2011 New Years Resolutions for Job Seekers

People have started to think about their 2011 new years resolutions and ponder what might be in store for them next year. If unemployed, this holiday may not be as merry as you would like it to be. This is the perfect time to begin thinking positively about 2011. The new year will bring new opportunities and a new hope that things will be different on thejobs front. One positive thought to keep in mind, even though many employers are still shedding jobs, others are looking for new employees and searching for new talent.

As a human resource professional who manages a recruiting function, I am here to say that there are things you can do to improve your chances of landing a job. Make these strategies part of your 2011 new years resolution.

1. Follow the employers' job application instructions. Pay attention to the details and specifics of what the employer wants in a complete application packet. When recruiters have a high number of applicants in the pool, one of the first things they might do is screen out packets where the job seeker has submitted all the required materials.
2. Broaden your scope. Think about jobs you may have enjoyed in the past. You don't have to look at jobs that are cookie cutter replicas of your last job.
3. Explore a new industry and look for ways to apply your current job skills. eg. Lost your job in sales and marketing experience in manufacturing? Consider sales and marketing in hospitality or in PR department in a university.
4. Explore some training to augment or enhance a skill you want to use more.
5. Check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*Net. Are you looking for work in a disappearing industry?
6. Start your own business. Look around your neighborhood - what services do you see are needed?
7. Reduce expenses and share job search costs. Carpool to a career fair or share a box of resume paper.
8. Get up from behind the computer. Join a job club or a meet up group. Stay active and stay positive.
9. Volunteer more. It keeps your skills current and you never know who you will meet.
10. Make a committment to manage stress during unemployment. There is no shame in being unemployed.

If you commit to these simple strategies, your 2011 could be more than you hope for!