New Year’s resolutions usually have to do with items such as health (lose weight and exercise more) and relationships (spend more time with family, etc). Sometimes they also have to do with our careers (I’ll find a better job this year).
Unfortunately, our career related resolutions often suffer the same fate as many of the others we make.
There is a way to make all of your resolutions more successful. That is to break your broad resolutions down into easily achievable steps, monitor the completion of those steps and celebrate your small successes. What follows are some suggestions for small resolutions that will help you achieve the larger goal of finding a better job.
Improve your paperwork. Whether your paperwork is really on paper, or whether it is submitted electronically, its quality has a big effect on the success of your job search efforts. This is especially true in the federal job application process. Review your resume or application form as well as your KSA statements. Make sure they have appropriate keywords, showcase your accomplishments and are grammatically correct. Have others, including perhaps a career advisor, review your paperwork.
Focus on your immediate career goal. Do you have a specific job you want to move to? Or, are you simply interested in moving from the job you now occupy? The more focused you are on where you want to go; the easier it will be for you to get there. Investigate opportunities within your organization, focusing on the skills required, the working conditions and the satisfaction you will receive – don’t just focus on the grade or on the fact that it is different your current situation.
Improve your qualifications. If you need further education or certification in order to qualify for the job you are seeking, take the necessary steps to get it. Each year (or semester) you delay keeps you from getting any closer to your goal.
Hone your interviewing skills. How you present yourself in an interview can make you stand out from the crowd in the job hunt. Participate in mock interviews and anticipate the questions you will be asked. Preparation is especially important for interviews, as they are “live.”
Maintain a positive attitude. If you visualize your success, you will be more likely to achieve it than if you don’t. Realize that finding a new and better job is not an overnight event and plan your job search accordingly.
This is a great time to resolve to be successful in 2004.
** John Grobe, President of Federal Career Experts, is the contributing editor of FEDweek’s The Federal Employees Career Transition Handbook and an expert in employment and job search issues. He provides career advising services to individual employees. John can be reached at (708) 771-2445 or johngrob@ripco.com. **
