January is seen as a time for resolutions, new beginnings and a revamped and revitalised you.
But when it comes to your job hunt, it shouldn’t be just a case of out with the old, in with the new. With things likely to take some time to get going after the holiday period, now’s the perfect time to reflect and review, take stock and put together a solid plan for the year ahead.
Here are our three R’s for blasting past the new year blues by building on rather than dismantling what you’ve already achieved:
1. Review
After the highs of the holiday season, getting back in the swing of job hunting can be tough and you may feel disheartened that last year’s efforts haven’t bagged you that dream role. Rather than giving into this negativity, think about the key things you achieved before the holiday hiatus. For example, did you make any valuable connections that you could reach out to? Or perhaps you found a helpful job board you could try? Really take the time to sit down and take stock of what went well, as this will give you a great starting point to resume your search.
Moreover, consider what wasn’t going so well and how you could improve it. For example, could you be using different search terms to identify more relevant roles? Are there any recruiters that could help?
2. Re-boot your brand
The slower New Year period is the perfect time to tweak your personal brand. This could mean giving your CV/resume or LinkedIn profile a long-awaited makeover or finally creating that personal website or blog you’ve been meaning to start. Also use this time to further expand your network, by joining interesting industry groups on LinkedIn, for example, and remind existing connections that you exist and are ready for new challenges and opportunities.
3. Reset your horizons
Having completed the first two steps, you should have a pretty strong indication of where your strengths and weaknesses lie and where there might be room for improvement. Next, consider the current climate in your sector or industry, and spend some time analysing which skills or areas of knowledge are likely to be in demand over the coming months. If you don’t already have these, now’s the time to go out and get them. From undertaking a training course to volunteering or taking on a part-time role, all of these can help you gain the skills and experience you need to truly stand out from the crowd.
Remember: January is not simply about kicking off the new year with a bang; it’s about putting all the right building blocks in place for the months ahead. So, be targeted and realistic in your approach, and you should be off to a great start.
