Make a meaningful change in the New Year
If you’re like many people, the beginning of a new year prompts you to make changes. New Year, better economy…time for a new job? If the thought of leaving your current position has crossed your mind, take control of the process and make it a move that counts. Avoid a knee-jerk reaction to apply for a posted position that catches your eye. Start the year fresh, with a solid plan for making a strategic change that steers you toward your ideal situation rather than another dead-end.
Make a meaningful and sustainable change.
Many people desire more yet stay stuck on why they want to leave rather than focusing on what they want to move forward to. They take halfhearted stabs at change by randomly applying for jobs that interest them. Applying for a position with a company you know nothing about is like playing the lottery. It could be better than your current situation, but odds are you’ll simply be trading known issues for new ones. This year, prepare yourself to make a meaningful and sustainable change in your circumstances. Make the most of your time and resources by developing a plan for moving forward. The following are some points for getting started.
Clarify your interests. If you only focus on what you don’t want, you still don’t have a target for what you do want. Establishing a concrete list of what you hope to gain from a new position, employer, or business endeavor is the first step to heading in a new direction with favorable results. Refrain from using vague words like better or more. Be as specific as possible. The more specific, the easier measuring or weighing one opportunity against another will be.
Know what the market will bear.
Give it a reality check. Do your research. Learn about today’s conditions vs relying on your memories from ten years ago. Learn why particular skills are in demand. Know what the market will bear. Find out how your skills and experience measure up to the competition. If you need additional training to be competitive for your dream job, or to get your foot in the door with your dream organization, then integrate that into your plan. The road from Point A to Point B may look longer, but you’ll probably save time. It will help you avoid throwing your hat into the ring for work you aren’t competitive for.
Nurture your network. (Ok, so I say that a lot.) The surest way to learn if a new situation will be better than the one you’re currently in is to talk to someone already in it. If you find out you’re not an exact fit, there’s still hope for you to move forward. An internal recommendation or referral can prompt decision-makers to consider you. If it’s been a while, use the freshness of the New Year as an opportunity to reconnect with the people you’ve lost touch with.
Make it real by establishing timelines and accountability.
Establish timelines and benchmarks. Don’t just say you want a change — act on it and commit. New Year’s resolutions are typically out the window by mid-February because of the failure to create a plan, develop new habits, or commit to dates. Change things up this year. Having a vision or image of where you want to be is helpful. The next step is to make it real by establishing timelines and accountability.
Plan your activities. Unless you have a magic process for adding hours to the clock, you have 24 hours a day and seven days a week to work with. It’s critical to think through each step you need to take. Schedule your new tasks around prior commitments, e.g. regular work, doctors’ appointments, and special events. Doing research (on the internet and through conversations) takes time. It won’t happen unless you plan out when you can do it and stick with it. Break your big chunks of work into smaller bites and determine when you’ll complete them. Don’t leave this to chance, or you’ll wonder in June how the time flew by when you find you’re still exactly where you were in January.
Take the time to do the research.
Don’t knee-jerk. Many people have taken roles that have left them underemployed or bored, only to pay the bills. If this is your situation, then use it to your advantage. When you can do your job in your sleep, you can stay put while you take the time to do the research. Take the time and make an educated decision. If you’ve been lying low, chances are no one is watching you. Carve out time to talk with people and read about companies or roles that interest you. Watching job boards and throwing resumes at random postings relies on luck. A more satisfying or sustainable reward can be achieved when you accept an offer after you know more about the company, department, and role.
As you head into the New Year, concentrate on what you want and make sure it’s really for you. Making impulsive gestures based on what you don’t like might bring about a change, but researching and putting together a plan is much more likely to take you where you want to go.
For more career advice, check out my webinars on Career Assessment, Strategic Networking and Goal Setting and follow me on LinkedIn and (X) Twitter.
