Want a raise or promotion in 2026? Career experts say to do these 4 things now

• There are steps you can take in the final days of 2025 to prepare for a strong year ahead at work.
• They include updating your "brag sheet" and deciding what type of coworker you want to be.
• Doing a bit of work now might be wise, especially if your job slows down around the holidays.

Before your inbox fills up again, there are steps you can take now to set the stage for a strong 2026 at work.

The end of the year presents a natural time to reflect on what you've done and what you hope to do in the months ahead.

Whether it's building AI skills, getting a raise, or leveling up your networking, you likely have plenty of goals to consider as you plan for the year ahead.

Career experts suggest that a few deliberate moves made as January approaches can help build momentum.

Here are four things — from big-picture considerations to practical measures — that you can do now to set yourself up for a strong start in 2026:

Update your brag sheet

As the year comes to a close, it's smart to write down three or four bullet points about what you achieved, Marc Cenedella, founder and CEO of Ladders, told Business Insider. Then, hang onto that list so that when you someday leave your job, you'll be able to recall what you did.

Eventually, having perhaps dozens of bullet points to choose from will be a godsend, he said. The alternative, Cenedella said, would be the daunting realization of, "Oh, man, I've got to go through all my email and figure all of this out."

That type of list is what Jasmine Escalera, a career expert with MyPerfectResume, calls a "brag sheet" of your major contributions. It's the kind of ammunition that can be helpful even if you're not leaving your job but want to ask for a promotion or a raise.

"What are the top things that really showcase the impact that you've made?" she previously told Business Insider.

Think about what you want to be

If your workplace slows down around the holidays, you might take advantage of the extra time to set some goals.

It can be helpful to think about what you've admired about great bosses or coworkers and what you might be able to emulate, said Ashley Herd, author of the upcoming book "The Manager Method," and a former head of HR for North America at McKinsey & Company.

Maybe you had a mentor who was a great communicator or was willing to help you figure out something that wasn't in their job description, she said.

Herd said it's wise to think about those admirable behaviors you've seen in others and then consider what you want to be known for on the job.

Though it might feel awkward at first, she said, you can also ask trusted colleagues what they've appreciated about working with you — and then plan to lean into that.

It can also be helpful to ask coworkers about the things they've seen others do that are helpful.

"Some of that is crowdsourcing in the most non-cringy way," Herd said.

Ask key questions

Herd said it's also worth identifying the things that might have frustrated you over the past year. If you were too bogged down with work, she said, it's reasonable to ask, "Did other people know what was on my plate?" As a follow-up, think, "How can I talk about that productively?"

From there, she said, it's often worth considering what you'd like to see in the year ahead as it pertains to your day-to-day work and long-term career, and how you'll communicate that to your boss.

She said that if you keep your thoughts about what you're seeking to yourself, you run the risk that you might not, for example, get that promotion you've been gunning for.

"It's thinking about how you really advocate for yourself and have those conversations," Herd said.

Do a calendar audit

Not every consideration for the new year has to be lofty. Some can just come down to how you want to use your time. Chances are, you're not thinking, "More meetings, please."

Meetings can be great ways to reach consensus on to-dos and priorities. Yet they can also be a time suck.

The end of the year is a great time to review your calendar and identify any meetings that can be pruned, allowing you to have more time to focus on actual work in the coming year.

In some cases, it's a matter of asking your boss or the meeting organizer whether you need to attend a call, whether the group could meet less frequently, or whether there's some other way to share updates.

Surveys have found that the amount of time spent in meetings often increases as the months go by, so it can be helpful to reduce it where possible before the new year begins.

If you're feeling ambitious, you might push for a different setup — like having a day or two a week that are entirely free from meetings.

Do you have a story to share about your career? Contact this reporter at tparadis@businessinsider.com.