2018 is coming to an end and, with the arrival of the new year, it is the perfect opportunity to reflect on your past experience and think about which direction you might want to take in the future. If you’re thinking about shifting gears, you’re not alone. The majority of people change jobs 10-15 times during their lifetime, so don’t feel like you have to stick to a career path that’s not right for you.

Think of the new year as a fresh start, and then capitalise on that positive energy. Here are some important points to get you started and ready for 2019:

Update your LinkedIn profile and your CV

It is important to keep your CV up to date. For instance, if a recruiter or a friend calls out of the blue with a great opportunity, you’re going to want to have it ready to go. Similarly, having an up-to-date LinkedIn profile means you’ll have a better chance of being sought out by recruiters. Plus it’s much easier to update your experience and accomplishments periodically when they’re fresh in your mind rather than trying to add in a couple years of experience all at once.

Make an inventory of your skills

Evaluate your past work, volunteer, and academic experiences to identify elements activities of your past roles that you found stimulating or enjoyable. Cultivate a list of 5-10 preferred skills or activities that you would like to utilise and engage with in a new career.

Conduct your own career research

The more you learn, the easier it will be to make decisions and set goals for yourself. Start out by reading about careers of interest by browsing websites or publications and measure these careers against your preferred skills list. For those careers with a genuine appeal, compile a list of questions to research so that you can fully assess the suitability of that career for you.

Schedule action items in your calendar

Estimate and assess timelines, and plan out your weeks, months or even a year in advance. This will keep you organised and on track with your goals.

Have a positive attitude

An optimistic outlook is the most effective way to accomplish your goals. Without the right mind set and determination to succeed, you will have a tough time overcoming the obstacles you face. If you find yourself losing hope in your plan, it’s time to take a step-back and self-assess and remind yourself what’s driving you to do what you’re doing.

Your resilience will be a key element to your success. If you’re not generally a person who handles setbacks well, you can improve your mindset by breaking your goals down into smaller steps. As you succeed with each step, you’ll build confidence for the next.