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By Jennifer Zaslow

The end of the year provides an opportunity to reflect on what was good-or not so good-at work over the past 12 months. What could you do to make 2006 a year of career advancement, enrichment and satisfaction? The following ideas might provide a starting point for your own Resolutions.

1. Integrate Networking into Your Life. Each month, find a way to meet new people. Are there one or two professional associations for your industry or functional area in which you could get involved? Also try to find time to re-connect with existing contacts in your network, either by phone or, better yet, by getting together for lunch or coffee. By the end of 2006, you could make plenty of new connections and sustain important relationships with ongoing networking and communication.

2. Keep Your Resume Updated. Does your resume include recent projects, accomplishments, educational courses, technology skills and professional affiliations? A critique by a professional resume writer can help assess whether the resume will position you effectively in the marketplace. Be sure to review the document at least twice a year to make sure it stays current.

3. Ask for a Raise. Although employers have announced smaller raises for 2006, good things can come to those who ask. Before broaching the topic, benchmark your current compensation against the market. Online salary calculators and professional/industry publications are good resources to investigate for this information.

4. Better Integrate Work and Life. This could take many forms-shifting to a part-time or flexible work schedule, paying someone to take care of household chores, eating as a family more regularly, or changing jobs to work in an environment that is more accepting of your personal requirements. The key is to define what is most important to you and to take steps that will help make your goals a reality.

5. Take Charge of Your Performance Review. Since managers generally only recall performance from the few months prior to a review, it is up to you to keep track of the accomplishments you have achieved across the entire year. To do this, spend 5-10 minutes at the end of each week or month writing down what you have worked on, what you have learned, and how you have contributed to the success of your group, your manager, and your organization. You will be prepared with plenty of examples when it comes time for your next performance review.

6. Find a Mentor, Be a Mentor. A mentor can play a critical role in advancing people's careers. Who you choose to seek out depends on what you want. A mentor inside your organization might be able to help you navigate the unspoken relationships and informal networks that really make the organization tick. By contrast, a mentor outside your organization can be a truly impartial advisor who has your best interests at heart (without interference from organizational politics). You can also share your experiences with others by volunteering to be a mentor, perhaps to junior co-workers, recent alumni of your college, or people looking to break into your field.

7. Connect with Recruiters in Your Industry and Region. Recruiters generally specialize in placing executives in certain industries or functional areas. Kennedy Information's Directory of Executive Recruiters can help you identify the major recruiters for your field and geographic region. Then, visit the recruiters' websites to find out what types of jobs they are working to fill. Make contact and casually stay in touch throughout the year. Should a placement open up for which you might be appropriate, the recruiter will have your credentials ready to go.

8. Learn and Engage. Develop new work-related skills, try new hobbies, and generally stimulate your mind and heart with learning. Push yourself to try something new.

This year, commit to growing your career.

Jennifer Zaslow is the editor of Career Tips & Tactics. She is also the Assistant Director of the Human Resources Policy Institute at the Boston University School of Management.

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