Career Planning

New Year, New Job

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A new year is a great time to assess where you’re at professionally. Is it time for you to make a job change? Or a career change? Here are concrete actions you can take over the next month to assess your situation and begin to move forward.

During this 21-day period, you’ll take consistent action in 5 different areas:

  • Where Are You Now?
  • Where Are You Going?
  • What Sets You Apart?
  • What’s Your Plan?
  • Let’s Do This!

For best results, enlist an accountability partner to help you complete the actions. Ideally, it will be someone who is looking to make a job or career change too, so you can keep each other accountable and on track. For best results, check in with each other daily.

Sample New Year, New Job Challenge Planner

  Day 1  Find the most recent version of my résumé and current job description.  
  Day 2  Brainstorm a list of what I need to add to my résumé (work experience, accomplishments, education, training, etc.)  
  Day 3  Spend 30 minutes considering whether I want a new job or a new career. Make a pros/cons list.  
  Day 4  Take the Clifton StrengthsFinder skills assessment.
  Day 5  Spend 30 minutes pulling together information for my brag book.
  Day 6  Brainstorm 10 possible job titles for the position I want.  
  Day 7  Create my “Dream Job” job description.  
  Day 8  Conduct a review of my skills, experience, and qualifications compared to my “Dream Job” job description.  
  Day 9  Spend 15 minutes answering these questions: What am I meant to do? How can I use my skills, education, and experience for maximum benefit? What kinds of problems can I solve for an organization?  
  Day 10  Outline five C-A-R accomplishments that I can add to my résumé and/or use in a job interview
  Day 11  Write up a list of honors and awards I’ve received.  
  Day 12  Research my target job salary.  
  Day 13  Think about how I got my last job and figure out if I can try that again.  
  Day 14  Make a list of the skills, training, and education I need for my next job. Research how to obtain one of these.  
  Day 15  Line up an accountability partner to help support me in my job search.  
  Day 16  Make a list of 10 organizations I’d like to work for.  
  Day 17  Make a list of everyone I know in my network.  
  Day 18  Spend 30 minutes researching prospective employers.
  Day 19  Reach out to one person in my network and let them know I’m looking for a new opportunity.  
  Day 20  Research 3 recruiters I’d like to work with and send them a LinkedIn connection request.  
  Day 21  Reach out to someone who works for the organization I want to work for. Ask them if they will meet me for lunch this weekend.  
Completing the 21-Day Challenge

At the end of the 21 days, review your progress. Do you have any leads on unadvertised openings? Any interviews or job offers yet? If not, don’t worry. The majority of this 21-day challenge is focused on preparing yourself for the job search, not conducting the job search.

Ready To Quit? Consider These Things First

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Many of us fantasize about quitting our jobs—usually in a moment of pique or fear. Over the last several weeks, many federal employees I have spoken with are seriously considering their options. Before quitting impulsively, consider the following:

  • Do you have a real plan? Have you mapped out your job search strategy? Have you assessed exactly what you’re looking for in your next job? Are you willing to move if necessary? Go into an office fulltime? Before you start to look for your next position, decide what is most important to you so you have clear parameters for your search.
  • Do you have another job lined up? If not, how quickly (realistically) do you think you can land another job? Can you afford to be unemployed? If so, for how long? Do you have high monthly payments? Have you created a budget?
  • Are your salary expectations for your next role realistic? No hiring manager cares what you “need” to make…they’re only interested in what they think the job (and you) are worth. If you work in a niche industry (such as astrophysicist) or high demand occupation (like cybersecurity), you’re more likely to be able to negotiate a high salary.
  • Is your resume updated and your LinkedIn robust? These are critical tools in every job seeker’s toolbox.
  • Have you removed your personal documents, emails, and contact information from work systems? If not, this is something you want to do before announcing your resignation. And of course, you’ll need to follow your organization’s rules regarding what documents belong to the organization.
  • Determine if there are ethics / conflict of interest rules which need to be followed as you search for your next role? Make sure you understand any restrictions on your search before getting started.
  • Review your medical and other benefits. How will you cover your health insurance if you are unemployed? Yes, you will likely be eligible for COBRA but do know that premiums may be much higher than what you ar used to. Have you taken a loan against your 401 (k) or Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)? How will you repay it? What are your options to rollover your 401 (k)?
  • Is this the right time to leave? Have you appropriately considered your options? What do you have to lose /gain by leaving? Would some time off help you gain some perspective?

Whatever you decide, make sure that your decision is well considered and if you do decide to leave, do so with grace and professionalism.

Thinking About Signing Up For A Self-Study Program To Advance Your Career?

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There are a number of online certification programs that can help you increase your skills and knowledge base, and perhaps your career. Here are some pros and cons to signing up for one of these programs:

Pros:

  • Many of these programs offer affordable, self-study options for continuing education and professional development.
  • These certificate programs can be an option for those seeking to boost their qualifications for an entry-level position in the field.
  • Once completed, you can add your new credentials to your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • Completing the certification can prepare you for other certification programs and/or provide college credit at certain institutions.
  • Financial aid may be available for some programs (a discount off the cost of the course). You can complete an application that includes information about your educational background, career goals, and financial circumstances.
  • Your current employer may reimburse you for completing the certification.
  • Completing a certification demonstrates your commitment to taking responsibility for advancing your career.

Cons:

  • The certificate itself may not be enough to secure an interview or a job.
  • Certification is not a substitute for a relevant degree or direct work experience.
  • Some people who have completed the course say that the coursework was too broad or generalized to be useful.
  • Because the courses that make up the certifications are self-paced, you must be self-motivated to watch the videos, take the quizzes, and complete the exercises.
  • The cost may vary significantly; make sure you understand whether the course is offered on a platform that requires a subscription or is a flat fee. If you complete the certification but forget to cancel your subscription, you will pay significantly more for the certification.

Check out our self-paced online courses based on our training programs to learn how to Prepare a Federal Job Application and Prepare a Senior Executive Service Package!

Wondering Why Your Career Has Stalled?

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There are lots of reasons your career has stalled—and many of them have nothing to do with your supervisor. If you find your career to be stuck, you need to take a hard look at how you might be contributing to the situation.

Here are some of the most common reasons things are not going as well as you had hoped.

You don’t take the initiativeYou fulfill only your job requirements
The position you want doesn’t existYou only want a paycheck—and it’s clear
You have an entitlement mentalityYou are unorganized / procrastinate
Your job skills are outdatedYour personal issues affect your performance
You lack interpersonal skillsYou don’t follow through
You don’t implement suggestionsYou don’t express interest in development
You lack professionalismYou have “issues” with key personnel
Of course, there are other possibilities as well but if one (or more) of the above reasons resonate with you, consider making a commitment to getting your career back on track. You can make a plan by documenting the following—and following through:

Feedback Received:    

What Needs to Work:    

My solution to fix this is:    

I can demonstrate improvement by:    

While I cannot guarantee that this will work, at a very minimum it will allow you to know that you did everything you could before you decide to move on to another employer.

If you’re considering a career change check out our free Career Change Self-Assessment Worksheet and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need assistance with updating your resume, interview prep, or more!

How To Turn Down A Job Offer (Without Burning Bridges)

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You’ve decided that the job offered isn’t the right one for you — so how do you turn down the job offer gracefully? Just because you were offered the job doesn’t mean you have to accept it.

The first step is to decide how you’re going to communicate that you’re declining the job offer. If you had a good rapport with the hiring manager, and the hiring manager is who made the job offer, it makes sense to reach out to him or her directly using the phone. Don’t put off telling them no if you have decided you’re not going to accept the job.

If the offer was extended through a human resources representative, you may decide to let the HR rep know you’re declining the offer, again by phone, and then follow up with the hiring manager as well.

You want to communicate three key points:

  • You are grateful for the job offer
  • You’re declining the offer
  • You appreciate their time and consideration of you as a candidate

The most important is the second point — it should be clear that you’re turning down the job offer. You don’t have to provide a reason for doing so, but it’s likely you’ll be asked, so be ready.

Here is one possible answer: “After thinking it over, I just don’t think now is the right time for me to make a move,” or “After getting a better understanding of the role, I’ve come to realize this role isn’t the right fit for me.” Don’t provide criticism of the job or the organization when providing your reason for declining the job offer.

Don’t lie. It can be easy to say, “I’ve decided to accept a different job offer,” but if that’s not the case, it may come back to bite you. It’s fine to say you’ve decided to stay at your current job, but don’t make up another job offer as a way to decline this one.

The most important thing is to be clear that you’ve made your decision. If you’ve decided that you aren’t accepting the position, don’t be persuaded in the conversation you’re having to decline the job offer to accept it. (Especially if you are offered more money after previously being turned down for a salary increase when you made a counteroffer.)

If you’d like to be considered for other jobs at the organization in the future, make sure that you emphasize that you appreciate learning more about the organization but that this specific role wasn’t the right fit. It’s no guarantee that you will be considered for other roles in the future, but you’re trying not to burn the bridge. In fact, you can express interest in staying in touch with the hiring manager in the hopes that you’ll be considered for future opportunities.

Declining a job offer can be difficult. However, turning down a role that you ultimately wouldn’t be happy in is important. But it’s better for you — and the organization — that you decline the position so they can find someone who is a better fit.

New Year, New Opportunities?

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For many of us, the new year represents an opportunity to reflect and make a plan for moving forward. This is a useful exercise whether or not you’re satisfied with your current job / career.

Here are some questions and ideas to help you take advantage of the new year!

  • Think about what you learned and achieved in 2023…what new opportunities did you have? What new training or certifications did you receive? What new skills? List your 5 most significant accomplishments
  • Determine your goals for 2024…Are you looking for a promotion? A new job altogether? A new career? Create a written plan on how you can get there. Putting things in writing will help you hold yourself accountable. What do you need to do to prepare yourself to achieve your goal? Are there specific classes? Work experiences? New technologies? Specific people you need to reach out to? Put it in writing and give yourself a timeframe to accomplish what is needed.
  • Is your resume ready to go? If your resume hasn’t been updated in at least 6 months, add this to your to do list. Make sure your resume is full of accomplishments and numbers—as well as key words for your next job.
  • Review your performance expectations with your boss. Make sure you understand what is expected and how expectations may have changed over 2023.
  • Do you have a system to keep track of your accomplishments and numbers? There is probably nothing more important for your career than taking charge of it. One great way to do that is to track your accomplishments and numbers. You can do it electronically or use a paper file. Note that electronic files on your employer’s computer belong to your employer, not you. So however you decide to track this information, use a personal device or file.
  • How is your network? Do you have a coach or a mentor? If not, consider taking steps to find one. Are you in regular contact with people outside your workgroup? Is your LinkedIn current—and active? Are there people you know who can help take your career to the next level? Are you in touch?

These are just some ideas to help you start 2024 on the right track!

Stay connected by joining our network on LinkedIn for additional tips, resources, and more!