Getting started on 5 resolutions

New Year’s resolutions – that’s still a thing, right? In the world of careers, the answer has to be a resounding “Yes,” at least if you want to move forward. Not because your career will inevitably stall without resolving otherwise, but because it won’t inevitably flourish. If you want to ensure career growth, as opposed to just hoping for it, you’ll need a plan.

But careers are not small things to manage. Sometimes you need more than an hour or two to identify your goals, much less your steps for achieving them.

If you’re having trouble identifying career goals for the coming year, you might want to fall back on the faithful five. These are some of the resolutions that can have the most impact on a career. It’s not logical to try them all, since they pull in different directions, but you might find inspiration by choosing one or two for your master list. Here they are:

1. Complete (or start) a degree. This is an important goal to prioritize if you want to take advantage of the timing for schools that are starting their new semesters shortly. On the other hand, if you’re not certain about this goal, a slow but steady path will let you confirm your plans before committing time and money. Here are some basic steps to get you started:

1) Identify what you want to accomplish – finish a degree? Begin a new program of study?

2) Search online to find options for both in-person and remote instruction.

3) Gather transcripts from earlier studies, to be considered for credit in the next program.

4) Contact one or more schools to discuss options, including financial assistance.

2. Join a professional association. Whether you are in the trades, a white collar profession, or a more loosely defined area of work, there’s likely to be an organized group for people who do what you do for a living. If you join a group, you’ll have instant access to others in your field, at all levels – which means that the networking alone is usually worth the cost of membership. To get started,

1) Use online search engines or referrals from co-workers to help you identify groups to join.

2) Attend one or two meetings as a guest, to confirm your interest.

3) Join, then commit to helping with a project or committee, so others can get to know you.

3. Ask for a raise at work. If this resolution is making a repeat appearance on your list, it’s time to nail it down. Remember that the more quickly you receive your raise, the longer you will reap the benefits of a higher income. And if you’re turned down, you’ll have the rest of the year to improve the situation.

1) Research salaries common to your level or field.

2) Identify your specific contributions and the value you provide at your workplace.

3) Set a meeting with your boss to make the request.

4. Find a new job. When this resolution makes the list, it’s worth prioritizing over other goals. That’s because nearly everything in your life is affected by where you work and what you do for a living. With that in mind, it’s important to set a schedule for this project, with a date identified for completion. Otherwise, things could bog down, which will impact your other goals as well.

1) Set a goal date and work backwards to create a weekly pace for your job search process.

2) Update your resume, LinkedIn profile and cover letter.

3) Identify 20+ target companies and begin outreach to each one.

5. Change careers. Like job search, career change is a good goal to prioritize – in this case, because it could take the better part of the year to achieve. Each of the following steps could take weeks or months, so an early start is important.

1) Identify your new career path by reading online, meeting with a career counselor, taking occupational assessments, etc.

2) Take classes or otherwise improve your skills to at least the entry level.

3) Revise your resume and LinkedIn profile to fit the new field.

4) Contact potential employers to request meetings and interviews.

Once you make your selections from the list above, continue to think about other resolutions that could improve your work life. And remember: Placing some of the steps on a calendar will help ensure that they continue as priorities throughout the year.

Then, come back to this space throughout January. Each of these five resolutions will receive a column of its own, providing more direction for moving ahead with your plans.

Amy Lindgren owns Prototype Career Service, a career consulting firm in St. Paul. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecareerservice.com or at 626 Armstrong Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55102.