A frequent topic of conversation in the beginning of every year is New Year’s resolutions. You know the drill… Loose weight. Get in shape. Clean out the closets. Eat healthy foods. Be a better friend. Pay down debt. Quit smoking. Find a hobby. Read more. De-clutter. Unplug. Organize the garage. Keep a journal.

Although 45% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, only 46% of those resolutions survive through June. Whether or not you make them or keep them, if you are in career transition and looking for a job, now would be a great time to make this one and stick to it:  

I resolve to take a fresh look at all aspects of my transition and job search plan and make adjustments that will enhance my chances of success.

Here are 11 ways to help you implement and keep that resolution.

Many factors will influence your choice of civilian employment when you leave military service. One such factor is the size of the organization: large or small? Each offers advantages and disadvantages. It would be worthwhile to consider this as you conduct your job search prior to making your final decision.

Many service members express an interest in working for a smaller company after they leave the military. The Department of Defense is one of the largest organizations in the world, but many people are interested in trying something less bureaucratic and less structured. Those individuals may shy away from big companies like Proctor & Gamble, Ford Motor Company, IBM, General Electric, and the like.

This could be a mistake.

With all of the uncertainty that surrounds the transition from a military to civilian career, one thing that is certain is the high likelihood that you must continue to work. Career transition is a stressful time for most people, and that is particularly true for those in transition from the military to civilian status.

Although the job search can be difficult for civilians, they at least know the terminology and the titles. Military-to-civilian job seekers on the other hand not only have to deal with the stress of the search but also the lack of knowledge about career options and job titles. How about you? Are you wrestling with that uncertainty and wondering what to do next?

That is perfectly normal. Take some comfort in knowing that thousands of veterans have dealt with that stress successfully and you will also.

Most people are familiar with the five P’s of task accomplishment: prior planning prevents poor performance. When it comes to career transition and job-hunting, however, there are six additional P’s to consider.

Career transition elicits a broad range of emotions. From elation to frustration, from glee to disappointment, from pleasant surprise to disbelief—the typical job seeker will likely experience it all. Keeping the Six P’s in mind will help you maintain your perspective during this wild ride and enhance your chances of a successful landing. Let’s take a quick look at each of the Six P’s: patience, persistence, professionalism, presentation, politeness, and preparedness.

The interview is over. You are told to expect the results in two weeks. A letter arrives two weeks later and you open it and read the following.

We regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you a position at this time. Although your background is impressive, your skill set is not compatible with our requirements, and we have identified another candidate who is a better fit for our opening. We will keep your resume on file and contact you in the event a more appropriate position becomes available. We enjoyed meeting you and wish you well.

The dreaded “Dear, John” letter!

You are disappointed and confused.

You thought the interview had gone well and you would like to know what went wrong. 

Well, start with the language in the letter: “Your skill set is not compatible with our requirements.” That must be the reason, correct?

Probably not.