New year resolutions and applying: how to avoid another half hearted attempt this year
January always arrives like someone flipping on the lights while you were happily asleep on the couch. Suddenly we need new goals, fresh energy, a healthy lifestyle, a new job, a new version of me. And let us be honest: by week three you are back on the sofa with a frozen pizza thinking that February is also a perfectly fine month to start.
Still, January is one of the most popular months for job searching. And you can use that to your advantage, as long as you do not approach it like a typical New Year resolution where you just wing it and hope for the best. In this blog I help you turn your intentions into a plan you will actually stick to.
Why January is the perfect time to start your job search
January feels like a clean slate. Companies kick off new projects, teams get fresh budgets and job openings go live again. Candidates are more active which means more competition but also far more opportunities.
And honestly, if you were already thinking that you want to find a new job this is the month where your motivation is usually the highest. Use that boost. Not to throw out dozens of rushed applications but to look intentionally at what you actually want.
Choose a job that fits you and not just because it is January
Good intentions have one dangerous side effect: impulsive decisions. New job. New city. New industry. New me. And three months later you realise you ended up in the same job, under the same harsh lighting, just in a different chair. So before you start applying, check in with yourself.
What gives me energy?
What is important to me at work?
Which tasks drain me and which tasks excite me?
Which culture suits me?
Make it concrete. Make it honest. Choose something that fits your happiness at work instead of a moment of January enthusiasm.
How to turn your good intentions into real job search goals
“This year I really want a new job” is not a goal. It is a wish. Once you have clarity on what your criteria are you can decide what actually fits you. That allows you to shape a goal that you can measure and evaluate. You can make it SMART which means specific, measurable, acceptable, realistic and time bound. Give yourself an end goal and attach actions that will make that goal realistic. For example:
‘Within three months I want a job that meets my criteria including my preferred salary, number of contract hours and maximum travel time.’
From there you can set smaller goals such as:
Analyse one vacancy per week thoroughly instead of half reading five.
Update your CV and profile text.
Plan one networking conversation.
Submit one solid application per week.
Job search goals do not need to be pretty. They need to be achievable. The more concrete they are, the easier they are to maintain.
Build a job search rhythm you can actually stick to
Finding a new job is about consistency and rhythm. Motivation disappears whenever it rains, you are cold or someone invites you out for drinks. A rhythm makes job searching manageable. For example:
Monday block: search for new vacancies
Wednesday block: preparation or updating your CV
Friday block: reflecting on what you did
Keep it simple. You do not need to push every day. You mainly need to stay consistent. And bonus: a job search rhythm gives you structure and peace.
Reflecting with the STARR method: your secret weapon for growth
The most underestimated part of the STARR method but also the place where you show how professional you truly are. Many candidates can perfectly explain what happened, what they did and what the result was. And then comes the question “What did you learn from it?” followed by the classic “Communication is important.” No. Absolutely not.
Reflection makes you interesting. It shows that you understand:
What you did that worked
What you could have done differently
Why that insight matters
How you have grown since then
Employers love people who understand their own behaviour. People who do not rely on luck but evolve based on experience. Strong reflection sounds like this:
“I noticed I moved to solutions too quickly. When I started asking questions first I received more input and the result improved. Now I intentionally plan a check in moment before I make a decision.”
From good intentions to real change
Good intentions are cute but they change nothing unless you turn them into behaviour. And behavioural change is hard to create on your own. It often helps to have someone who guides you. You can schedule a free intake or book one of our training sessions to find out if we can support you.
Make this the year where you stop saying “I kind of want something else” and start actually applying, growing, learning and changing. And if you notice you are stuck or do not know how to write STARR examples or have no idea what your reflection is supposed to be then we are happy to help.
