Member Article

New Year, New Job: Making a New Start to Your Career in 2018

In 2018, there are lots of amazing things to look forward to. Resolutions are abound and many people make these promises geared towards their career goals in particular. If you are hoping to make a career change in coming months, then setting yourself on the right path starts now.

Job seeks are most active in January according to Indeed (a popular job search site). Which means that you will be up against the most competition at this pivotal point in the year, meaning there is no real need to rush. To ensure you have the best chance possible, you need to take this time to make your CV and yourself as polished and standout as possible.

But, how do you do this, especially when you want to explore a new career avenue? If you take the right steps, it doesn’t actually have to be that difficult at all.

Avoid Rash Moves

Jumping into a new career simply because you are unhappy is always a rash move. You could simply be experiencing a short burnout period, a disagreement with a particular co-worker or something else that is likely to blow over eventually. At the very least, it would be unwise to quit straight away before securing further employment.

It can be hard to find clear headspace in these situations, but it is worth it to do so.

Work Out Why You’re Unhappy

Starting a new job is all well and good, as is going into a whole new field of work. However, if you don’t discover what made you unhappy in your first job to begin with then the same problems can persist no matter what you do. Which can lead to a series of jobs that make you unhappy.

Find the underlying factor and it is something which you can adapt your job search to avoid when it comes to the next stage of your career.

Sort Out Your CV

A good CV can be the difference between landing the job of your dreams and having it thrown in the bin. The fact is a poorly written, long, tedious CV will never make it to the top of the pile. It’s such a basic thing, but something an employee with even a lot of experience can get dismally wrong.

The best checklist to follow is:

• Keep it simple - font and layout play a big part in employers actually reading your CV. Simplicity is the best way to do this, so don’t go too outside of the box.
• Keywords - lots of recruiters and employers run your CV through software to pick out certain words, long before they ever set eyes on the paper themselves.
• Checkity check - once you have written your CV you need to check it, then check it again, and then have someone else check it for you. It needs to be, ultimately, perfect.
• Update - an outdated CV, especially when you want to change careers, can look very unprofessional. So, be sure to update regularly to avoid this.

Network

Most jobs come as a result of knowing the right person. It can be a frustrating fact to face in your job search, but a fact nonetheless. Which means that you need to network heavily in order to make the career move that you are seeking.

Go to industry events, alumni mixers and whatever meetup you think might be worthwhile to your career goals. Meeting someone randomly could even be the career change you never expected. The opportunities are out there, you simply have to find them!

You could also try to be found by other people through the power of social media. Create a great LinkedIn account, full of information and great detail about you and your career. Put enough effort into the account and it could attract the right eyes without you ever even realising. This is also a great platform to showcase articles, opinions and other materials to demonstrate your expert knowledge.

Become Interview Ready

Now, the last thing that stands in the way of you and your dream career is the interview process. This is also the stage where a lot of people struggle, as their nerves get the best of them. The only way to combat this is a comprehensive plan of action.

There are a few essential things you need to do in order to ensure that you are interview ready:

• Research the company and the person who is interviewing you.
• Compare your skills to the job specifications, prepare answers for why you match them.
• Plan your outfit - don’t just turn up in a tracksuit!
• Plan what to bring (supporting documents, ID, etc.)
• Practice non-verbal communication.
• Always follow up with your interviewer in a pleasant email.

Self Employment

Of course, changing careers doesn’t necessarily mean you have to move from one employer to the next. Why not choose to be your own boss?

Starting a new business isn’t perhaps on everyone’s list of New Year’s Resolutions, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be on yours. There are plenty of businesses you can start at home and on a small business: writing, graphic design, tutoring, crafts and even professional photography. Before setting out on this path, make sure that you become fully versed in your local tax laws and important business costs such as PI Insurance.

Overall, changing careers can be an intimidating process. But, it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Simply learn where you need to take your cues from and go forth with confidence.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Zack H Halliwell .