Year-End Career Playbook: Strategies to Make Your Career Next Level

While 2024 still has several months to go, we're well past the halfway mark. With September's arrival, many organizations will start planning for the new year. They'll review the numbers for the past year, analyze strategies that worked or failed and make strategic plans for 2025FY.

Executives and leaders will likely take ownership of spearheading this process for various departments or the entire organization. However, when it comes to taking ownership of our own careers, we take a backseat approach and let things happen to us.

But if you're one of the 7.2 million unemployed people currently job hunting, you know the job market has changed drastically. The passive approach doesn't cut it anymore.

We're at a point where we need to take ownership of our careers and apply strategy to switch jobs, get a promotion, or be hired. What used to work no longer works.

As more companies leverage AI to handle greater aspects of their recruitment processes, coupled with the chaos the upcoming presidential election promises and the usual end-of-year changes companies experience, we can only expect more mayhem in the job market.

What's on the Horizon for Your Career in 2025?

Whether you're one of the many people affected by lay-offs or have been dreaming about a change in your career or industry, you need to think critically about how to move forward despite the bleak news circulating in the media and your organization.?

The old 'spray and pray' approach to sending your resume won't work, especially with AI taking over much of the recruitment process. In the current climate, until you get to the first interview and see?another person, you may not interact with another human being at all.

Without the right knowledge and information, a job search can stretch far longer than the average?five months.??

So, what should you be doing now?

1. Leveraging your network

It's time to open up your contact list or Rolodex (depending on how old school you are) and reconnect with past friends and colleagues.?

Back in the day, the best jobs were never advertised. That's even more true today. Some even believe that 80% of all available jobs don't make it to job boards or are gotten through referrals.?

Building and maintaining a strong network is an important asset you can't do without. As you climb up the corporate ladder, it only gets more important.

2. AI is Great, But Be Strategic

There are several methods you can employ to get around the parameters of AI. But that'll involve time, effort, and a strategy.? (Do the work!)

You must learn some key tips and tricks to get your resume in front of an actual person to ensure your application is accepted upon submission.

With the average corporate job receiving roughly 250 applications for one job opening, it's only logical for businesses to employ software to help them manage this huge influx.?

The unfortunate fallout is that around 75% of all job applications aren't seen by people, and 50% are rejected upon submission.

You need a solid strategy to get your resume seen and noticed by the right people.

3. Engage a Career Coach

Learning to navigate the new job market successfully takes a fair amount of time and effort. If you don't have the time but still want the results, consider getting a Carer Coach.?

A Career Coach can help you steer your career down the right path. If you're looking to get a new job or make a career change, they can give you the advice you'll need to position yourself to be seen as the ideal candidate.?In addition, a professional set of eyes on your resume or cover letter is always helpful!

You could figure things out on your own or ask your cousin in HR. Or you could step aside and let an expert do what they do best for your career.

Thinking of Changing Careers?

You'll spend between?90,000 - 100,000 hours at work throughout your lifetime. That's a lot of time to spend doing something that bores you or makes you miserable. But you may wonder, "Is now the right time to make such a drastic change?" I get your constraints, especially with everything going on in the job market.

But consider this:

●????? There will never be a good time to switch careers

If it's not the job market that's upside down, it'll be a promised promotion on the horizon or something else that'll be an excuse to stay right where you are.

There will never be a good time to change your career.

●????? Your age shouldn't factor into your decision

In 2022, 9 out of 10 people under 25 were considering a career change. However, in a survey by the American Institute for Economic Research, 82% reported successfully switching to a new career after age 45.?

A key factor in their success was their ability to use their skills from their previous careers in their new careers.?

Deep down, you know there's no better time than the present to work toward changing your career. Do you really want to continue wondering ‘what if’ as you spend another day bored and dissatisfied with your current job?

Making a career change may be challenging, but with the right tools, you can do it successfully.

How can AEJ Consulting - Career & Leadership Development help you today?

• Executive Coaching
• Manager Coaching & Development
• Team Building
• Resumes, Cover Letters & Interviews

Visit our website today to learn how we can help you!