3 Steps You Need to Take to Kick Start Your Job Search in 2017

Jan 10, 2017

2017 job searchAs creatures of habit, we tend to think of new year’s resolutions when an old year comes to a close and a new year is on its way. While one of the most common goals for a new year is to lose weight, there are several other goals we all aspire to reach. And unlike the ever-elusive weight loss goal we all pursue for two weeks and give up on for the rest of the year, finding a new job doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are three ways you can kick start your job search and achieve the next step in your career.

Figure Out Where You’re Going in Your Career

How can you know what path to take if you don’t know where you’re going? There are too many people working today who have a big question mark hovering over their heads. This kind of uncertainty can cause stress and dissatisfaction. Those who don’t have a goal to work towards end up taking any job they can get without any thought for how it will help them in the long run. Employers don’t want to work with people who don’t care about where they’re ending up, so it’s in your best interest to start caring.

Even if some workers have an idea of where they want to go, they may not know how to get there. Or they aren’t currently taking the steps toward their chosen destination. Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out how to get where you want to go. Take the time to sit down and consider what the next five years will look like for you. Figure out what positions and education you’ll need to achieve as stepping stones to reach your ultimate goal and what you need to do to get there.

Start Your Networking Engines

Networking is a tricky process. Sometimes you don’t see results from networking with a specific person for weeks, months, or even years. There is no one right way to network. With all the dozens of ways available, if one way feels like it isn’t working, you can always try another one.

The best way to network is to talk to a variety of people. And make sure you actually hold a conversation with them. If all you do is plug yourself and ask people for jobs, no one will want to help you when an opportunity arises. Make yourself into a valuable friend and connection and you’ll come away with the same.

Make a List of What You Want in a Job – and What You Don’t

Sometimes knowing exactly what kind of job you want is impossible. Your skills can be applied to a variety of positions, and you don’t think you would mind working in any of them. How can you choose what path to take if several positions look appealing to you?

When you need to narrow your options further, knowing what you do and don’t want in a job can help you find an environment that will make you happy. Figure out what sorts of people you’re willing to work with, what benefits you won’t budge on, and what aspects of company culture must be present in any job you take on. When you have these sorts of things already laid out, you’ll save yourself a lot of heartache and headache by recognizing when you and an employer won’t work out.

Searching for a job can be stressful at the best of times. But when you don’t have a clear idea of what you want, it can be easy to take a job that ends up being a bad fit. Take the time to sort out these key aspects of your job hunting, and you’ll be better off in the long run.

Are you ready to take control of your career? Take the first step and submit your resume! We’ll work together to identify the right path for a successful career transition.

About the author

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