New Year's Resolutions for Job Seekers - Part II

Like any resolution, the key is moderation. After you've assessed your career, select one or two goals to achieve. As you check them off, add new ones.

The following is a continuation of my "Top Ten New Year's Resolutions for Job Seekers":

6. Start preparing now
What are you waiting for? The downtime of the holiday season is a perfect time for you to get a head start on your career goals. Make a list of career challenges to conquer this week: How's your resume look? Have you talked to the folks on your reference page lately? Still haven't taken the time to learn how to set up formulas in Microsoft Excel? The small steps today will lead to big accomplishments in the New Year.

Last week I talked about the free WorkOne eLearning classes called "MindLeaders". Go to http://www.work-one.org/ and click on the MindLeaders logo link.

It can be very rough sailing when a seasoned worker with a significant number of years in the same company is downsized. The professionals at WorkOne suggest the following free WorkOne Workshops:

• Interviewing – The Real Thing (2 hours)

Interviewing has changed so much in the past few years. Learn all the new techniques used by employers and how to answer the toughest of questions with ease. A must attend activity that will pay big dividends. Everyone searching for work should make this the number one activity to attend.

Learn why the first impression you make with a potential employer is the most important one. You'll want that first impression to be not just a good one, but a great one. Learn interview attire tips and what to bring, and what not to bring, with you to the job interview.

• Successful Online Career Exploration (90 minutes)

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.

• Landing a Job After Age 40 (90 minutes)

So, you're over 40. As a seasoned worker you bring so much to the workplace. Learn what you're worth and how to dispel all the myths. Learn about all the choices you have and how to network your way to a great job. You don't want to miss this great opportunity to get you back into the driver's seat.

7. Get organized
Take time in the slow holiday weeks to rearrange your files so they are more organized and efficient. Clean off your desk (I'm saying that out loud to myself as I write these words as I need to do this soon!) Move your files from your hard drive to the network. Put your finished project files in a file cabinet further from your desk. They are resources now for next year and you will have more room in your desk for files that you use daily.

8. Analyze your work day for efficiencies
Practice better time management in the coming year. Are you making your phone calls when people are normally at their desk (8:00 - 9:30), rather than in meetings or at lunch (10:00 - 1:00)? Are you spending too much time on certain activities? I have an "everything to-do" list that I try to keep updated quarterly. Then I have a daily to-do list that I put together first thing every morning…you know, those things that are running through your head on the drive in to work that you know have to get done first? Once those are done, it is easier to focus on the bigger projects.

9. Boost work relationships
Strong relationships with people you work with can develop in small ways. Keep a positive attitude when working with others. Maintaining good relationships with colleagues will not only make the office a place you want to be, but can boost work productivity. You never know who may get promoted and become your next boss.

10. Follow through on actions
Taking control of your career in 2009 will not happen unless you follow through. Visualize your success regularly, don't be afraid to ask for help, and talk about it. I have found over the years that when I set a challenging goal for myself, I tell someone what I'm going to do…in doing so, I've instantly started my support network. Just that small amount of accountability by saying it out loud makes any goal feel real and attainable. Pursue your goals aggressively and resolve not to give up on reaching them.

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.