Are you looking for a new career?

It’s January. The mad rush of Christmas and New Year’s is behind us and there is nothing but a bright future ahead!  January is the perfect time to reflect, think about the path you are on and make some twists and turns in life to get on track to where you want to be.

For many of us, this encompasses career assessments. Looking at the year that has passed and looking forward, trying to ensure that we are moving in the right direction. That may be moving on from the workforce and making the transition into retirement. For others, that may be looking towards a career change – perhaps moving industries, or jobs entirely. For many this means reassessing your current situation and looking at ways to step up into a role which will take you to the next level.

No matter which journey you are on, there are many ways you can make this change successful.

Where are you going?

Firstly, establish where you are going. January is a big month for goal setting – but it doesn’t have to be cumbersome. Assess where you are and where you want to be and draw a map to get there. Look at what mini goals you can put in place to reach your destination. These mini goals should have a deadline and some thought around how they will be achieved. The first step may be to update your resume. If you are looking to update your resume, read our Top Resume mistakes to avoid to ensure you are on the right track.

What are you doing?

Secondly, ensure you put the plan into action. One of the hardest things for people to do when they wish to make a change is the actual doing. It is easy to become overwhelmed, think it is all too hard and stop trying or “give up” only a few days/weeks into the process. Instead just take the first step. Make your goals small enough that they are not overwhelming and are easy to obtain – especially at the beginning. Take small steps, and continue moving forward. Depending on your goals you may choose to do one a day or one a week, whatever it is, keep consistent and move forward. 

January and February are busy months. Many people are making changes at work and there is a lot of opportunity. Don’t forget to brush up on your interview techniques and read our top tips to master an interview .

Celebrate!

Finally, make sure you celebrate the journey. We all get caught up in reaching the destination, that we forget to acknowledge how far we have come. It is important to pat ourselves on the back and continually recognise the work we are doing towards achieving our goal. In the words of Ferris Buller - Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.