Ten ways to stop 2008 passing your career by

With the first quarter of the year already gone it is time to dust off those New Yearís resolutions and see how you are tracking.

LINK Recruitmentís Gemma Avon says that many people earnestly write down their New Yearís resolutions in January but donít tend to look at them again until the year is over.

ìIn most types of business, people are used to setting goals and reviewing these on a quarterly, monthly or even a weekly basis. It is just about transferring some of these skills over to your personal life,î says Gemma.

ìAs we start heading towards the middle of 2008, now is a great time to reflect on these resolutions. Take stock and examine what you have achieved and where you still have progress to make.î

LINK Recruitmentís top tips to stop the year from passing your career by:
1. Find your resolutions and revisit them based on your progress at the start of 2008. If necessary ñ rewrite them or think of some new ones.

2. Set achievable goals for each of your resolutions and include timelines. For example, if your resolution is to begin blogging, set a goal to create your first submission in the first month, then to update it at least once a month, or fortnight.

3. Make your resolutions visible. It is easy to forget resolutions when they are hidden away. Stick them up, or enter them as a to-do list in your planner, PDA or mobile phone.

4. Keep networking. Most people tend to shy away from social occasions during the winter months. Set goals for the number of times you socialise with colleagues, clients and attend industry events.

5. Update your resume again. Highlight any achievements in the past few months and refresh it according to your new career goals. You never know when you are going to need your resume in a hurry!

6. Make sure you are meeting with your manager to discuss your role at least quarterly. Before the meeting, reflect on your new challenges and responsibilities and how you fared. If you have conquered, ask for new challenges.

7. How long has it been since you logged into a business networking site? These sites are a great way to keep in contact with people in your industry, so make sure your profile is up to date.

8. Keep up your own professional development. Industries can change quickly and you need to keep reading up on any new developments. Subscribe to a magazine or e-Bulletin to keep you up to date.

9. Consider an exercise class or taking up a hobby to give yourself some ëmeí time. Keeping yourself both physically and mentally fit plays a big role in achieving goals ñ career or otherwise.

10. Touch base with that trusted recruiter ñ send your updated resume and research salary surveys. However if your job is going well, be satisfied with your lot. Always searching for something better can breed dissatisfaction, so remember to take stock of what is right.