25 Career Moves You Can Make in 10 Minutes or Less

Small actions. Big momentum.

You don’t need to overhaul your life to move your career forward. You just need 10 minutes.

Whether you're at sea, ashore, or in the middle of a busy day, these simple steps can help you stay in control of your professional development. Use them to build momentum, increase visibility, and open new doors.

1. Refresh One Bullet on Your CV

Choose one bullet point and rewrite it to highlight impact, not just duties.

Instead of: "Responsible for dry dockings"

Try: "Led 3 successful dry dockings in 2024, saving $250k in downtime"

This keeps your CV current and powerful, even if you're not actively job hunting.

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2. Reconnect with One Old Contact

Drop a message to a former colleague or manager. You never know where it might lead.

Try: "I saw your recent promotion, congratulations! Hope all is well and we get to cross paths again soon."

Networking doesn’t have to feel like hard work.

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3. Write Down Your Last Achievement

Capture one recent win.

What did you fix? Lead? Improve? This becomes valuable when you update your CV, prep for an interview, or ask for a raise.

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4. Search for One Job Outside Your Country

This isn’t necessarily about applying, it’s about perspective. Look at how similar roles are framed elsewhere. What skills are in demand? What salaries are advertised? Use this to sharpen your career direction.

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5. Ask One Person What You’re Great At

Send a quick message: *"What’s one thing I do better than most?"

It’s insightful, confidence-building, and might just uncover your unique selling point.

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6. Google Yourself

What does a hiring manager see when they look you up? Is your LinkedIn up to date? Are there old posts you’d rather not be your first impression? This is your digital reputation, own it.

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7. Review One Old Job Application

Find an application or CV you submitted 6–12 months ago. What would you change now? What have you learned since then? Reflecting on your growth helps you prepare for your next move.

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8. Watch a 10-Minute Video or Read an Article

Stay current with leadership, innovation, or technical insights.

Bonus: Share one takeaway on LinkedIn; it builds your professional brand.

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9. Declutter Your Inbox

Clear the noise. Archive irrelevant messages, unsubscribe from distractions. A tidy inbox helps you spot the opportunities that matter.

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10. Check Your LinkedIn Headline

Is your job title clear, searchable, and attractive to future employers?

Make it easy to find you, and easy to see your value.

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11. Scan One Job Board or Recruitment Agency Website

Not to apply, but to learn. What companies are hiring? What roles are trending?

Bonus: Even better if you scan jobs on Faststream.com

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12. Read One Leadership Quote and Reflect

Take 10 minutes to think about how it applies to your work. It’s a mindset boost.

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13. List Three Skills You Want to Build

Clarity fuels progress. What could move your career forward this year?

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14. Review Your Last Appraisal Notes

What feedback stuck with you? How have you acted on it?

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15. Share a Colleague’s Achievement on LinkedIn

Support others and build your network by celebrating wins.

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16. Reflect on What You Enjoy Most About Your Role

Gratitude improves outlook and gives clues about your ideal next step.

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17. Bookmark a Job Description You Admire

Even if you’re not applying, use it as inspiration to shape your future.

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18. Save a Piece of Positive Feedback

Start a “feel good” file for when impostor syndrome strikes.

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19. Research a Company You Admire

Understand their culture, clients, and open roles.

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20. Comment on a Relevant LinkedIn Post

Thoughtful engagement builds visibility and credibility.

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21. Schedule a 1:1 With Your Manager

Use it to talk career development, not just day-to-day tasks.

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22. Write a LinkedIn Post About Something You’ve Learned

Position yourself as a learner and contributor.

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23. Subscribe to One Maritime Industry Newsletter

Stay informed without needing to search for updates.

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24. Add One New Contact on LinkedIn

A recruiter, peer, or someone in a role you aspire to. Keep expanding your circle.

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25. Identify One Career Goal for the Year

Take 10 minutes to write down a goal that excites you, a promotion, a new role, a skill to master, or a move to shore.

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Clear goals sharpen your focus and make progress measurable.

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These 10-minute career moves aren’t about doing everything at once. They’re about building small, consistent habits that keep you moving forward.

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Which one will you do today?