New Year, New Start, New Job?
So 2013 is well under way now and Christmas is sadly a dim and distant memory. Not only are we all financially a few pounds lightly, most of us are also carrying a few extra pounds in weight. So it is no wonder that many of us are feeling it is time for a change and the ideal time to look for a new job and reinvigorate our careers.
As the American social reformer Henry Beecher Ward once said: “Everyone should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page”.
So, how does one go about looking for a new job and ‘start their fresh page’??
Despite all the doom-mongering headlines in the press of high unemployment in the UK and the continued economic problems, there are actually plenty of employment opportunities to pursue. In particular, the IT and digital technology sectors are both areas where growth is still strong and jobs continue to be created.
Last month, The Independent reported how the average annual salary of an employee in the technology sector rose significantly throughout the course of 2012, ending up at £40,000. This makes IT an employment sector offering one of the highest average salary rates in the UK.
Moreover, Adzuna, a jobs search engine found that in 2012 employers in IT companies advertised an enormous 1.1 million jobs ranging from project manager jobs to app developer jobs in the UK. This again demonstrates the strength of the sector as this was more jobs than any other employment sector.
So if you are considering a new job, what steps can you take to help you achieve your aim and find your perfect job for 2013?
- Research – research the sector or organisation you would like to work in. Target particularly companies you are interested in and sign up for job alerts. Also send a speculative application as showing initiative never did anyone any harm.
- Use social media to search for jobs. Follow the companies you like online, many of them now send out alerts for jobs via Twitter or have a Facebook page. Recruitment agencies are also using social media more and more to promote their vacancies.
- Be found! Build your own professional profile online. Headhunting is not uncommon, especially for specialist roles in the IT sector. Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date with your skills and achievements. Ensure all other social media profiles have privacy settings enabled so your prospective new boss can’t see your embarrassing photos. Connect with colleagues and other links you may have from university or through friends. You never know who you might be linked to.
- Be prepared and proactive – prepare questions for interview and again, do your research. Read up about the company and demonstrate you have a good understanding of their business and future plans. Prepare examples to the kind of stock interview question that you’re likely to face, e.g. when you have led a group situation, when you have had to deal with a challenging situation or had to juggle priorities.
- Be positive! You may have a few knock backs but the perfect job is out there for you.
Good Luck!
If you would like to read my e-book, 9 Essential Steps to Prepare for Interview, please click here.
If you would like to use my ready made, Model Resume Template, please click here.
If you would like to review my pack of, E-Book: 10 Recruiter Optimized Resume Templates. £4.99.
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