Setting Yourself Up for Success: Preparing for a Job Search in the New Year

December 11, 2025

As 2026 approaches, it’s an ideal time to reflect, reset, and explore new career opportunities that align with your goals. If you’ve been thinking of leaving your current position for various reasons, a new year is the perfect motivation to start the process. 

To help jumpstart your job search, we’ve compiled our top resources to guide and support you every step of the way. 

Your Resume 

The most important thing is to make sure that your resume accurately reflects all that you’ve done in your current position and has up-to-date contact information. Help out your potential employers and make it easy to read by refreshing the formatting and using easy to read fonts.  

Here are five ways to refine your resume, to make sure your resume is optimized to showcase your qualifications, so you increase your chances of landing an interview.   

Social Media

Social media is a powerful tool, and it’s important to remember that potential employers and colleagues often review online profiles across various platforms. Ensure your profile photo and public information reflect the image you want to present professionally. A helpful guideline: if you wouldn’t want it on the news, keep it private.  

LinkedIn is a great place to make connections, research companies, and build your personal brand. Here are our top tips for optimizing your LinkedIn profile and making the most of the platform’s newest features and customization options. 

Reflection

Knowing what you like or dislike in your current role will narrow your search and make the job search processes less intimidating. As you begin your job search, think about the pros and cons of your current position, such as: 

  • What do you currently like about your position? Think about the things that first attracted you to this position. These could be policies such as dress code or remote work. Or perhaps you enjoy the company culture and the relationships that you’ve built in your current position. Maybe you enjoy certain job duties or a quiet office space. It’s important to remember the positive aspects, so you know what to look for in future roles. 
  • What are some downsides to your current position? Start by creating a list of aspects you find challenging or less satisfying in your current role. Give yourself time to step away and revisit the list with a fresh perspective. If you can’t find anything positive in your reflection, that may indicate an area worth clarifying during your job search and interviews.  

Job Search Resources

Now that you’ve answered those questions, you’re ready to look at what jobs are currently available. There are so many different websites for job seekers today that it can be overwhelming. A few common resources people use include Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and LinkedIn. Other sources could (and we think it should!) include our website where you can explore over 200 current job openings and subscribe to our job alerts to be notified as soon as new opportunities are posted. 

Finding your next job can take some time, so be ready to devote blocks of time to looking for the right one and researching the companies before you apply. Set some time aside each week to be proactive in your search.  

Networking

Networking is a term that often feels complicated or even uncomfortable, but it’s far more valuable than many realize. When done thoughtfully, it can open doors not just in your career, but in your personal growth as well. Building genuine connections helps you learn and create opportunities you might never find on your own.  

Networking can be simplified to any work or life opportunity if you are intentional and genuine. Read more tips and insights about the importance of networking and how to build meaningful connections in our previous blog. 

Interview Tips

Be as well-prepared for each interview as possible. Have extra copies of your resume and carry paper and a pen to take notes. You can also check out our website for helpful tips and reminders when it comes time to prepare for your interview. 

Before your interview, silence or turn off your phone and take a deep breath. Remember, the company invited you because they’re interested, and you should use this time to interview them too. Prepare a few thoughtful questions to make sure the company is the right fit for you. 

 

Make 2026 a memorable year and land that new job. If you have any additional questions regarding this or any other employment advice, contact our experts at Palmer Group today. 

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