By Amber Alarid, [Joining Vision and Action] 

If you’re ready to shake off the old and bring in a new season, then start with this week’s spring cleaning tips. From propelling your career forward, to raising money for your favorite charity, spring cleaning can have a number of benefits to young professionals and the community.

Refresh Your Resume

Whether you’re job hunting or currently employed, give your resume some attention by removing outdated information (such as references that have new contact information and skills that are irrelevant to the jobs you want). A polished resume can help you remain competitive in a tough job market and can demonstrate the qualifications you possess that could lead to a promotion. This is also a very handy tool for organizations that prefer, or even require, a resume when applying for board or volunteer positions.

Clean out your closet

Remove ill fitting, worn and outdated clothing from your closet to give your professional appearance a boost. Note which items you should save to replace and which items you have a plethora of. As many books, blogs and professionals in the field will tell you, dressing for the job you want is incredibly important and can give you an edge in your job hunt or current position. Your wardrobe should include clothes that are appropriate for client or funder meetings and clothes that are appropriate for day to day work (whether that be business casual attire or comfortable clothing that suits an active job).

Clear the clutter for a cause

Combine the traditional form of spring cleaning—tidying up around the house—with your socially responsible spirit. Gather everything around your house that is collecting dust and find nearby nonprofits to donate to; nothing is off limits. There are plenty of nonprofits that need even unexpected items for their day to day operations—your old towels and other linens can be donated to animal shelters for animal care or to be used as rags, your old jeans (including those ripped jeans that are no longer socially acceptable to wear in public) can be used as insulation (call you local Habitat for Humanity to see if they accept donations of old jeans), and even those travel size toiletries you collect but never use while on travel can be donated to homeless shelters.  For more ideas on how your unwanted items can help change the world, check out this great list from Miss Minimalist.

Start a garden

Often cleaning goes hand in hand with sprucing up your space a bit in celebration of the warm weather. If you have a patio (or even better, a yard) that could use some new life, consider planting a garden. Not only is this an inexpensive way to get organic herbs, produce and flowers, but excess can be donated to your favorite causes. Contribute food to local shelters or food rescues and take flowers or plant snippets (for replanting) to nonprofits to bring color and joy to organizations such as nursing homes, mental health centers, workforce centers or youth development centers.

What are you doing to prepare for the arrival of spring and to help the causes closest to your heart? How has spring cleaning your application materials, wardrobe, or anything else advanced your career?