What should my New Year job search resolutions be?

Returning to work after Christmas and New Year is like going to the dentist after you have put it off for years. The abiding effects from the festive season fade as quickly as the drunken overtones of Auld Lang Syne, so it is not surprising that many people view the arrival of the New Year as the ideal opportunity to refocus and set new career resolutions.

And, it's the perfect time to commit to finding a new job.

Here are a few ways to make sure your job search is a success:.

Set clear goals
While goals should be achievable and realistic, they are not meant to act like a ball and chain weighing you down. Your goals should act as the driving force designed to take you to where you want to be both in the short-term and long-term.

Pick a date in the future when you want to be in your new job and ask yourself where you want to be this time next year and in five years time. Setting a timeline for achieving your goals tells your subconscious that you are serious about your objective.

Take it one step at a time and make weekly targets that will help you get to where you want to be. Whenever setting your targets, make sure they are always related to your overall objectives.

You don't need to cross all your goals off the list every week, but studies have proven that people who keep a list of things they want to achieve end up fulfilling the majority of them. This will give you as sense of accomplishment and you will feel more motivated about your progress.

Market yourself effectively
It's important that you understand what job you really want and how to go about getting it in the most effective way.

A job-hunt is exactly what it says on the tin – it's a ‘hunt' to seek out the right job for you. The best way to do this is to regularly search for current vacancies online, but with such fierce competition it's not going to guarantee you the job of your dreams.

Every aspect of your search needs to be carefully thought out if you are to be successful. Does your CV need an overhaul to make it stand out? Do you usually prepare properly for interviews or have a quick look at the company website the night before?

Brush up on your networking skills, get your CV checked over by professionals as well as your friends and family and try to make a few pro-active applications to companies you really want to work for.

Use your time effectively
When you work hard all day in a job you're not enjoying, usually all you want to do when you get home is relax and switch off from work.

Yet, somehow you don't seem to have the time to look for a new job. Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today. You have the same 24 hours as Richard Branson and Bill Gates – you just need to use it more productively.

So the next time you are tempted to watch Eastenders or read the latest copy of Heat, ask yourself this question “Will doing this improve my life and help me get the job that I want?” If the answer is “No” (which I suspect it will be), then choose to use that time to start searching.

The more hours you put into job-hunting, the more likely it is that you will find the job you are looking for.

Refine your tactics
As an ongoing process, job seeking requires regular review. If you've applied for 50 jobs and had absolutely no response, it's clear that there's something wrong.

Are the skills and experiences that you have acquired in your career relevant to the jobs you're applying for? Employers are as wary of candidates who appear over-qualified as they are of the under qualified ones so make sure your applications are highly targeted and clearly show why you're the best person for the job.

A ‘blanket coverage' approach to sending out your CV rarely has the desired effect so be prepared to spend less time sending, and more time tailoring. Making each CV you send match the job description you're applying for will make the employer take notice when it lands on their desk.

Be prepared to take on some additional training courses if you're not having the response you're looking for. A small investment (whether it's time or money) on a worthwhile course can have some major plus points on the long-term.

Never give up
Approximately one-third of job seekers give up during the first two months of looking because they thought that getting a new job would be quick and easy. But it rarely is - there is no quick-fix.

The difference between successful and unsuccessful jobseekers is their refusal to be discouraged by rejection before they get an offer for the right job with the right company.

Above all, don't take rejection personally. Thomas Edison, The Beatles and J.K. Rowling were all given the thumbs-down early in their career before their talents shone through.