Many people are looking at the new year as a new beginning on the job front and setting resolutions to advance or bounce back in their careers.

The latest numbers out of the U.S. Department of Labor puts unemployment for Americans at 10%. In Michiana, even with signs of progress in the R.V. and auto industries, including hundreds of new jobs, many communities are still suffering double-digit unemployment rates.

According to Elizabeth Muellner, the director of career management services for Career Transitions in Mishawaka, says the first thing job-seekers should do is decide what they want from their career. Then set realistic goals.

For those that have a job and are looking for a change, Muellner says one thing you can't underestimate about yourself is your own value. "If you don't know the value that you bring to a company, then the companies aren't going to know it either," says Muellner.