Often professional women focus on re-evaluating  professional aspirations at the beginning of the year.  To keep the momentum, one key tip is to make a detailed plan to achieve resolutions.  Developing detailed plans is a proven way to help keep committed. The detail provides a path to reach the goal, and creating the plan puts the goal and how you are going to meet it more prominantly in your mind.

You may have already made career resolutions.  To make sure you get results, ensure there is enough detail.  It’s not too late to reassess or refine your career goals and make changes that will benefit your career or overall job satisfaction.

Here are a few examples of career resolutions and how to refine them to be specific:

Learn something new. Skills enhancement is a top professional priority for many professionals as it’s one of the most effective ways to position yourself for a new job or a move up the corporate ladder. And acquiring a new skill doesn’t have to be difficult; many professional associations and colleges host training seminars and certification programs specific to your industry. You also could volunteer for a project at work outside of your normal duties. Doing so adds to your skill set while also demonstrating your dedication and willingness to continually improve.  Sign up for a course and take it.

Refresh your resume. Whether you’re happily employed or in the middle of a job search, you should always keep your resume current. Ready-to-go application materials are invaluable not only if your employment situation suddenly changes but also in the event you’re under consideration for a promotion. Going forward, make it a point to review your resume every few months, updating the content to reflect any recent accomplishments or changes in responsibility.

Expand your network. In an OfficeTeam survey, workers said that not asking others for assistance is the top networking mistake. There’s no excuse for failing to ask for help; people are usually eager to lend a hand if they can. Professional acquaintances can provide employment leads as well as job-search and career-management advice. To grow your base of contacts, start participating in professional association chapter meetings, or regular networking opportunities that are convenient for you. Set a goal to add 50 new contacts to your professional network.

Accomplishing your career goals is a reward in itself, but be sure to pat yourself on the back along the way. Make sure you track your accomplishments and take pride in them. If your objective is a promotion, for example, congratulate yourself on an outstanding performance review. Small but regular rewards will increase your motivation to succeed.

Take the opportunity now to set or to refine your career goals to be definitive and concrete and dedicate 2008 to reaching them.

As you set career-related resolutions for 2008, keep in mind that specificity will help you keep them and get results.  And continue to refine as needed.  The more you focus your attention and activity on your goal, the better your results will be.

Written for w2wlink.com.