With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, we at YES! Your Human Resources Solution are hard at work thinking about our New Year’s resolutions.  Are you thinking about your plans to make a better you in the new year?  While many of us plan to lose weight, exercise, save more money—the usual personal improvement plans created at the stroke of midnight—not many of us resolve to take care of our career.  But why not?Setting thoughtful resolutions for your career in 2014 can bring long-lasting, life-changing results, maybe even more so than shaving a few inches off the old waistline.  This is especially true if you’ve thought about changing jobs or taking on more responsibilities.  Here’s how to get started:

Resolution #1: Decide your career goal for 2014.  Setting a career goal is especially important if you’ve been along for the ride until now, with no real control over your career.  But even if you’ve had a career goal in place, dust it off and see how it’s working for you; it might be time to make some tweaks.  Do you want to take on more responsibilities or promote?  Do you want to learn new skills or take steps toward entering a new field?  Shoot for a goal that is achievable, but that is also somewhat challenging.

Resolution #2: Make a roadmap to your goal.  Clearly outline the steps you will need to take to reach your goal, and the timeline for achieving each step.  Think about any tools or skills you will need to move forward.  If you’re looking to promote to a management position, do you have the necessary educational degree?  What training courses can you take for professional development?  What books can you read to round out your skills?  Whom can you talk to for advice or mentoring?  If you need a hand setting your steps, consider speaking to a supervisor or an HR representative.  You’re likely to find these people are supportive of your career goals and are willing to offer guidance to get you there.

Resolution #3: Set an incentive structure.  Although we’d like to believe that tiny speck of light way at the end of the tunnel is motivation enough, often it isn’t.  Meeting the goal is the grand reward for your hard work, but what about offering yourself little incentives along the way, say, for meeting each step?  Choose an incentive that is motivating for you.  This may be anything from buying yourself a DVD or a pair of earrings, treating yourself to an ice-cream cone, spending a day at the beach—you name it.  Only you know what will truly motivate you, so be sure to give yourself those special pats on the back as you travel along your roadmap.

With a clear goal, a detailed roadmap, and the right motivation, you’ll be on your way to taking control of your career in 2014!

We at YES! Your Human Resources Solution wish you the best as we close another wonderful year.  We look forward to seeing what the new year holds, and to serving your Human Resources consulting needs in 2014!