Why Canadians should be setting career new year’s resolutions:
Late December and early January is often a time for self-reflection and self-evaluation – hence the annual practice of New Year’s resolutions. For many Canadians, setting work goals for the new year — whether related to career development or a new career altogether — should be the obvious next step.
Recent research for Robert Half’s State of Canadian Hiring Survey found that nearly half (46 per cent) of Canadian hiring managers plan to expand their headcount during the first half of 2025, while approximately one third plan to develop or enhance their mentorship programs (34 per cent) and outline clear career paths within departments to attract internal candidates (33 per cent).
These insights are just some of the reasons Canadian professionals might want to consider setting career New Year’s resolutions for 2025.
But just what are New Year’s resolutions? And when it comes to setting career goals for the new year, what’s the right approach for you? It’s not always easy to tell, as we’ve all experienced highs and lows at work, even at the best jobs.
Generally, New Year’s resolutions arise from a sense of dissatisfaction acute enough that we feel the need to do something tangible about it, such as practicing a new habit or scheduling regular time to pursue a goal.
As with art, you may not be able to precisely define the difference between aggravating events or circumstances and New Year’s resolutions, but you’ll know it when you see it — or feel it. To some extent, you have to trust your instincts.
When it comes to career New Year’s resolutions, you can get a better idea of what your instincts are telling you by taking an internal survey of your career development plan. If you don’t have a formal career development plan, your strong feelings might be an indication that your career path needs attention and reviewing your career goals for the new year might be a good idea.
Either way, the approach of a new year in late December and the start of a new year in January is an excellent opportunity to set aside some time to evaluate how you feel about your current job and overall career satisfaction. Professionals have more job opportunities than ever before, and greater flexibility to move around and climb the career ladder.
If you’ve got the skills, talent, and experience, all you need to successfully update your career goals for the new year is a little drive and personal ambition – and setting some career New Year’s resolutions can be a great place to start.
It’s always a good time to evaluate your current job and career in general, but the new year is an especially good opportunity because so many people and companies across Canada are resetting their own priorities as the calendar turns from one year to the next.
If any of the below indicators apply to you, it could be a sign that the time is right for you to consider setting career New Year’s resolutions to help elevate your work experience to the next level.
If you’re doing the same work every day and can effectively complete it in your sleep, then you need a new challenge. There’s a reason close to one third – 31 per cent – of Canadian job seekers say they’re looking for a higher-level position or more senior title.
There’s nothing wrong with doing a job you’re good at, but there comes a point where you have to ask a little more of yourself. This means moving up the ladder.
If you stay at the same level without targeting a better job, you’re likely to regret it in the years to come. Do you really want to be completing the same duties year in and year out for the same salary until you retire? If not, ask yourself: What is your ultimate career ambition, and where do you currently stand on the path to achieving it? The answer could start a fresh list of career goals for the new year.
If you’re no longer learning new skills and gaining new experiences in the workplace, updating or setting work goals for the new year might be a good idea. Should you fail to add new qualifications or develop practical skills over an extended period of time, it will leave a hole in your resume.
This could make it more difficult to get a new job in the future should you set your sights on a different role. Career new year’s resolutions are a good opportunity to evaluate how your professional development is unfolding and what changes you can make to help direct it in a way that best suits your career plans.
If you’ve continued to work hard for your employer without receiving anything extra in return, you may have been in the same job too long. By failing to secure a promotion or move onto a different organization, you risk underselling your professional services. The longer you go without a decent raise, the greater the likelihood that you’re being underpaid.
According to the 2025 Canada Salary Guide From Robert Half, 51 per cent of Canadian employees feel underpaid, and one third (33 per cent) plan to look for a new role if their employer does not raise their salary.
You can learn how much you could be earning by consulting resources such as Robert Half’s Salary Calculator. By identifying the salary ranges for your position and comparing it to your existing salary, you can determine whether you’re at the lower end of the earnings bracket, in which case you might want to incorporate negotiating a pay raise — or even looking for a new job — into your career goals for the new year.
Do you find it difficult to see eye-to-eye with your manager? If so, this could be a sign that you’re getting frustrated at work and should reconsider your career goals for the new year. Perhaps, deep down, you think you could do their job better than they can.
If there are unresolvable tensions impacting on your job satisfaction and performance, it’s time to consider a new position.
If you’re a more than a capable employee who always delivers results and can be relied upon to do so, there’s a danger your employer might be taking you for granted. Your workload may gradually creep up over time without you receiving anything extra in return.
If you appear to be happy working in the same role, your bosses aren’t going to want to change anything — and it’s up to you to make sure this situation doesn’t arise. The best way to do so is by pressing for career development opportunities when setting work goals for the new year.
If you have in-demand skills you’re not using in your current job, they could be going to waste. Is there something else you could be doing that would allow you to maximize your potential?
Niche skills — those which few other people possess — may command a handsome salary premium if you find a company in need of the skill set you bring to the table. This could also be something to consider as you ponder setting work goals for the new year.
Wondering which skills command a premium among Canadian employers? The 2025 Canada Salary Guide From Robert Half includes lists of sought-after skills and certifications across multiple industries.
If your organization isn’t receiving the volume of business it was and possibly laying off some of its workforce, then it might not be in your long-term interest to remain there. Should the company go out of business, you may not only find yourself out of work, but end up losing out financially in the long run as well.
It’s perhaps best to be proactive and seize career New Year’s resolutions as an opportunity to jump ship before you are pushed overboard.
Should a recruitment agency get in touch and invite you to apply for a particular role, then why not consider it? Canadian employers often hire recruiters to find suitable candidates to fill their vacancies, and if you make it onto their radar, it’s a clear sign you could be successful at landing an interview.
Even if you want to remain at your current job, being contacted by a talent solutions firm means you are in a strong negotiating position when it comes to asking for improved pay and benefits. And if you aren’t successful, you may be able to command a premium for joining a different organization.
Check out our guide, Job Search Landscape 2024 in Canada: Planning Your Next Career Move, if you need more help setting career goals for the new year.
You only get one professional life, so it’s up to you to make the most of it.
Setting work goals for the new year is a process that, when done properly, can help guarantee long-term career success. You don’t necessarily have to focus on resolving to earn an astronomical salary or work for a major organization, but approaching the new year with an attitude of trying to make the most of the abilities you have can certainly help lead you to better-paying jobs with successful companies.
If you enjoy your job, have good relationships with your colleagues and are engaged with your organization’s mission, it can be easy enough to keep working in the same role indefinitely. But in doing so, there’s a danger you’ll grow stale as a professional, miss out on career development opportunities, and ultimately fail to reach your potential.
Career management is ultimately your responsibility. Being open to new opportunities can help you sustain the motivation to keep giving it your all, whatever your role might be at any given time. There’s nothing stopping you from finding the right career path other than your own reluctance to pursue it.
If you’ve been battling career inertia, career new year’s resolutions provide an opportunity for you to break through the resistance and move forward with confidence.
Need a push setting and pursuing fresh career goals for the new year? Read our list of job search tips for 2025, or upload your resume to be considered by one of our recruiters across Canada for opportunities that match your career aspirations today.
