New Year: New Job

Some of the most commonly broken New Year’s Resolutions are:

• Be less stressed
• Travel to new places
• Spend more time with family
• Reduce debts
• Learn something new

If you can achieve one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions – getting a new job – then you could kill all of the above birds with one stone.

Looking for a new job in the New Year should be something that you do for the right reasons. Maybe you have decided that you need a complete change or are ready to tackle a new challenge. Perhaps the opportunities within your workplace are limited and you want to find something with more chances of career progression. Perhaps your employer’s business is declining or the industry is changing with the times, which leaves your current role overshadowed by the risk of redundancy.

Here are a few tips to consider when you seek a new job in the New Year:

What am I aiming for?

Is it really more cash that drives you or could you make some sacrifices like the Sky TV if you made a career move to a lower income? If you want to achieve more time with your family you may have to sacrifice some of your salary for a better work life balance. Consider working more antisocial hours such as evening or night shifts when the kids are in bed, which often pay better.

Will a career change solve the issue?

Sometimes wanting a drastic change is just a symptom of another issue – are you bored of your particular job or are you just fed up with the team or the boss that you work with? Sometimes a transfer to another team or a temporary role in a different branch can be enough to prove that it’s the people not the business that you are getting tired of. Be honest with yourself about the real motivations for change to be sure that you make the right career move.

What do I like and dislike?

Take a moment to evaluate the parts of your current or most recent role that you like and dislike. Where do your passions lie? The most important part of finding a job that you really want is understanding yourself and being honest about your likes and dislikes.

Research your new career – once you have made a career decision or got an idea of a job you might like, try and find someone with first hand experience who can give you some real insight into the industry. Research in books, online or by doing some voluntary work experience as well.