This holiday season give yourself the gift of time to spend on whatever makes you happy. Find time to explore and contemplate your own bright future. Be it with friends, family, colleagues or associates. Find time to discover your own "real" dreams and goals!

When you're ready; we'll be here at Rinker and Associates to help you jumpstart your career transition and keep you on course throughout your journey!

Next month we'll talk about how a mentor can make a big difference in your career life. For now, follow the link to read a special message from Lorraine.

Go outside of the box when thinking about taking time off, as a matter of fact; why not think about going outside of the country!

Taking a year off to travel, study, or spend more time with your family no longer is seen as "bad" on your resume. Today, more employers see the payoff as career rejuvenation and heightened cultural sensitivity. You also have clearly displayed to employers your capacity for risk-taking, managing ambiguity, and self- management.

If you take the leap and decide to live internationally, it will enrich your life and deepen your professional expertise. Cultural and linguistic versatility are a tremendous asset. Multicultural exposure that enables you to understand global markets will improve your marketability.

At Rinker and Associates we believe planning is an invaluable part of the research process when considering a career transition.

Practice makes perfect. Fortune Magazine recently did a special feature on "excellence" and "what it takes to be great". No secret, just a good reminder of something we all learned early in life; that you will achieve greatness with hard work over a long period of time.

So, how does this premise work if more and more people are chanting "work smarter, not harder"?

Check out our January "New Year" issue to find out!

Relationships are integral in both your personal life and work life. The holiday season is the best time to be out and about. This is a great time to come out from under your hectic schedule and reconnect with friends, family, and colleagues.

Additionally, if you’re currently in a transition, staying connected through your informal networks of friends and colleagues can help you keep abreast of current real world business issues and trends.

Whatever your career situation, staying connected will help you understand what’s really going on in and around the workforce.

Take what you learned from last month's very popular "hints on how to dress for social events" and make the most of this your holiday networking opportunities. For those who missed it, we've included our link for dress codes again!

Did you know the American Marketing Association Sacramento Valley Chapter (AMASV) Educational Foundation provides three scholarships up to $1500 to local college students enrolled in marketing and communications programs?

College students should check out local professional associations for similar scholarship opportunities that pertain to their selected field of study. It certainly could be a great help in getting started!

For more information about the AMASV scholarships, contact the VP-Collegiate Relations at scholarships@amasv.org. Students interested in the AMASV scholarships should apply by next spring.

At Rinker and Associates, we address the needs of recent graduates (or students who will be graduating soon) in their search for a real, grown-up job.

Mentors are special people. For me, being a mentor to someone is quite an honorable responsibility. The mentor-based relationship transcends time. Mentors are always there with just the right words of wisdom (always in the form of questions, not answers) and seem to have an uncanny way of clearing away the fog. Dick Dooley is that person for me. So, during this most wonderful time of the year, I say "Thank You" to him and all the special people in my life who always seem to "be there" for me. Best :) LLR