Taking Stock—What Do You Really Want to Do?

We’re approaching the end of the year. A lot of people take this time to make resolutions for the next year. If you are out of work, and the months have been ticking away without a hot job lead or an offer, the holiday season is a great time to stop and consider what you really want to be doing. Here are some things to ponder:

• Do you really want a full-time office job like the one you had before or would you like to try something new—maybe two part-time jobs?
• Would you enjoy more flexibility in your work life, possibly working from home most or all of the time?
• Have you considered working independently as a contractor or freelancer?
• Would starting your own business be your dream come true?
• Is there another line of work you can pursue that also fits your talents and today’s job market?
• Do you have skills, knowledge or talents that can transfer to a totally new field, such as the in-demand alternative energy industry or health care?
• What’s most important to you: benefits, salary, interesting work, flexibility, etc.?

How you answer these, and the many other questions you can pose for yourself, should drive the direction you take as you move forward in your career path.

Sometimes, jobseekers feel so driven by a sense of duty to those who rely on them for support, they overlook this important introspective step. Taking it now could make your search for gainful employment in 2010 more productive and rewarding.