Now Is the Time to Plan Your Career Strategy for the New Year

Now Is the Time to Plan Your Career Strategy for the New Year Yes, I hate it, too, when people mention Christmas in November. Letsat least wait until DecemberThat said, its never too early to start thinking about the new year when it comes to your career. In fact, theres never a bad time to be thinking aboutyour career.Lets be honest Most people invest mora time in planning their annual two-week holiday than they do in planning their career.So, before you shoot the messenger and point out that Im contradicting myself, know that now isthe time to plan for your career in the new year and here are two really great reasons why1. Its Time to Reframe Your State of MindRemember Planning your career is not a chore. It is all about you Strategizing for your successful future is something you should be extremely excited about As Winston Churchill once said, He who fails to plan is planning to fail.However, I wont deny that because its all about you, it is a li ttle scary. Were all pretty good at giving others advice, but when it comes down to our own futures, we tend to make things more complicated than they need to be. We are all struck by the same thought What if I plan something wrong or do something wrong?The thing is, you actually cant fail. Well, you can fail, but only when you stick your head in the sand and pretend this stuff does not matter. If you go down the wrong path, thats fine. Its a learning curve. You can always correct yourself. So stop making this complicated and just do it Making those wrong turns will get you where you need to beSo, a few questions to ask yourself as you begin planning What do you want? Which company do you want to work for? What salary are you looking for?Do you have the relevant experience and qualifications to earn it?If youre stuck on some of these questions, you may just need a little more guidance and someone to point you in the right direction. A career coach might bea great investment when you re thinking about your long-term choices2.Schedule Your Future or It May Never HappenMost people like the idea of planning a successful future, but when it actually comes down to finding the time to do it well, thats quite another thing The only way to plan properly is to schedule some time into your busy dayto ensure that it actually happens.Yes, I know I might be stating the obvious, but guess what? Most people talk a good talk but never get around to actually taking any action. If you keep thinking about something and never get around to doing it, that something will weigh on your mind. It willalways be there just as youre trying to get to sleep at night sitting somewhere in your subconscious and eating away at you. So, instead, just schedule it in and make it happen.If youre not too sure where to start, or it all feels rather overwhelming, just break your planning down into bite-sized chunks. Its better to do something even if its something small than it is to do nothing at all. Once you start, it gets easier. Youll be able to get some momentum going and work your planning sessions regularly into your daily routine.So, schedule some time into your calendar right now,because it may never happen otherwiseTo SummarizeIf you desperately want to get a new job, now is the perfect time to plan out what you need to do and the things that you need to consider. In addition toaddressing the questions I posedabove, you may want to revamp your resume and spruce up your LinkedIn profile. Just remember that the higher the salary youre looking for and the more senior the job, the better these documents need to be if you wantto differentiate yourself from the competition.If you are aiming for these more senior positions, it is better not togo it alone. While youre trying to figure out what works through trial and error, great opportunities could be passing you by. Many people dont realize they are suffering from what I call CV shame. Check out the video below to learn moreOn a final note, planning can be fun to do. It doesnt all need to be hard workMany of you will know that I recently moved from London to Spain. Every morning, I like to set up career strategy sessions at my local cafe. As you can see, its a beautiful place to workIregularly spend time charting out the things I need to make happen (both personally and professionally). Itis not something that can be completed annually or every once in a while. I revisit my strategy regularly totweak and amend where necessary. Life throws us plenty ofcurveballs, and we have to be ready for themGet Noticed, Get Hired.Susan Burke is an award-winning global careers coach. You can connect with Susan viaLinkedInandgrab a complimentary copy of her bookdirect from her website.