Are You Out of Work?

It has been a rough year for the American workforce. Jobs have been eliminated left and right. The threat of downsizing continues to loom. For those that still have a job, raises and bonuses are a receding memory.

Yes, times are tough. But that doesn't mean you should put your career goals on the back burner. This downturn will pass, hiring will ramp up again and you will want to be ready. With that in mind, here are career resolutions that will help you achieve success in 2009.

Your first one: Update your résumé. The end of the year is an ideal time to reflect on your accomplishments, especially if it's slow at work. When writing your résumé, don't just list all your job responsibilities. That won't set you apart. A more impressive résumé shows results, too. Briefly describe projects and then detail what they concretely achieved.

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After you've done that, take it a step further and draw up a career plan. Think of it as like a financial plan, but for your professional life. Ask what you'd want to do one or two jobs from now. That way you can design a path to get there. Do you need to go to graduate school? Can you get to the next job at the company you're with now, or will you need to switch firms?

"Having a career plan doesn't mean it will all happen immediately, especially since the market has changed," says Laura Hill, founder of Careers in Motion, a Manhattan-based career coaching firm. "But it's good over time, since it allows you to direct your career."

As you consider your career plan, be honest about whether you're happy in your current job and industry. Is the job still a good fit? Are you still learning and growing professionally? What are the longer-term threats to and opportunities for your company, your career there and the industry?

There's no reason to wither away in a job you hate, and there are plenty of books that can help unhappy employees match their passions with more appropriate jobs. Many have assessment tests that ask probing questions to help you figure out what field best suits you.