Have you ever thought how some people can always manage to get into great jobs and you seem to get stuck in the rot? Is everyone getting job when you are still in search of one?

Do they have a great career plan you wonder. It’s indeed true that careers are nurtured and hence a plan is of utmost importance. But the fact of the matter is that you have to set the ball rolling. 

Don’t be afraid of setting a goal or developing a plan as that’s the only route to success. Here are 10 career tips to effectively plan your career for the coming year.

1.    Update Your Resume
Update your resume and keep a copy handy. You need to showcase a crisp and well-written one when you're job-hunting. Even if you don’t contemplate an immediate change, it’s good to get ready your resume as you never know when opportunity knocks. It is also advisable to do so now, as with appraisal time here, you have probably just reviewed your accomplishments and responsibilities, and later you may forget these. 

Also Read : UG Courses Everyone Should Know About 

2.    Complete your Research in your field area
Investigate the market potential of your dream option before you take the plunge. What does it entail — in terms of hours, travel, additional qualifications etc. Is it prone to seasonal swings, is it paying in the long-term?
Speak to those who are already in the field to get the necessary insights and a first-hand feel of what it will demand from you. Don’t fall for the obvious. Often the ‘glamour’ associated with certain careers turns out to be a mirage when looked at from up close.

3.    Set goals
It’s important to know what you want from your career. Ask yourself, where do I want to see myself five years down the line? Thus, you get clarity about your goals. Goals give you direction, motivate you to the hilt and push you so that  that you reach your destination. It’s always good to keep short-term goals to see them being realised. They act as a benchmark for reaching long-term goals. Finally, review your progress from time to time and alter the goals accordingly to meet your needs.

4.    Schedule a meeting/interview
If you're mulling a job change, network well and get active to line up some interviews, as the time is right. Even if you aren’t ready to quit just yet, meeting people and going through the rigours of an interview would still help you get an idea of available opportunities. These can act as cues to your job-hunt strategy later. 

5.    Get an added degree/take a sabbatical
Check out the training schedules available at your own company and chalk out your training plan. It would be good to also find out whether the company has the option of providing a paid study leave that can benefit your work. Or if you can afford it, you can consider taking a academic sabbatical that will help you move up the ladder faster.

6.    Take Practice Tests and Quizzes
Do adequate research and take quizzes and tests from the Internet, so that you can evaluate your strengths and then decide accordingly how to reach where you want to be. Single-minded devotion to the goal is essential. Besides, also take mock interviews which can be extremely beneficial if you are in the midst of a job search.

7.    Create career wishlist
A wishlist is the set of things that you don’t have now, but you intent to own them as and when possible. Your career wish list must have:

• Employer list that you wish to work for.
• Responsibility and Post you wish to stand at.
• Salary you wish to receive in return
• Location and general setup of job.
• Cultural setup
• Education and Extra Certificates 
• Aspirations to reach your goal

8.    Networking
Networking gives you access to the hidden or informal job market, which is a helpful tool even if you aren’t actively job searching. For example, a contact in your network knows a position is soon going to be available at her company because a colleague in her office is retiring. The HR department hasn’t even started recruiting for it, but your contact knows you would be a perfect match for the role.

9.    Find a mentor
If you’re looking to find best career advice, you should first find a mentor. He or she can help you explore the possibilities and pitfalls or to ignite and generate the enthusiastic fuel necessary to bring your dream job into fruition. This process begins by finding someone who does the work you want to do. However, don’t just settle for a person who is doing what you want to do, most importantly, make sure they are truly passionate about the work they are doing.

10.    Ask yourself these questions

1. If it was impossible to fail, what would be different in my career?
2. What type of job would I have?
3. What would I be responsible for?
4. What type of boss/co-workers/team would I have?
5. What kind of hours would I work?
6. What type of company, big or small, would I work for?
7. What sort of culture would the company have?
8. What city would I live in?
9. How much money would I make?
10.  How would I handle stress, my workload, and deadlines?
11. How would I successfully be balancing work and life?

Where you reach in your career is so dependent on the decisions you make in the first few years of your career that it is worthwhile for you to focus time and even resources in getting it right. Keeping an eye on the ‘means to the end’ always pays off. Identify mentors, work with career coaches, break out of stereotypes, and move out of your comfort zone and do this when you still have time on your side. This is the best insurance you can take for all the surprises that the environment throws at you.