New year, new job! 10 resolutions for job-seekers!

For many, the new year brings a sense of optimism and a chance to start over with a clean slate. But we all know how easy it is for those New Year's resolutions to be a distant memory in just a short time. The key is to take those large-scale ambitions and break them down into smaller, more manageable steps. If “New Year, New Job” is on your list of resolutions, you’ll need a solid plan to put those positive feelings into action and make 2025 the year to move forward in your career. In this article, we’ll help you do that with 10 new year’s job resolutions. 

1. Make your online time work for you

 An important New Year's resolution for job seekers is to look at your internet habits. Are you being productive or wasteful with your time online? Try auditing your internet usage and replacing some of that time with career-focused activities to help you meet your career goals.

Your scheduled “productive time” might include:

• LinkedIn research and networking

• finding opportunities to learn new skills. 

• Curate your “following list” to include industry leaders, areas of interest, or sources of industry information.

• Clean up your own online presence to ensure it fits in with your personal brand to “reinvent yourself” professionally.

No one’s saying you can't ever scroll TikTok again, but make sure you spend some time each day using the internet to support your career goals.

2. Build up your skill set

The “new year, new career” attitude might begin with gathering new skills! A new year is the perfect time to assess your existing skill set, especially the ones we call “transferable skills.” Transferable skills are qualities or skills you have, like organizational skills or problem-solving abilities, which are relevant and useful no matter what role you’re in. After doing this, you may notice some gaps in your knowledge, such as specific skills, technologies, or abilities listed on job descriptions that you just don’t have. To move your career forward, make a resolution to start your professional development.

It doesn’t have to be overly time-consuming or expensive. Formal online courses and certifications are great things to pursue, but even just familiarizing yourself with a subject through webinars or YouTube tutorials can go a long way toward closing those skill gaps. If you can, find a personal project or volunteer role that can show off your new skills in a tangible manner. Your professional development will bolster your resume and show employers that you are committed to building and improving your skills—always a good thing!

3. Grow your network

A critical professional New Year's resolution for your career is to build out your network. Yes, we’re constantly talking about networking. But there’s a good reason for that: it’s important! Not only does effective networking build your chances of finding a “non-listed” job, but it also gives you a support system as you transition into a new role, even if you are an introvert. But adding people to your LinkedIn network isn’t enough (although it's a great start). You should be smarter and more targeted with your networking. So what does networking look like?

• Re-establishing contact with former co-workers

• Interacting positively with colleagues at your current job

• Volunteering with local organizations

• Becoming a member of industry organizations

• Attending networking events, career fairs, or industry meet-ups

• Finding industry-relevant online groups

• Making connections with recruiters

By focusing on networking quality, and being specific in your efforts, you can have more energy and time to focus on really building relationships, which will pay off in the long run. 

4. Get back into your community

Not only is it a great networking opportunity, but volunteering or getting involved in local projects or organizations will help you reconnect with the things you value most. As a result, you’ll have a better understanding of what makes you happier at work and will be able to target jobs that will meet those requirements. Not only will you be helping others, volunteering helps by:

• Getting experience in a new area or “trying on” a new career

• Developing new skills

• Keeping your motivated

• Learning about new industries/fields

• Improving your physical and mental health

If you’re struggling to understand your identity outside of work, or aren’t sure where to start, try volunteering for a role that uses some skills you already possess. For example, if you work in finance and accounting, there’s probably a local organization in your community that could use some help managing their finances. Whatever you do, volunteering shows your passion for your community and your resolve to stay active. Both are very appealing to employers and can help you land your next job.

5. Find a mentor

Finding a mentor can help you meet your career goals, since they’re a person in a similar career as you who has more experience and helpful information to share. They differ from a career coach in that they’re not paid for their services, but choose to be mentors because they want to help others in moving their career forward. A mentor is someone who can be objective about your progress in a way that your friends and loved ones can’t. It’s important to seek out their advice and absorb as much of their knowledge as you can.

Start by identifying someone you can learn from, and forge a relationship with them. Ideally, this is someone in your field who is a few years ahead of you and has established a career that you admire. Make sure when approaching someone to be your mentor you express enthusiasm and communicate your goals for the relationship. Then, set up regular times to connect, whether it’s a phone call, meeting for coffee, or a formal mentorship session. Don’t be disappointed if the person says no; people get busy and they may not feel they can give you the attention you deserve. Just keep trying!

6. Update your resume

If you’re looking for New Year resolution ideas for work, the simplest of them all: bring your resume up-to-date. It’s probably been a while since you’ve updated your resume. That’s okay; it’s why it’s on our list of resolutions. But don't just slap some new information on there. Take some time to reflect on your new skills, accomplishments, and goals. This doesn’t have to be done in one day, so set aside a block of time each day to spend on it. To update your resume:

• Make sure it has the appropriate sections, such as the current contact information, professional summary, work history, and education.

• Remove any outdated or irrelevant information.

• Provide quantifiable data to back up your accomplishments, when possible.

• Add any new degrees, certifications, or skills.

• Make sure to tailor each new version of your resume to the job you’re applying for, including keywords from the job description.

• Choose the best resume format for your situation.

• Make sure your resume is ATS-optimized.

• Have someone else proofread your resume for typos.

7. Make sure your social media accounts are employer-friendly

Hiring managers these days don’t just look at your resume; they’ll be checking out your social media accounts as well. Up to 74 percent of hiring managers check out a candidate’s social media presence to see if they’re a good fit for the position. But this doesn’t mean you have to become a corporate robot; you just have to curate your accounts carefully. To stay “job ready,” take the following steps to keep your social media from derailing your new career:

• Make your social media accounts private.

• Deactivate old, unused accounts. You can live without that “My Space” profile.

• Curate your profile photos and make sure they’re “employer friendly.”

• Create a custom URL for your LinkedIn account.

• Post or share articles, photos, or links that are industry-related.

• Follow companies or thought leaders in your field.

8. Establish a personal brand

When you think “personal brand,” you might picture a social media influencer. But that’s not necessarily the case. Developing your personal brand can set you apart from the crowd by defining what makes you unique and the professional qualities you embody—going above and beyond your resume by demonstrating “in real life” why you’d be a great hire. 

To do this, make a resolution to take the time to map out your personal brand. Start by defining your brand by identifying what makes you unique, your values, and what you bring to a position. Then, take the following steps to put your brand into action:

• Find companies that align with your personal brand, and reach out and let them know how you can solve their issues.

• Make connections with colleagues and other people in your network who share your goals.

• Use the same photo across all your social media accounts.

• Create and post original content to your social media accounts that support your personal brand and position you as an industry “person to watch.”

• Consider creating an online portfolio to showcase your accomplishments and examples of your work.

9. Organize your home workspace

If your home workspace is a bit untidy, get rid of anything that doesn’t support your career success. This includes tossing out old papers you don’t need, or even buying yourself a new chair. Other things you can do include:

• Go through your files and shred anything you no longer need.

• Delete unneeded files from your computer (or copy to a flash drive)

• Clean your screen and your mouse.

• Keep only the personal items that “speak to you.”

• Separate your personal documents from your work documents.

• Invest in some organizational supplies such as pen holders, file dividers, or an in-box.

• If your computer system is still wired, tie up any loose or dangling cords.

Having a clean and orderly workplace will boost your confidence and ensure you have all the documents you need right at your fingertips—a great way to start 2025!

10. Practice your interview skills

Interviewing skills are an area where most of us could use a little improvement. But don’t throw up your hands and say, “Oh, well!” Resolve to do something about it. You can become a more effective interviewee with a little time and effort. To practice your interview skills, try the following:

• Choose what you want to focus on in that practice session.

• Make a list of questions that have tripped you up in the past. Consider this list of common interview questions to get you started.

• Find someone to act as the “interviewer.”

• Go through a mock interview from start to finish.

• Listen and absorb constructive feedback.

If you don’t have anyone to help you practice your interviewing skills, don’t stress. You can use AI as an interview partner, or even practice by yourself. Regardless of how you do it, setting some time aside regularly will help you build your confidence, strengthen your brand, and get feedback, all at one time! A resolution worth keeping.

Figure out your next career steps with career.io’s Career Pathways tool. This tool will help you identify career interests and skill gaps, as well as keep you up to date on job demand and salary information.

Key takeaways

1. The key to achieving your new year’s career resolutions is to take those large-scale ambitions and break them down into smaller, more manageable steps. 

2. Some good resolutions to consider include updating your resume, establishing a personal brand, honing your interview skills, and finding a mentor.

3. It’s a good idea to clean up your social media and make sure they’re “employer-friendly.”