Resolving a New Job

We are fast approaching the end of another year and this may be the time you make your New Year's resolutions. Many people would like to change jobs or do different work in 2008. If you are sharing those thoughts, now is a good time to write out what you resolve to achieve in the new year.

So spend some time thinking about what it is that you would like to change. If you feel you need to change the tasks you do on a regular basis, you should consider what else you could do for the same employer. If you believe that you want to continue with the tasks you do, but need to change the environment in which you do it, you probably also need to look outside your current organization. You are definitely not alone in your thinking. Before you take any action, I encourage you to make a plan for the change you would like to implement.

Write a goal statement - explaining what your new situation will include - in as much detail as possible. Your goal should be something that is doable, even if it requires some stretching, or learning new skills, or acquiring new knowledge. Include a time frame by which you will accomplish it. This is where some people lose motivation - they look at their goal and figure they will never be able to find time to accomplish it while they are working full time.

It helps to write out your objectives or the steps that you will take to move you closer to achieving your goal. You should also include time frames for your objectives. Many people find they need to break some of their objectives into small, bite-size pieces of things they can do when they have just 15 or 20 minutes to devote to something on their goal to-do list. By having those small pieces identified already, it will make it easier to actually accomplish one of them when you have those few minutes to work on your goal.

Create some type of method to keep track of the objectives as you achieve them - or if you need to make adjustments to them. It can be a simple list with your overall goal as the title and each objective identified by a different letter. That way, each smaller step for each objective can be numbered, perhaps in the order they should be completed. For example, if you are planning a job search, you will need a resume and brush up on your interviewing skills, among other things. So, the resume might be objective B. Then finding your current resume would be item B1. Revising that resume would be item B2; typing the revised version would be B3, and so forth. Some people will create flow charts or something with graphics, showing how they will get from here to there. The format does not matter, what matters is that you create your plan and have it written out in some readable form.

It is generally helpful to have a plan that can help you keep on track toward accomplishing your goal. By writing it out, you can become clearer in what you need to do. Besides, as long as it is just in your head, it is not a real plan, but a dream. You can plan now to make 2008 great!

Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice providing career coaching and counseling for life's transitions. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Check out her web site at http://www.YourCareerPlan.com. To contact Ms. Davis, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.