When you make new year's resolutions tonight, don't forget your career. Even if you don't have a good record of following through on such resolutions, a reality check of where you stand on your professional path — and where you want to be by this time next year — cannot hurt.

A good place to begin is to decide on your start and end points or simply make your goals clear. A career change, for example, requires a complete different mindset to achieve than a promotion or a more laid-back work situation.

You also need to look at the bigger picture of your industry and decide what can help you thrive and advance — these are often industry-specific points. In our current economy, mere survival and holding onto a job can be considered success.

But for those who are reaching for higher positions, it is important to make sure that they understand which steps (for example, specific training or certification) can put them on track for promotion.

Here are a five goals and tips on how to position yourself to realise them:

Money and advancement

You cannot have it all — unless you are exceptionally lucky. Determine what your priorities are and rank them. Financial rewards might remain the hardest to come by in this coming year because employers most likely will continue to be cautious while bracing themselves for external economic shocks such as the fallout of the European debt problems, if any.

Advancement might be easier for those who are willing to do what it takes to stand out. Don't forget though that the market is very competitive and you need to capitalise on your strengths to move up.

Career change

Is it the right time? For making career change, be less concerned about the economy, and more focused on your own circumstances. That is not to discount that a better economy would provide opportunities for a smoother transition. But the key, in most cases, to make a successful career change is to have your own personal and professional life in order.

If you don't see any major events on your calendar this year — no extensive childcare for instance — this might be the right time. The point is you have to be psychologically, mentally and practically prepared to invest your time and money into the change.

Better performance

If you been unsatisfied with your own performance or you're concerned that you might be on top of the list if layoffs hit your team, it is time to turnaround your position. Take a serious look into your shortcomings and write down steps to rectify each of them.

The analysis of your problems should lead you to a find an answer that might be in professional training, better self-discipline, efficient networking or a structured method to assess and follow your progress.

Life-family balance

The years of economic trouble have meant, for many, constantly being short-staffed and working long hours.

Whether being compensated for this overtime or not, the result is often the same: less time spent with family and friends. Sounds familiar? If you'd like to change this situation in the coming year, you must think of how to achieve a balance without jeopardising your job.

The first step would be to raise the matter formally with your supervisor, and ask for a more accommodating work schedule — even if it means giving up your extra pay. If you think that work has been informally creeping into your life, try to set your own rules. For example, don't be available on email, messaging and other forms of electronic communication regularly if you're not required to.

Relocation

This is a big decision. Planning for relocation, if you've not already started, might take most of your coming year. Needless to say, in today's economy, having a job where you're planning to land is essential — unless you have substantial savings or certain family support.

If you don't have a job, begin to survey the market beforehand by sending resumes, speaking to recruitment agencies and even to checking with employers about the job market and your own prospects.

While it might be difficult to score a job from afar, you might be able to at least to make an idea on whether your move makes sense at all.

 

Rania Oteify, a former Gulf News Business Features Editor, is currently a journalist based in Seattle.