How to Fix Broken Career Goals | Blog

Updated: January 2021

Every year it’s a good idea to check in on your career resolutions in order to make sure you’re on track to reach your goals. The new year is a great time to hit reset on goals not achieved and start again. Setting the wheels in motion towards becoming a better person, professional or [fill in the blank] is a noble endeavor indeed and one that we ought to all be attempting (not just once a year). But what happens when you just can’t seem to keep your resolutions and meet your goals from year to year? If keeping resolutions just isn’t your thing, don’t get down on yourself. Instead, pick up the pieces and set yourself up for success even if just for a few tiny things in your life. Here are some achievable ways to do this when it comes to your career.

1. Revisit Your Plan

If planning isn’t your thing and you feel like you’re always giving up on career goals, go back to the drawing board and put together a plan that’s doable for you. Here’s my No-Fail Plan for Achieving Your Career Resolutions. It’s 8 steps and it’s a great start to starting over. If you’re more in the market for daily or weekly schedules, check out these detailed job search planning tools.

2. Try and Try Again

Failure is normal so feeling bad about broken resolutions isn’t going to get you anywhere. In fact, most job search and career resolutions aren’t exactly user-friendly when it comes to making big changes. One way to ensure you meet your goals is to make them achievable. Keep your goals simple. Check out this simple advice on achieving your career goals, for starters. Remember: tomorrow is another day and you only get one shot at this life so make every day count. You’ll be glad you did a year from now (but you have to start now)!

There are a lot of moving pieces in the job search and it would be impossible to tackle them all in one day. Therefore, your plan could be as simple as tackling one step from my job search roadmap each week.

3. Recharge Your Networking

Another helpful way to make some IMMEDIATE traction today is to get your networking on. Now is the time because companies are hiring and people are moving. Take time to research and find high value contacts on LinkedIn. If you’re feeling unsure where to start, check out this networking guide and checklist.

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4. Recharge Your Brand on Paper

If you’re feeling uninspired where networking is concerned, try sprucing up your brand with some new biz cards. My all-time favorite business cards are from MOO. A sharp design on a nice quality paper is just the thing to get a positive reaction when exchanging information at networking events. Seeing the “new you” on paper will work wonders for your mental game and might just give you the confidence to start networking more!

A revamped resume is also a great idea if you’re struggling to create a brand that jumps off the page. Most of our clients have tons of great experience but lack the branding finesse to be able to really convey the most strategic, intentional brand messaging. Once your resume brand is solid, your self-confidence will follow!

5. Set Small Goals, Frequently

So you have a massive career goal but the wheels just aren’t falling into place. Not all goals are meant to be achieved in one year. For big goals that will take time, try taking small, strategic actions now so that you’ll at least have a foundation in place for the future. For example, if you’re considering a career change into an entirely new industry or role, start researching and targeting new contacts each week so that you can build your network in the right direction. If a move isn’t possible this year, turn these new contacts into informational interview opportunities along the way. All of this work will come in handy when the time does come to make a move.

6. Update Your LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn is a great platform for aiding in career goals but one I find that is the most overlooked by job seekers or those in career transitions. Simply having a profile that is optimized in terms of the headline, photo, branding, and keywords will do wonders for your career (I’m talkin’ for a long long time). Imagine being called for your dream job or an amazing business opportunity next year just because someone stumbled upon your Linkedin profile and you were a fit. This is the ideal way to advance one’s career but it won’t happen if you’ve just settled on a basic profile without considering strategic branding. If you’re feeling in the dark about Linkedin optimization, you’re not alone. I teach hundreds of people about LinkedIn each year and you can access my workshops for all of these great insights here.

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