With the year coming to an end, many of us are thinking about resolutions and goals for 2015. As a consultant or contractor, this oftentimes includes scoping out and planning for upcoming jobs that you may be interested in in the coming year. Maybe there was an industry you didn’t enjoy too much in 2014 and there is a new one in which you have not yet worked – what better time to start fresh than with the turn of the year. Of course, the only way to set goals is to look at what you have accomplished leading up to that and deciding what you have yet to do. Here are a couple tips on how to maximize the end of your year and to hit the ground running in 2015:

1. Reflect on your work from 2014: Where have you worked this year? What industries were you in? In the IT field in NYC there are ample opportunities for IT professionals in a wide variety of industries – over time you should take note of which you do and don’t enjoy working in for future reference.

2. Set standards for critical decision factors: do you want to relocate this year? Are you looking for a significant pay increase? With the New Year and starting a new job, there is opportunity for a fresh start. Now is the time to make this leap whether it’s breaking into a new salary range or checking out new cities that there may be work available. At the same time, you should set a list of cities you would not consider in your job search and you should decide what the minimum compensation is you would be willing to accept.

3. Revamp your resume: before you start applying to jobs and getting in touch with your contacts make sure at the end of 2014 your resume reflects all the work you did that year. Be sure to include any volunteering or extra-curricular work you did that would set you apart from competing candidates.

4. Get in touch with your staffing firm: Before everyone heads out for the holidays, be sure to let your staffing firm, like BNA, that you will be looking for work again. Specifically, tell them all the requirements that you will have for the new year so they can help you find the next job of your dreams!