As the clock ticks into the 2nd day of 2023, many of us are starting to make resolutions for the upcoming year. Establishing professional goals can be a great way to focus one’s efforts, drive progress and maximize our potential. With that being said, it can be a challenge to identify, organize and prioritize the goals that are most important to us. Therefore, it is essential to pull our ideas together and develop a roadmap to help guide our professional journey in the new year. In this blog post, we will explore the process of how to pull your ideas together to make New Year Career Resolutions. It is our hope that by the end of this post, you will have the clarity and direction needed to create meaningful and impactful resolutions that will serve as a foundation to your success in 2023.
1. Define your career goals
The first step in creating meaningful and achievable New Year Career Resolutions is to define your career goals. Start by asking yourself what you would like to accomplish in the next year. Are you looking to advance in your current position, or move up to a higher level in your field? Do you want to go back to academia or pursue a new career or learn a new skill? Are you happy doing what you do? What could you change to improve it? Knowing the answers to these questions will provide the foundation for your resolutions. Once you have your career goals in mind, you can create a plan to help you reach them.
2. Identify areas for improvement
Once you have identified the areas of your career that you would like to focus on for the new year, it is time to identify areas for improvement. Ask yourself questions such as: What skills do I need to learn or improve upon? What new certifications or degrees could help me to achieve my goals? Is there any additional training I could benefit from? What have successful people around me done to progress themselves? What networking opportunities could I take advantage of? Is there a hobby or interest I could develop to help me reach my goals? This process of self-reflection can help you to identify the areas where you need to improve in order to better reach your career goals.
3. Set achievable milestones. Can you achieve it in 2023.
Setting achievable milestones is an essential part of the process when you are making New Year career resolutions. Before you start, it is important to know what your goal is and how you want to achieve it. Break down your goal into smaller, achievable milestones that you can reach in 2023. This will help you to stay focused on the goal and measure your progress. Make sure your milestones are realistic and attainable. That way, you can stay motivated and celebrate each milestone you reach as a reminder of your progress.
4. Create an action plan. What needs to be done and is non-negotiable. What are the "nice to haves"?
The fourth step in creating New Year career resolutions is to create an action plan. You need to think about what needs to be done to reach your goals and make them non-negotiable. This should include all the steps that need to be taken to make the resolution happen, and it should be realistic and achievable. As well as the necessary steps, you should also consider the “nice to haves”, such as additional resources or skills that may help you reach your goal. Think of these as bonus points that can help you move towards success. Once you have identified the action plan and the “nice to haves”, you can start to break down the action plan into smaller tasks and set yourself deadlines.
5. Find a mentor or accountability partner
One of the best ways to stay motivated and on track with your New Year career resolutions is to find a mentor or accountability partner.
best way to stay motivated and on track with your New Year career resolutions is to find a mentor or accountability partner
A mentor can offer advice and guidance, while an accountability partner can help you stay focused and on task. They can provide a sounding board for your ideas and help you assess the feasibility of your goals. Make sure to choose someone who can offer an objective perspective and keep you accountable. You can also create a network of professionals to turn to for advice. With a support system in place, you can feel confident about pulling all of your thoughts and ideas together to make successful New Year career resolutions.
To sum up, creating New Year career resolutions can be a great way to stay focused and motivated throughout the year. By setting achievable and realistic goals, you can ensure that you work towards your desired career path. Utilizing a combination of vision boards, affirmations, and research will help you stay organized and on track with your resolutions. With dedication and perseverance, you can make your New Year career resolutions a reality.
Ben Halfpenny is a veteran of the recruitment world with over 27 years experience guiding technology professionals through key career moves. Talenting Career Science is the leading Data Science and Data Analytics recruitment consultancy working with professionals in Manchester, London and Oxford in the UK and Seattle in the US.