Recruiting in China

One of the biggest issues that I see business professionals face day in and day out is: what do I REALLY want to do? If you're early in your career, you may think you can play the field, try on a few jobs or careers before settling down. But job searching and career planning isn't exactly like dating. Not taking an active interest in planning what comes next may just leave you permanently behind your peers.

You see, the longer you test the waters, hesitate or fool around, the mre others are getting experience and getting ahead. And it isn't just about the competition. The more you play the field, the bigger impact your job "first dates" and job "break-ups" will have on your relationships, your confidence and your success.

The best part? Planning isn't even that hard. Let me help you start attacking that New Year's resolution to help you figure out what you want to do with your life:

1) Commit two hours
2) Try creating your own personal Career Model
3) Use the model to start a job search

It may seem like it's more fun to surf Facebook, listen to your i-Pod or search your college town for the best sushi. But I promise you'll thank me later for making me, make you, get off your butt now.

- Susan Strayer is an HR and business professional, and former career coach, recruiter and hiring manager who has worked with hundreds of Fortune 500 companies. She is the author of The Right Job, Right Now now available from St. Martin's Press.