Ten Resolutions that Job Seekers Can't Afford to Wait for New Year's to Make

Most people look at the New Year's as a time to get a fresh start. Ergo, most of us make resolutions. Unfortunately, most resolutions are broken before January ends.

There is hope, however. If you're looking for work (or know people who are), these easy-to-keep Top 10 New Year's Resolutions for Job Seekers are for you - even if it's not New Year's Day yet:

1) I will set specific, realistic goals and make a plan to achieve them. It's been said that goals are dreams with time frames. Determine what you want to accomplish - were you want to be - by this time next year. Make them specific and put them in writing. Flesh out time lines for every goal. (We'll discuss goal setting more in next Wednesday's post.)

2) I will stay abreast of employment fluctuations within my industry and my eventual employer. Most major (and many minor) cities have dedicated business newspapers. Whether you scour their article archives, buy the print edition or read it at the library, they offer relevant local news for job seekers. It's also a good idea to scour Google for the latest in local industry news, as well.

3) I will subscribe to RSS feeds relating to looking for work, my industry and the local economy. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a handy way to subscribe to blogs and websites for the specific information and/or news you want. Google, Yahoo! and others offer quality RSS readers for free (either web-based or as free downloads). As news comes in, it's sent to your reader so you get news hot and fresh. Most job search engines also allow you to save search criteria as an RSS feed - so as jobs go live, they come to your reader hot and fresh!

4) I will update my resume every month. When your job ended, how much time did you take putting your resume together? If you're like most, you either 1) started from scratch; or 2) just tacked on your last job to your outdated resume. Both are mistakes. Given the fluid nature of careers and jobs, the best option is to develop a killer resume, then update it every month - particularly after you find a job. This way, you won't waste precious time fiddling with your resume if (or when) you're in the job market again. Want some advice on how to tackle your resume? Check out these posts and these articles from our resume advice archives.

5) I will run a background check on myself. Check your credit score. Google yourself. There are other websites where, for a small fee, you can run a background check on yourself. Employers will check you out, so it's better to know what they're going to find before they find it!

6) I will take at least one course related to my career or the one I hope to obtain. Taking a course or two demonstrates to your employers (and potential employers) that you want to improve yourself and get ahead. It's a great resume filler, too. While obtaining an additional degree can (and usually will) help boost your career, don't discount certificate programs through colleges, nor individual continuing education courses.

7) I will participate in at least one mock interview AND one informational per month. Ask one of your contacts to ask one of his/her contacts to conduct a mock interview on you. Get a different person each month so you're not familiar with the interviewer. Also, working your own network to conduct an information interview with a high-level person in your industry and occupation improves your interviewing skills while adding to your network.

8) I will continue networking even after I find a job. Most abstain from serious networking until it's too late - when they no longer have jobs. Building and maintaining your network while employed is much more enjoyable. Having a solid, viable in network also helps avoid desperation; when you see the handwriting on the wall, you can start tapping resources in your network.

9) I will join a club or organization or increase involvement in those in which I'm already a member. Organizations help build networks. If you've read The Daily Machete for a while, you already know this. Organizations and clubs provide a good mix of personal and business contacts and can provide a solid foundation for your networking efforts.

10) I will take care of myself. Let's face it - looking for work and holding a job takes energy. Work isn't the only thing in your life, though (or, at least, it shouldn't be). Family, friends and other interests require energy, too. That means you should consider getting ample sleep, exercising and eating better; all three of which will boost energy. After all, what employer wants to hire a lethargic employee?

IN A NUTSHELL: Make New Year's Resolutions you can keep - and don't wait for New Year's to make them.