The New Year can bring with it fresh promise, and many people contemplate pivotal life changes during this time. As recruitment specialists we often see that the start for the new year encourages many people to consider their career and where they want to go, often resulting in the search for a new job. The decision to find a new job is not to be taken lightly, it requires careful consideration, assessing desires for professional growth, personal fulfilment, and work-life balance, amongst other factors.
The decision to find a new job should ideally begin with proper reflection and introspection. Consider the various aspects of your current job and what you like/dislike about it: the work itself, company culture, growth opportunities, and alignment with personal goals. Assess whether the role challenges and inspires you or has whether it has plateaued, leading to career stagnation.
Understanding your underlying motivation for seeking a new job is crucial. Is it the pursuit of a higher salary, a desire for career advancement, a need for a better work environment, or a change in industry? Pinpointing the driving force aids in focusing efforts and setting realistic expectations.
Do your research! Researching industry trends and job prospects can provide valuable insights. You need to research the demand for skills in the current market, potential growth areas, and emerging job roles. It helps to align your aspirations with market demand and anticipating future career pathways. If you are making the decision to completely change industry or even career you need to be realistic in your assessment, in many cases you cannot expect to make a equitable transition in terms of salary and level of seniority when making a drastic change so you need to bear this in mind.
Our own research and industry trends suggest that work-life balance is becoming increasingly important, especially post-COVID. Evaluate whether the current job supports a healthy balance, both physically and mentally. Consider aspects like flexibility, remote work options, and company policies promoting employee well-being. Work-life balance is also one of the most cited motivations for a change in career direction, so if this is the case proper research is essential to avoid the situation where you end up in a career with a worse work-life balance than your current career. Do not jump out of the frying pan into the fire!
The beginning of the year remains a busy time in recruitment with many clients waiting until the new year to commence their recruitment efforts. Bear in mind that although there may be an influx of new positions, there is also an influx of new job seekers therefore competition for the best roles will still be fierce.
You may be in a job you despise and even getting out of bed in the morning can seem impossible. When people are in this position, they will often take any job they can to get out of their current situation. In some cases, this works well and makes sense (e.g. taking a temporary contract position until a suitable permanent role becomes available), however we have seen numerous instances of people “jumping ship” and moving immediately to a new permanent role only to find themselves in exactly the same position further down the line. Don’t let your feelings for your current job cloud your judgement on future opportunities! Take the time to reflect on your past experiences and assess what it is you want from a new job and where you see yourself in the future.
You may be in this position yourself and feeling a bit lost with it all. Don’t worry! Maxwell Stephens are on hand to help with any and all aspects of your job search. Get in touch via 0207 118 4848 or drop us an email via info@maxwellstephens.com.
