5 Reasons You Should Start Your 2012 Job Hunt Today

Is your New Year's resolution to find a new job? Well, you may not want to wait until that ball drops!

Check out this article by Michelle Goodman--it's got some good reasons on why now is an opportune time to start searching and networking.

Are you looking for a new job in 2012?

Flying Freelance? Maybe Not Yet

I was interviewing a woman today for an article I am working on about breaking into a specific field on a freelance basis. Instead of tips on how to get in once you have a degree, the article is geared towards people that have some professional experience and want to "go freelance."

I never wanted to be a freelancer when I graduated. To me, the priority was to get a full-time job. I think many grads today have the same aspiration--probably even more so due to the economy. With jobs so scarce, you are probably longing for a 40-hour-a-week gig. But there are some out there that are more business-minded than I was when I graduated and realize they can start their own business. Of course, there are pros and cons--the main issue going the entrepreneurial route is that you do not have any experience. That experience and just the industry know-how you gain on the job--at least for me--was priceless. I could never have been the writer I am today had I not worked as a reporter.

Do you have the freelance bug--or would you prefer to get a traditional job for a few years before you even think of starting your own business?

New Grads Changing Careers...Already?

Ms. Career Girl recently had a post about changing careers. It was interesting (she makes it all sound so easy!), and it got me to thinking about how many new grads are contemplating this.

I'm not talking about changing jobs, which can be just as risky. I'm talking about scrapping it all to take a different direction. And why not...it's your life, right?

Here are a few things to keep in mind if you are thinking about transitioning to a new career!

• Determine why you don't like your current career. Is it just the job you are at? Many times you can switch roles and use other skills, maintaining your interest in the field.
  
• Research the new career path. Why do you think this is the career you want to be in? What will it take to enter the field, and get to where you want to be? Do you want to be a hands-on worker or a manager? Will you need to relocate? What's the market like in this career field? Who can you talk to to get a feel for the career before taking a job in the field? Can you "try on" a job in the new field or take an internship?
  
• Think about finances. Can you financially afford to scrap it all right now (assuming you have a decent job) and get a new job in the new career field? Would it serve you better to stick with your current job? What's your timeline like for progressing to the new field?
• Revamp your resume. How can you play up your applicable skills and experience to create a winning resume targeting jobs in the new field?
  
• Think about it. What ramifications will you encounter if you get a job in the new career field? What benefits will there be to switching careers?
  

Now's a great time in your life to explore new things. Just make sure you think things through completely. Often times, people don't like their current jobs and leave a field completely--you may just want to switch jobs, not careers.

But if you know you're in a field you don't like, and there's one more enticing, you've got plenty of options to make a smart career switcheroo.