10 Great New Years Resolutions for Job Seekers

10 Great New Years Resolutions for Job Seekers 10 Great New Years Resolutions for Job Seekers If the first item on your list of New Years resolutions is to find a better job- perhaps one that offers more flexible or remote work options- its time to get serious. Just sending a resume and hastily assembled cover letter to every company that offers a position that is vaguely interesting to you is not the way to go. Instead, you should resolve to be smart and careful as you complete a more targeted search. Here are 10 New Years resolutions for job seekers: 1. Build a better resume. If its been a while since you updated your resume, invest some time now to improve it. Note skills that youve developed since you last added to it, as well as promotions youve earned or projects youve led. And then have it ready, in both hard copy and digital formats, to give to a potential employer at a moments notice. If youre prepared, thats one less thing youll need to worry about when the right job comes along. 2. Build a strong cover letter. Youll want to target any cover letter you write to the specific job for which you are applying. However, it doesnt hurt to create a basic structure for a letter, with some general language about your background, that will work regardless of the position. This will help you move more quickly when its time to apply, and speed can be vital to success for some openings. 3. Check your profiles online. Almost all companies will do a little low-key cyber stalking when theyre reviewing job applicants. If youre in the market, make sure your LinkedIn profile is updated and accurate, but also take a look at your other social media accounts. If you see a lot of potentially embarrassing content, tidy them up. 4. Build your personal brand. Your social media profiles are part of this, but branding goes beyond those sites. Consider creating a personal website to display some of your work and show off your skills. You also might want to create a blog, and add new content to it frequently. Anything you can do to make it easy for potential employers to find you and learn about your abilities will be helpful. 5. Create a timeline. Goals become more real and attainable when they include an element of timeliness. Decide on a target date for landing a new job and write it down. Then create a schedule of smaller goals to achieve on your way to that ultimate achievement. This will help you to stay on track and focused as you continue your search. 6. Think about the kind of job you really want. If youre going to take the time to look for a new position, it should be something you really want to do. In other words, determine what will make you happy- a higher salary, more flexibility, added responsibility and authority- and let that help drive your search. As a blog post from Robert Half International says, As you conduct your job search, have a clear picture in your mind of the job that would make you happiest and allow you to reach the objectives you’ve set. Without a clear idea of what this job looks like, you’ll have trouble finding the right fit. 7. Make a top 10 list. Just as you should seek a job that youll truly love, target companies that will be a good cultural fit for you. A blog post from The Muse suggests that you build a target list of 10 to 12 companies. One way to create your list is to start first with your dream company, and search for it in LinkedIn, the post says. From the company page, you can scroll down to the People Also Viewed section and find similar companies. Go to those companies’ pages and so on. 8. Build your network. Some people love networking, while others would rather have a root canal than attend a social event with people they dont know. If youre hunting for a new job, however, networking is part of the game. A blog post from Come Recommended says you should schedule at least one networking event every month and take other steps to build up your list of contacts. Following up is key to being successful with networking, the post says. If you don’t maintain your relationships on a regular basis, you can quickly fall out of touch with those people. When this happens, you could miss out on having a strong contact when an opportunity presents itself. 9. Prepare for interviews. Good friends and networking contacts can be valuable in helping you hone your interviewing skills. This is especially important when you have a conversation scheduled, but even as you begin your job search, it doesnt hurt to practice what you will say in different situations by participating in a mock interview. This will get you  thinking about the interview process and how to craft responses, the Come Recommended post says. Your friend can ask questions such as, What is your biggest weakness?, Why are you the best candidate for the job?, or Why do you want to work here?' 10. Learn new skills. While youre working on goals specific to job hunting, it also makes sense to enhance your work-related skills. The Robert Half International blog post suggests seeking additional certifications or education. No matter your chosen industry or career, change is happening all around you, the post says. Your skill set may need a boost to remain relevant and attractive to employers. Pursuing professional development shows initiative and a commitment to learning, as well as an understanding of what it takes to excel in your field. Seeking a new job is always going to require exceptional effort on your part. But if you follow these 10 suggestions and set goals along the way, you should be moving toward a successful search. And if that means you end the year with a better, more flexible, or more enjoyable job, you will be able to say that your resolution was definitely worth keeping. Start Your Job Search