Create Your Career Calendar!

Lose weight. Save money. Get organized. Quit smoking.

While the top 10 New Year’s resolutions for 2014 even included “help others in achieving their dreams,” according to a study by the University of Scranton, few people are surprisingly focused on their own career aspirations.

Everyone should be. Even if you’re not currently seeking a new job, in today’s volatile market you have to be career-minded and constantly on the lookout for new opportunities. You never know what the future holds for your department, company, or industry.

A few career-enhancing resolutions:

QUARTERLY ~ Update your resume and re-post it to your top job boards.Older resumes are often overlooked by recruiters because they assume you’ve found another job. Be sure to includenew projects, published works, presentations, awards, and other significant achievements. Also, have your resume reviewed by a professional before resubmitting.

MONTHLY ~ Connect with recruiters and employment agencies that specialize in your field. Send them your resume and explain your career goals and geographic limitations. If you’re targeting specialty agencies, check in on a monthly basis—even if it’s just a short email. This way, your name will remain top of mind until your dream job comes along.

BIWEEKLY ~ Commit to networking with professionals, both within your industry and related fields, who you don’t know. Invite a well-respected co-worker from another department to lunch; ask a former colleague to a local sporting or entertainment event; and reach out to the people who you swapped business cards with at tradeshows and network over coffee. Since new acquaintances often discuss careers, be sure to have your elevator pitch down pat. You’ll be surprised how willing others are to make career introductions and endorse you professionally.

DAILY ~ Brand yourself as an industry thought-leader. Volunteer to write your company’s blog or offer to be quoted by the business media. Once the story or blog is published, share it across your social-media platforms and post it to your LinkedIn profile. Even if you’re media shy, you can build a brand via social media by posting engaging industry news, following employment agencies and major companies, and regularly liking (good), sharing (better), or commenting (best) on posts.

Remember, hiring managers and recruiters are constantly on social media. Seeing your name repeatedly pop up will impress them and speak volumes of your professional involvement and knowledge.

Jyoti Patel is President of Anuva Resource Solutions, a full-service human-resource and financial solutions outsourcing company based in Morrisville, NC, that specializes in helping startup entrepreneurs, professional service firms, and midsize companies spend less time on day-to-day tasks and more time on expanding their businesses!