Get a job: How to accomplish your New Year's Resolution

Happy New Year from WineTalent!

I am one of those strange people who puts together a list of resolutions and sticks with them throughout the year. The key to my success is picking good resolutions that make a difference to me. Here's a list of some of my more meaningful resolutions:

• Start my own company
• Make new friends
• Read more
• Use the library and not get in debt with fines (happy to have now done this for two years and only accumulated $4.25 in fines so far!)
• Teach my children good manners
• Never buy clothes without trying them on first

So, they are not always huge resolutions--but maybe that's why I can look back and realize I've done it. Right about now, many of us look at making a career move. Instead of just writing down on your list, Get a New Job, take some time to figure out why and how you're going to do it. Here's some things to consider:

• Figure out why you want it (If you're looking for a new job, why--are you unappreciated, underpaid, have a miserable commute?)
• If those factors were different, would you still have that goal (contributions recognized, pay raise, ability to telecommute)?
• If you still want to make a change, what would your dream job be? Would you switch industries, increase your responsibilities, have more creative input, or look to have more personal freedom?
• Do a Ben Franklin--a list of Pros and Cons written down to figure out the good and the bad of your current job, and the good and bad about an unknown future career step.

Once you've looked at it, and still wish to make a change--set to work managing your own career. No one is going to have as vested an interest as yourself, so you've got to do some work.

• Blow the dust off that resume. Have someone you know and can confide in take a look at it. Resume advice is great--but always take it with a grain of salt. If you put your resume in front of 10 different people, you'll get 100 different ideas of what absolutely has to be changed. Consult some resume writing books, or look at those of friends. Make the changes and always use the most current copy of your resume.
• Research your future position. Google is a great first step to see if industry associations exist, salary surveys are available, and what trends are coming up. (and although I'm a blogger.com user, I'm not a flogger for google!)
• Look at job postings. Good resources are your local newspaper's Sunday Help Wanted ads, CareerBuilder, Monster.com as well as niche listings, such as winerysite.com and winejobs.com. College career centers are great resources for alumni--so don't forget to reach out to your alma mater. And if there's a specific company you're looking at, don't stop--head straight for their website job postings.
• Go do research on this fateful next step at the library or bookstore. There is too much information to readily digest, so get as much information as you can use.
• Talk to friends and contacts. People at other companies may know of a position that is just right for you, or have a good friend who might be a good person to network with. This is also when you may want to look at recruiters who handle placements in your chosen field.
• But remember--if you are currently employed, don't do anything to jeopardize your job. Only talk to people who will keep your search confidential. Don't send your information to someone unless you feel comfortable with the level of confidentiality you will receive. As a recruiter, I never want to see any of my actions adversely affect my client's career or family. A job today is worth far more than three job offers tomorrow.

So, now go out there and get that Dream Job. I look forward to hearing about it.

Stay tuned dear reader--future blogs will be about resume writing, interview tips, follow-up tricks, and career slip-ups. And maybe a few juicy or silly anecdotes about the glamorous life of a wine industry recruiter.

Here's to 2007! Resolution: 1. Have better Posture and Take over the world and stop watching Pinky and the Brain!

Cheers,

Amy