New Year's the Time to Take Stock

Whether you are reading the Washington Post or the Wall Street Journal, advice for the working is the same this time of year, and that's to have some New Year's resolutions for your career.

And while the holidays can provide plenty of motivation to quit (from getting no bonus to listening to a relative boast about his job over a holiday dinner), as you probably know, that's not a smart thing to do. Not unless you have a solid job offer in the wings. Instead, opt for making your present job situation better.

Looking out, say a year from now, what would you like to see yourself doing?

Taking an inventory of the past year's accomplishments is a good place to start. What new skills or knowledge have you gained? What's the next step for career growth and what's your timeline for getting there? Finally, what are the specific steps you need to take to get to that point?

If your inventory makes you realize that you aren't learning or being challenged enough, not to mention having some fun along the way, find out what you need to do to improve the picture. If it's training or education, learn whether your employer will provide it or reimburse you for your out-of-pocket expenses. If not, consider whether the long-term benefits of the training outweigh the personal expense.

Another question to ask yourself: How long have I been unhappy in my job? If the answer is nine to 12 months or more, it may be time for a change. If your unhappiness at work stems from your relationship with your boss, is it possible to transfer to a different department? Here, it's important to consider your employer's financial health. Growing companies are more likely to provide options than financially strapped organizations.

If a transfer is out of the question, talk with a trusted third party before walking out on your job. Your confidante might have suggestions worth trying, including a fair and frank discussion with your boss. While one article we read suggested talking with a representative of company's human resources department, we caution against this unless you have a clear-cut, documented case of bad behavior on the part of your boss. In some companies, human resources departments are direct pipelines to management. At others, they really are committed to fairness. You will definitely want to know your company's record on these matters before pleading your case to human resources.

The bottom line here is that this time next year, you'll want to cheering yourself for getting out of your comfort zone and tackling the issues that are keeping you from reaching your potential.

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