It’s January, the Christmas and New Year celebrations are over, and many people have no doubt committed, and broken, New Year's resolutions.
The more organized ones amongst us may already be relishing the opportunity to plan ahead and fill up the remaining days in the calendar, whilst the other half might be more inclined to spontaneously buy a plane ticket to somewhere new. Each January presents what could potentially be the year of your life, with new relationships, new journeys and new career opportunities – but it´s your job to make it so.
In order to make the most of the new year, it is important to make sure you do the following:
Identify what you want
It can sometimes be difficult to identify exactly what you want in terms of a career, especially if you have just finished university and are completely new to the working world. It´s important to spend time scanning new opportunities in different job boards. Some people just want a change! However, you may be lucky enough to know exactly what you are good at and what you want to do. Either way, the best practice you can follow is to trust in your talent and let it guide you.
If you are a creative person and enjoy thinking outside of the box, search for jobs in creative industries such as advertising, media and marketing. Alternatively, if you are multilingual, maybe you want to take advantage of this. Languages are becoming more and more employable and there are many opportunities in this industry.
Tidy up your social networks
Most employers will check what Social Networks you are on and what type of content you post as part of the selection process. Linkedin is a really useful resource to use social media for professional gain. It is also great for networking and making contacts. Be careful that there is nothing on these networks that could make you a less favourable candidate for the position. Your drunken Facebook photos may be hilarious to you, but your potential future employer may not see them in the same light. Having complete information is also essential.
New year, new CV!
There may be a reason that your CV wasn't working so well in your job search, so why not just start from scratch! The new year may be a great time for diets and fresh starts but it´s also a chance to make your CV just as fresh. It almost goes without saying that your CV is up to date and optimised for each job you apply for, or at least each industry. If you are applying for a position in customer service, it will be productive to include previous work experience in calling and emailing customers.
Many people are now deciding to write a CV that doesn’t just follow the traditional layout and structure. If you are applying to a design position, using a more creative format will demonstrate your ability before you´ve even met the employer. Don´t be afraid to ask for help from people who have can help.
Be proactive
As they say, the early bird catches the worm and it pays off to be an early bird and make sure that you are being as proactive as possible when it comes to pursuing the career of your dreams. This can entail getting up early and planning your day accordingly so that there is enough time to dedicate to each important task that will help you achieve your goals. If it is your dream to find a job abroad, it is essential to dedicate a couple of hours a day to improve your CV, writing cover letters and applications before applying for jobs.
It has even been said that looking for a job, is a job in itself! It won’t come without a bit of determination and persistence. However, we are sure that all your efforts will pay off in the end! Good luck with your January Job search.
