Toss those Resolutions and Grab the Goals

With the New Year in full effect, now is the time to seriously evaluate your job seeking strategies. As a business consultant, I often talk to job seekers whose key resolutions involve searching for a new job.  I immediately encourage them to toss those resolutions into the garbage and try goal setting instead.

Goal setting also helps to give you long-term vision and short-term motivation. They focus your acquisition of knowledge and help you to organize your time and your resources so that you can make the very most of your life.

Effective Goal Setting Strategies

1. Put your goals in writing

This helps you clarify and visualize your goals more effectively. One novel approach would be to record each goal on a separate index card and review them twice a day. This process helps to reinforce your goals, and acts as a reminder to drive your goals deep into your subconscious

2. List the benefits of achieving your goals

This keeps you focused and strong particularly whenever you might face the inevitable roadblocks and barriers. The more benefits you can list for your goals, the more motivating those goals will become.

3. Choose goals that are worthwhile and meaningful

Remember that the purpose of goal setting is to move you forward and spur positive change. If a goal isn’t motivating and transformational, move on to something else.

4. Commit to your goals

You need to dedicate yourself to accomplish any goals selected. That’s why writing your goals down is a common goal setting tip; it’s the first step to committing to achieving your goals, but you also have to realize that accomplishing a goal is not an overnight process.

5. Prioritize your goals

Every single goal that you set will require commitment so don’t sabotage yourself by taking on a bunch of unnecessary goals at a time.

6. Set deadlines to accomplish your goals

A goal without a deadline is a goal that you have not fully committed to and a goal you will be unlikely to achieve.

7. Evaluate your goals

Remember that goal setting is a process and an evaluation is an important part of that process. Don’t just settle for a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ assessment; think about what you did, how you did it and what you got out of it.

8. Create clear goals that are properly aligned with your job search

The more defined your job search goals, the easier it will be to apply your time to pursuing positions that will meet them.

9. Reward yourself for accomplishment

Internal satisfaction is a great thing, but external rewards can be immensely satisfying, too. If you land a tough-to-get interview, take the time to celebrate your success; maybe even treat yourself to a nice lunch or dinner.

It’s safe to assume that every job search begins with the goal of ultimately landing a job. Why not incorporate goal setting techniques to your approach that are proven to yield better results? Plus, the new habits will help to enhance your overall lifestyle.

Good luck with your job search and always remember to keep your head in the game.