5 Ways You Can Boost Your Career This Week for Less Than $10

5 Ways You Can Boost Your Career This Week for Less Than $105 Ways You Can Boost Your Career This Week for Less Than $10Its 730 AM, and youre counting the minutes until the barista hands over your cortado.Youre probably checking work email on your iPhone, tapping out responses to your boss, cursing autocorrect. Maybe youre ignoring the fact youre sick of your job or how badly you need that raise. And when the time comes- despite the fact youre over your fun money budget again- youll gladly fork over your $4.75 plus tip because that house-made hazelnut-macadamia milk is unreal.We get it. Its your morning ritual. But what if we told you that for the price of your caffeine-laced luxury, you could improve your chances of landing a raise or make a bold move toward a new career? So sip on, reader, but while youre at it, consider putting a few bucks toward one of these1. Attend a Creative Lecture or WorkshopWhen most of us envision business world events, it aint pretty. My Name Is __ sticke rs, fluorescent lights, droning speakers, and soggy boxed lunches.But in recent years, creatives have overhauled the genre, organizing unique lectures and workshops that stand out from their stuffy forefathers. A couple worth tryingCreative Mornings is a simple concept On a weekday morning, an innovator gets up in front of a coffee-guzzling, donut-munching crowd and explains how they got there. If youre notlage sure what career you want (or if it even exists), attend for some much needed inspiration. If your interests skew toward the tech industry, try one of General Assemblys free events or online workshops. Youll learn practical techniques for a web savvy world- exactly the skills employers love seeing on a resume.Cost Free2. Read About People Who Do Things DifferentlyIts easy to get comfortable with your routine when youre limited by a strict work schedule, but repetition makes for atrophy. When youre in cubicle lockdown, break up the monotony by taking a few minutes to scroll th rough some interview-centric blogs. Reading up on young innovators will remind you its okay to think differently, and youll probably come across ideas youll want to implement in your own life. A couple not to miss The Great Discontent and Freunde von Freunden. Cost Free3. Organize Like a Grown-up (Which, of Course, You Are)Whether youre deep in the interview process or just trying to juggle copious work-life responsibilities, you need some way to organize it all. Getting your schedule in order guarantees you wont miss meetings or deadlines, and also helps you track your after-hours plans so youll never forget about drinks with former colleagues again. Were all guilty of shirking responsibilities on occasion. Writing things down keeps you honest.Try slipping a weekly planner in your bag and remember to use it. Or, if youre always online or derive strange pleasure from checking off to-dos (oh, we get you), consider trying TeuxDeux for a whopping $3 per month. The platform is pared dow n and easy to navigate, even for the most disorganized among us. And yes, theres an app for that. Sync your lists between your phone and computer for days on the go. Cost $3 to $5 4. You Know What They Say About PortfoliosWell, lots actually. But if you work in a creative industry and dont have one? Stop reading this article now youve got other work to do.A portfolio lets you curate how you present yourself by highlighting the projects you want potential clients or employers to see. Particularly proud of a piece you wrote? Put it into your portfolio. Worked on marketing for that new cool Adidas womens line? Add it. You dont need to be a tech genius to make one, either. Cargo Collective provides free templates for creatives, while the creative world darling Squarespace offers beautiful, mobile-friendly designs starting at $8 per month. Set aside a Saturday to focus, and youll have a website ready in mere hours.Cost $8 per month or less 5. Make a Coffee DateSo youve got blogs to juggl e, to-do lists to organize, and portfolios to build, but sometimes career hacking requires you step away from the computer. fruchtwein opportunities will come from people you already know (or youre about to meet). Whats the best way to make room in a harried schedule for face-to-face connections? Your old friend espresso.Consider cutting down your latte intake one day a week, then use that money to treat someone else. Take a walk with your boss to a local cafe and ask for some informal feedback. Or, call up a former colleague or new contact and suggest a coffee break. Even if youre both swamped with daytime responsibilities, almost anyone can meet before heading into the office. You can show them why that hazelnut-macadamia milk really is better than half-and-half, and they can teach you a few things, too.Cost $4.75 to $6.75- depending on whether your beloved baristas working, because we know youre giving him a $2 tip.This article was originally published on Career Contessa. It has been republished here with permission.Photo of woman on phone courtesy of Shutterstock.