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It’s not uncommon to have a love-hate relationship with New Year’s resolutions.
Things like: Eat better. Exercise more. Save money. We love them because they often reflect areas of our life we would like to strengthen or change and there is hope and possibility in transformation. But we hate them, because the motivation to pursue these resolutions often fades by February, leaving us feeling like a failure if we weren’t able to follow through as intended.
Career-related resolutions can follow the same pattern – ambitious in theory, abandoned in practice. But when framed differently, they can become something much more sustainable: habits that support job seekers all year long.
For clients who searched throughout 2025 and are still looking in 2026, this may be the moment for them to gently shake up their approach and breathe new life and intention into their search. They may be entering 2026 determined to be less frustrated and discouraged as compared to how they felt in 2025.
Here are a few fresh, practical “resolutions” you can introduce with your clients.
Shift from applying online to building conversations
Online applications still have a place, but many job seekers rely on them almost exclusively. Enter frustration and exit momentum – these clients just can’t seem to get traction. A growing number of employers are posting roles on company websites rather than large job boards, or they’re filling positions through referrals and internal networks before roles are widely advertised. Encourage clients to be strategic and build connection by reconnecting with former colleagues, asking companies of interest for short informational chats, attending industry or community events or reaching out to people whose career paths interest them. These conversations may grow their network and possibly lead to a new job.
Comment more on LinkedIn
Not everyone wants to draft LinkedIn posts or create videos and they don’t need to. One of the most overlooked visibility strategies is thoughtful commenting.
Encourage clients to engage with posts from leaders, organizations and professionals in their field of interest, as well as directly with companies they have applied to or individuals they will be interviewing with. A well-written comment can demonstrate expertise, showcase communication skills, highlight a unique perspective or insight and increase visibility to recruiters and hiring managers. A resolution to leave two or three meaningful comments per week is far more sustainable than promising to post daily and is often more effective.
Use AI as a thinking partner, not a replacement voice
AI tools are now a regular part of the job search conversation and clients are understandably turning more to these tools to support their job search. The key is guiding them toward intentional use rather than over-reliance. You can encourage clients to use AI as a brainstorming partner, research assistant, interview preparation tool and career exploration guide. For resumes, use AI to refine structure, identify transferable skills, or generate reflection questions, then have the client write in their own voice. This keeps authenticity intact while still leveraging technology to reduce overwhelm and spark ideas.
Replace “I need a job” with “I need a target”
Many job seekers enter the new year with urgency but without direction. A resolution that can change everything is clarifying a career target to provide clear direction. Entering a job search or career exploration with no target is like standing in front of a dart board with your eyes closed. The darts you throw will likely not land on the board – and in a job search, you want your clients to hit that bullseye.
To clarify their target, encourage clients to reflect on questions such as:
What work gives me energy? What work drains me?
What is the profile of the “right” organization where I can do my best work?
What transferrable skills do I have that help me to do the work I love?What am I no longer willing to tolerate (ie. what are my non-negotiables)?
Measure progress differently
Finally, invite clients to redefine progress. A job search is like growing tomato plants – after you push the seed into the ground, you can water it and give it the right amount of sunlight and still not see the plant grow. If you check every day you may think nothing is happening and yet underneath the soil, growth is happening and one day a green shoot will emerge from the soil. Instead of measuring success only by job offers or interviews, help clients track actions within their control, like: conversations held, applications customized, skills learned, comments left and connections strengthened.
Starting the year with momentum, not pressure
Resolutions often fail when they’re rigid or unrealistic (like wanting to go to the gym 5 days per week). But when framed as small, repeatable actions, they become supportive structures rather than burdens. Something is always better than nothing.
These “resolutions” are less about the start of a new year and more about sustainable habits that carry clients through the entire year. They invite curiosity, reflection, gradual confidence-building to try new things.
For job seekers who feel discouraged or stuck, a new calendar year isn’t about starting over – it’s about starting differently.
