promotion-this-summer/