New Year – New Job

Whether you are in a job or in between jobs, whether you are professing it to everyone you know or saying it silently to yourself,  you are one of millions this New Year resolving to get a new job.   It’s been too long being in the hunt or being in a place that is sucking the life out of you.  It’s time for a change.  Think of change like movement.  You are either moving away from something or towards something.  Before you lay out your game plan to get that new job be sure you have a clear vision of what you are looking for.  Be careful not to rebound to a similar or potentially worse situation.  Resolutions are intented to bring about positive change.

So here are 5 steps you can take to get a new job and create positve change in your career.

1. Make a commitment to change.  This means first facing your doubts and fears, letting go of what is familiar and understand that making a change will require time and hard work. 

2. Get clear about what you want to do next. This includes doing some self assessment. Take the time to reassess what is important to you, what you like to do and what you do best.  Too often people jump right into job search without doing this part and they find themselves wandering around aimlessly in the job market.

3. Learn how to articulate what you have learned in step 2.  You can’t expect your network to help you if you are unable to tell them what exactly you are looking for or hoping to do next.

4. Get your ducks in a row.  Update your resume so that it is current and positions you for your objective, set up your LinkedIn profile to increase your findability in cyberspace,  and gather your references so you know who you can count on during your search.

5. Like any resolution, lay out your game plan (preferably in writing) that includes your objective, milestones, timelines and resources. Resolutions often fall short without this step.

So here is to a Happy New Year filled with everything you want in a job and career.