Job Tuition

Take a New Angle for the New Year

December 28th, 2006 by Andrew

The blogosphere has been humming with reviews, predictions, awards, and resolutions for the coming year. With only a few days before January 1st, now is the time to come up with your plans for the new year.

Fortunately, this is a great time for job searchers to make some tweaks and refocus the plan. Here are just a few ideas to think about.

Repeat the most successful step

First, you should think back over the last year. Try to remember the step you took that was most productive in your job search. If you can’t narrow it down to one, come up with a few.

Did you make a great networking contact? Did you change your method of organizing job search materials? Perhaps you read a great book or blog on career advice.

Once you have a handle on this step, think about ways to use it again. Can you find other networking contacts that will produce great leads? What qualities should you look for? Can you find other really helpful books or blogs out there to read?

You get the idea. Try to figure out the best thing you did this year and do it again. Apply it to a new situation or person. Leverage what you have learned.

Run from the biggest mistake

The precise opposite of the previous tip is simple. Think about the biggest mistake you made in 2006 and don’t repeat it in 2007.

Hopefully, you will be able to extrapolate from your biggest mistake and learn some lessons that you can apply to lots of different situations. This may be an area in which you need to educate yourself better. If that is the case, go to the library, read more blogs, talk to your friends, and learn what went wrong. If at all possible, don’t make the same mistake twice.

Review your resume

We all know that your resume is key to your job search. January is a great time to make sure it is up-to-date.

Think about your target job, employer, and overall market. Make sure your resume is tailored to the outcome you want. Include industry key words and format your resume according to any industry standards.

This is also a great opportunity to have someone (other than a potential employer) read over your resume. Maybe a networking contact would be willing to look it over and provide some feedback. That would be a great way to help tailor it toward professionals in the field you desire.

There are obviously plenty more things you can do to prepare for an even better year in the job market. Maybe your network could use an overview, to identify areas in which you should expand it. Perhaps you need a wardrobe revamp to look more professional at interviews and networking events.

Do yourself a favor and think over these ideas. Spend a little time with improvement in mind. Talk with friends and family over the holidays, and ask for their feedback. Make 2007 a great year!