January 15, 2021
By Taylor Graf
Career Resolutions For The New Year
Career Resolutions For The New Year
The start of a new year brings a great opportunity to set resolutions and goals for the year ahead. No matter where you are in your career, this is a good time to take a look at your professional life and check in with your career goals. Our team of recruitment experts identified some realistic resolutions listed below for professionals to consider.
If You Are Job Searching…
Improve your digital presence by X date.
If you are in the job market, you’ve likely revisited and revised your resume multiple times. But what about your digital presence? Some job seekers fail to take a critical eye to their digital presence, potentially hindering their chances at landing a new role. Could you improve your LinkedIn profile or feature your work in a new online space? Taking some time to get your resume onto multiple career sites and professional profiles updated can help you establish a bigger digital footprint and make it easier for recruiters (like us!) to find you. While we recommend setting a specific due date, we also advise that you check on your digital presence regularly to ensure that your profiles are relevant and in line with new digital trends.
Learn a new skill that is sought after by employers.
As you consider potential career paths, review job descriptions that peak your interest. How do your skills compare? This year, consider the skills and abilities that could make you a better fit for relevant positions and further your knowledge base. Continuing your education will not only help you keep up with your industry, it will also show potential employers that you are committed to your own development.
If You Are Getting Started in Your Career…
Become a better public speaker by the end of the year.
Public speaking is a skill that is utilized throughout your career. A common trait of top performers is having the ability to effectively express and present ideas to others. If you are starting out in your career, consider setting this goal in the new year. You can develop this skillset by taking speaking courses or finding opportunities to work on these skills.
Read X number of professional books this year.
Did you know there are professional and industry-specific books available that cover a wide range of topics related to your career? We recommend taking time to reach out to colleagues and research books that are relevant to your career. Set a realistic goal for yourself and consider breaking it down monthly or quarterly to hold yourself accountable. If all goes as planned, you’ll end the year with a wealth of knowledge that can be applied to your current position and career ahead.
If You Are Ready to Advance in Your Career…
Complete X number of professional development courses this year.
Over the course of last year, what did you do to contribute to your professional development? If you are hoping to advance your career, we recommend taking courses to build hard and soft skills in areas that may be outside your comfort zone. What are gaps for improvement? Look back at previous performance reviews or ask your manager if they have suggestions. They might have additional insights and can identify focus areas for your development.
Physically or virtually attend X number of professional/industry events this year.
Professional events present great opportunities to build your network, learn about industry trends and potentially find new leads. They are typically filled with different workshops, resources and collaboration opportunities to help attendees make the most of the occasion. Whether the event is virtual or in person, we recommend taking advantage of these opportunities to make the most of your time and/or financial investment. Identify several potential events in your industry and set a realistic goal for the year. Putting in some forethought will help plan out your year and allow preparation for each event.
If You Are Farther Along in Your Career…
Establish a mentoring relationship with a coworker.
You are never too experienced to set goals for your career. A great goal for the new year is to take an active approach in establishing a mentor-mentee relationships with coworkers. Who can you reach out to and support? Are there colleagues that you can learn from? In both cases, being the mentor or mentee will help expand your network, assist in your development and create advocates for you in your organization.
Capitalize on promotional opportunities in your field this year.
If you are farther along in your career, chances are you have a wealth of knowledge to share with peers. A great goal for the new year is to capitalize on events/resources to share your experiences such as speaking at an event, guest writing on a blog, appearing on a podcast or other opportunities inside or outside of your organization. By taking advantage of these promotional opportunities, you can expand your reach and establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry.
Ready for something new this year? Search our current openings across the U.S.!
