How are those 2024 career goals tracking? Have you made a start, or has time escaped you? Once again the year has sped by, and with only a few weeks left before the year comes to a close, it’s a great time to check-in and see if you’re where you want to be. Are there projects, new skills and things you still want to tackle? Are you moving in the direction you envisioned for yourself? This is the perfect time to check in with your progress and think about how you can build momentum going into the next year.

Let’s explore a few key career goals and actionable steps to help you get them cracking in this final leg — because as they say, better late than never — and what a way to enter 2025, having started.

Start that course or certification you’ve been thinking about

Learning is a lifelong journey, and with the rapid pace of change in many industries, keeping yourself ahead of the game is crucial. Whether it’s a starting a formal certification, an online course, or even self-paced study, developing new skills can open doors to promotions or new opportunities in 2025.

  • Sign upIf you haven’t locked and loaded it yet — keep yourself accountable, and sign-up to learn before the year is out. Then you have a start date
  • Just 1 hr a weekIf finding time is the issue, even blocking out 1 hr a week for the remaining 6 weeks will put you 6hr ahead of where you were before. Treat that 1hr as an appointment you cannot miss.
  • Float it by your sponsorIf you want to undertake it as part of your work through your current organisation, start by at least having a conversation with the person or team who can help you get the ball rolling. Then, you can follow up in 2025 with them already being across it.

Seek out that mentor you’ve been looking for

Having a mentor can provide valuable guidance, feedback, and perspective. If you don’t have one yet, now might be the perfect time to start seeking one — what an asset to your 2025 that would be. Mentorship doesn’t have to be formal; it can be as simple as someone who has experience in your field and is willing to share advice.

  • Figure out what you wantBefore you start looking, at a minimum define what it is you’re looking for in a mentor. What kind of guidance are you looking for? Career advice? Feedback on your current work? A broader industry perspective? This will speed up the process of finding the right person.
  • Send that emailWhile the end of the year isn’t a great time to commence mentorship sessions, it is a great time to float the idea by your desired Mentor. They can think about it over the break, and come into 2025 with new energy and may be excited at the prospect themselves of hitting the ground running in the new year.

Start building that personal brand

We all know a strong personal brand can help you stand out, whether you’re looking for a new job, hoping to attract clients, or aiming for a promotion. If you’ve been thinking about building that brand for a while, but don’t know where to start — now, is the perfect time.

  • Update your LinkedIn profilePut on your to-do list. Before you break for Christmas, ensure your online presence is complete, current, and reflects the value you bring to the table. What things have you achieved, undertaken, studied over the year that you have forgotten to update on LinkedIn? Now’s the time to do that refresh. 
  • Do that postIf you’ve been meaning to share on LinkedIn for some time now (haven’t we all), the end of the year is the perfect time to reflect and share on everything that’s happened — your network not only will love it, they expect it at this time of year, so be apart of the conversation.
  • Say ‘yes’ to that inviteIf you want to expand your network and open yourself up to opportunities, use the silly season as your ticket. With plenty of end of year drinks and events happening, head along to a few and start meeting those faces. There’s no better time to work on this.

As you reflect on your career and the year that has been, remember that progress is made by taking small, consistent actions. Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge, strengthen your network, or focus on building your brand, the steps you take today will shape your success in 2025. It’s all about setting clear intentions, staying motivated, and remaining adaptable to new opportunities.