New Year's Resolutions for Job Seekers - Part I

In addition to losing weight and spending more time with family, many people will promise themselves to improve their professional lives in the coming year. I searched the internet and found that one of the top 10 most popular New Year's resolutions is job-related. But in the busy months that follow, many of these goals are forgotten and never achieved.

The following are my "Top Ten New Year's Resolutions for Job Seekers":

1. Explore career options
As the year winds down, reflect on your job by asking yourself these questions: Does my current position take full advantage of my professional abilities and talents? Am I maximizing my earning potential? Am I doing what I'm passionate about? If the answer is an overwhelming "no," assess your work style and personal characteristics and discover a career field that highlights them.

Action step: Register for free at http://www.indianacareerconnect.com/ – if you take anything away from this week and next week's articles, do this. Login and then go to the "Career Services" area in the "Services for Individuals" section. From here you can do activities such as

• identify the skills that you have and match them with a career or occupation that suits you,
• find occupations that are similar to your current or previous occupation based on the required knowledge, skills, abilities as well as the normal work environment, and work activities or,
• if you have the time, answer a series of questions to determine your abilities, interests and work values and then find a career or occupation that best suits you as well as areas for which you might want to receive more training and education.

2. Brush up on job skills
On the other hand, if your career suits you, take time to better yourself at what you do. Stand out from other employees by completing the latest training and updating your industry expertise. With an Internet connection, workforce development is at your fingertips. Find options that will increase your skill sets and strengthen your resume.

Action step: You can take free MindLeaders classes via the WorkOne system from the comfort of home. Go to www.Work-One.org and click on the MindLeaders logo button in the lower right corner. All classes are listed in the course catalog.

To register for MindLeaders you will need to stop by your nearest WorkOne Center. You will need to have a picture I.D. and verification of your social security number with you at the time of your intitial visit.

3. Meet with your boss
Instead of guessing at your strengths and weaknesses, gain the input you need directly from your boss. Schedule a lunch or sit down over coffee to get their opinion on skills that will boost your advancement possibilities. Meeting regularly to review performance will help you re-evaluate goals and set priorities.

4. Set realistic career goals
Identify what you want to accomplish professionally in 2009 and write them down in order of priority. Your goals may include improving current work performance, being promoted to a job that you're qualified for or making a complete career switch. Just make sure each goal is specific and attainable.

5. Establish a plan of action
Think of the required steps you need to take to get your 2009 career goals underway, and put them down on paper. Give yourself deadlines to follow, but keep them realistic. Remember that becoming CEO of a company does not happen overnight.

Begin with a free WorkOne Workshop like "Successful Online Career Exploration". Don't spend hours trying to figure out where to search for answers on what careers are out there in today's labor market. Use the internet to help you learn and explore careers, educational and salary requirements and much more. This is a great workshop to find direction and movement toward making a realistic career goal.

I've been growing and diversifying my career for more than 20 years and I've noticed that the holiday season is a great time to start thinking about and setting career goals before the rush of the New Year. If you get a head start on your career resolutions now, 2009 will be the year to reach your full potential and take charge of your career.

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Tracy Dishman is the marketing director for WorkOne and Eastern Indiana Regional Workforce Board (EIRWB). Readers may write to Dishman at P.O. Box 1856, Muncie, Indiana 47308-1856 or tdishman@work-one.org.