Written by Dave Cullen
New Year, New Horizons. While you may have had your sights set on career development beyond your current job for some time, the harsh realities of the employment market have meant that your ambitions have remained somewhat tempered. 2013 is the time to take charge of your career journey and begin afresh your search for that coveted dream job.
The New Year is the perfect time to revaluate your situation and try to determine exactly what elements you feel are missing from your current position. Perhaps with some careful contemplation and some adjustment to your expectations and attitude, you may be able to discover an alternative career path that will provide you with a satisfying and rewarding work life.
The following is a list of four top tips to help you develop your skills within your current job and potentially help you find a new one.
Renewed Focus: New Year’s resolutions are easy to make and difficult to keep. Staying motivated is of course the key to success. When it comes to finding a new job, try to first concentrate on the positives within your current situation. Perhaps you can take some comfort in the fact that you are familiar with the company and understand all aspects of your role. Maybe your job affords you a good deal of autonomy and flexibility. Ensuring you have a healthy work-life balance is also an effective way of helping to put your working environment into perspective. A positive mental approach is most beneficial when searching for a new job.
Identifying opportunities: Although you may feel as if you are currently not in your ideal company, this doesn’t mean that it cannot provide you with opportunities for professional growth and career advancement. Try to develop an increased awareness of internal training and recruitment within the organisation. If new positions are being advertised in the company that you believe would be suited to your skills, then it is time to make a concerted effort to showcase your abilities and demonstrate initiative. Seize the chance to contribute to projects and take on new responsibilities and challenges. If you wish to discover opportunities externally, you could also consider attending training events, workshops and seminars or even retrain yourself in an entirely new set of skills by enrolling in evening courses that are of interest to you.
Prioritise Networking: Whether you are currently working or unemployed and actively looking for work, networking is a vital tool in helping you connect with influential people who can aid your career progression. Many people reject networking because they believe they don’t have enough valuable contacts. They think their social circles are too small and not useful. Make a list of all of your immediate friends, family members, former bosses, peers, college professors, neighbours and casual acquaintances. All of these people are in your network. Even if none of them can find you a job, they may know someone who can. Make an effort to reconnect with as many of them as you can and maintain these valuable relationships often.
Managing your Schedule: Enquire about the possibility of taking advantage of any alternative scheduling arrangements that your employer may provide, these include job sharing, flexitime or telecommuting. These benefits will provide you with an opportunity to exert greater control over your own working hours. This will in turn help to reduce your feelings of stress and anxiety for the year ahead.
Best of luck with your job search in 2013!
