New Year - No Fear View more

New Year - No Fear

Now that the hustle and bustle of the festive period is a distant memory, the biggest hangover of them all is among us - the dreaded job search.

Spending time discussing complaints and challenges of the previous year (not to mention that pain the neck colleague) with nearest and dearest, professionals across the country now inevitably start the internal debate of whether 2018 will be the year of the new job.

However, as we all know the job search process is one filled with fear and resistance, so how we do we take a step into ‘the great unknown’?

Be clear if you are running away or towards something

Across all levels of recruitment, we see people working off a ‘knee-jerk reaction.’

Perhaps you have been refused the pay increase you were expecting or the latest run-in the Boss has been one too many. We have all sat with a large glass of vino (or if you’re like myself, the entire bottle) chewing our patient partners’ ear off about the latest workplace gripe, angrily scouring the latest job advertisements, dreaming of a fantasy career with zero stress and maximum reward.

A scary statistic - the average job seeker will spend less than 60 seconds reviewing an advert before applying. The truth is, the grass is not always greener on the other side.

Before seriously considering a career move, analyse whether the potential of your current position is exhausted and what your true expectation and motivation is. My little trick is to imagine yourself in your exit interview, what are your reasons for leaving? Is there anything your current employer can change to make you stay? If the answer is yes, have this conversation with your Line Manager – often being honest about what you feel is lacking in your current role will bring much more reward than you expect.

Shake hands with fear and enlist it as a friend

No matter how far along in your career you are, the first day of a new job we all turn into that little child scared to let go of their parents’ hand in the playground.

Fear of the unknown is one that screams louder than any other. Unfortunately, there is no cure for fear. However, as the saying goes ‘by failing to prepare you are preparing to fail.’

Make sure you conduct full due diligence on any business before even pressing the ‘apply’ button!

We are blessed with the easy access to information on company financials, reviews and workforce and yet the amount of people who have more insight during a game of pin the tail on the donkey than they do during an interview is scary! 42% of employers have considered a candidate based on their social media presence – this can be used in reverse.

In a digitally developing world make sure to investigate a company’s social footprint. Go prepared with all the information you require from your potential employer, you will inevitably be asked for questions at the end of the interview, use this as your time to shine the spotlight on them!

Confidence is key

Have a little faith! The job market is becoming increasingly candidate-led, with approximately 45% of employers now expecting to negotiate salaries. Before signing on the dotted line, make sure you are completely happy with every aspect of your contract. Do not be afraid to ask for what you want, within reason of course!

With the majority of us working away like busy little bees, the last thing you want to do at the end of a long day is flip open your laptop and start the job search process. That is where we come in! Working with a Consultant can provide extensive support and advice in an objective and confidential way.

A bit like having a Wedding Planner, we aim to take away the stress and help you find that perfect match for employment bliss!

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