Top tips to help you find a new career in the New Year

New Year is a time when many people set new goals, plan for the future and make important life-changing resolutions. If your New Year goal is a career change, then take advantage of the New Year-inspired motivation and put a solid plan in place.

Turning your career goals into reality

Here are some tips that will help you translate your goals into a reality…

Step 1. Ask yourself: ‘What do I want from my next job?’  

Start by envisaging what your ideal job might look like. What’s important to you? What are your ‘must haves’ and ‘non-negotiables’? Consider the following:

• What do I enjoy doing the most in a job?

• What is my ideal salary?

• How much responsibility do I want to take on?

• How important is work-life balance and flexibility?

• How would I describe the culture of the organisation I want to work for?

Dedicating time to thinking about what you want from your next job is the essential first step to a successful job change.

Step 2. Write down your goals 

Write down clear goals that you can assess and review regularly. It helps to follow the ‘SMART’ principle when writing your career goals, making sure they are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely. Below is an example of how to write a SMART goal. 

e.g. My goal is to secure a new role within the first quarter of 2019 as a Business Development Manager within the FMCG industry. I want a salary of $150,000 plus bonus. I want the flexibility to work from home. I want to join an organisation that has strong growth prospects, clear performance targets and a management culture that supports me to achieve my best work.

Step 3. Research organisations you want to work for

Once you have spent time clarifying what you want from your next job and setting your goals, it’s time to start researching.

Start by compiling a list of organisations you would like to work for, noting this may include the organisation you are currently working for. Think about why you’d like to work for this organisation – e.g. they are experiencing strong growth, they remunerate well, they have a good reputation or culture. Ask what you can offer the organisation and what they can offer you. 

Next, read up on the leaders in your chosen organisations and find out if you can follow their paths to success. What did they do to get to where they are? What do you need to do to land a job there?

Keep abreast of current developments at the organisations you are interested in by reading their websites and business blogs. 

Step 4. Update your CV, online profiles and sign up for job alerts

Update your CV with your most recent role and responsibilities and remember to include details of your most notable achievements. Being able to provide clear examples and backing these up with measurable data will also hold you in good stead when it comes time to interview.  

HOW TO WRITE A CV

Make sure your LinkedIn and SEEK profiles are also up-to-date and sign up for job alerts that meet your criteria.   

To ensure your online presence hits the mark, make sure it is:

• Short (at least half the size of your CV)

• Sharp (use bullets points to break up text), and

• Impactful (use examples and data to back up your achievements).

Step 5. Talk to a specialist recruiter 

Connecting with a good recruitment consultant is a crucial step in finding a new job in the New Year. It is especially important to find a consultant who specialises in your chosen field. Specialising in dedicated areas allows recruiters to better understand the market, working more closely with organisations to understand their business goals, culture and environment.

CONNECT WITH A RECRUITMENT CONSULTANT TO MAKE YOUR NEW YEAR CAREER A REALITY 

Specialist recruiters can provide you with more meaningful career advice and market insights to ensure you find the best career fit for your objectives. At Six Degrees, our specialist recruiters focus on disciplines including Digital, Engineering and Operations, Executive Search, Marketing, Procurement, Retail, Sales and Supply Chain.

Step 6. Get out there and network 

The New Year is also a good time to send out a few emails and reach out to old colleagues and friends. By connecting with friends and colleagues and letting them know that you’re planning to make the transition to a new job, you will be putting yourself on their radar should any relevant jobs become available. Referrals are a great way to get a new job.