New Year’s Resolutions For Job Seekers

Welcome to 2014! Here at JobMonkey we are super excited about the New Year. Are you?

A new year means new chances and new opportunities. Have you made your New Year’s resolutions? A New Year’s resolution is a promise you make to yourself that will make you a better person in the new year.

For some people New Year’s resolutions often involve cursing less or flossing more. For people in the middle of the job hunt, we recommend making your New Year’s Resolutions be focused on your job search. Have you made your’s yet? Here are a few job search New Year’s Resolutions for job seekers:

• Clean up or create your online presence – Employers want to know as much about you as possible before they hire you. Make sure that your online presence is an asset for your job search, not a obstacle.
• Complete your LinkedIn profile – LinkedIn is the ideal place to network, search for jobs, and be online. How does your profile look?
• Try to grow your network by 3 people each week – Do it and you’ll have 156 new contacts in 2014. Remember that most jobs come from the people you know. Growing your network is a great way to increase your chances of getting hired.
• Learn something new – Don’t be afraid of education. Learning something new (coding, languages, programming skills) means you will be a bigger asset to your company and you’ll have more career options.
• Join a professional organization – Stay on the cutting edge of your niche, meet people, and build your resume with memberships to professional organizations that pertain to your niche.
• Earn a certification – Certifications mean that you’ve met a certain standard. Employers like to hire certified people.
• Update and expand your resume – Try to update your resume every month. Stay on top of it to ensure it’s ready to send out at any moment. Add the details that make you stand out.
• Be realistic – Apply for jobs that you are qualified for. It’s more important to be employed than to hold out for a management position you’ll never land.
• Follow up – Touch base with every employer via email or thank you note to show that you are dedicated to the job. Often a professional follow up will get you the job.
• Stay positive – A positive attitude can go a long way in life. Don’t get discouraged if things don’t work out exactly as you want. Maybe it’s for the best.
• Make a plan – Write down what you want to do and follow through with it. If you don’t have a plan, you don’t have any direction. Write down your goals and make them happen. Only you can do that.
• Find a mentor – Experience can go a long way. If you find someone who’s already done what you want to do, ask them to help you find the right path.
• Volunteer – Volunteering feels good. Plus, it will help you network and build your resume. Try it.
• Save your money – Try to save a percentage of each paycheck you get. You may not need it right now, but you will eventually.
• Apply for jobs – The more jobs you apply for, the better your chances of getting hired.

Feel free to make these your job search New Year’s resolutions or tweak them to make them your own. Either way make 2014 the year that you knock things off  your career bucket list, find your dream job, relocate to the city of your choice, or get the raise you’ve always wanted.

New Year’s resolutions are meant to be fun. Take them seriously and you can make truly positive changes in your life and in your job search. Good luck!