The New Year is both a time for reflection and for looking to the future. Not everything you planned in 2010 will have happened in the way you expected, but you will have been able to learn some key lessons. These can be applied to your next steps in 2011.

For example, think about what you have achieved during the past year and how you attained your career goals and objectives. Consider the obstacles you faced too; analyse how you overcame them and take note of anything that got in your way. You may still have a chance to resolve these issues.

Ask yourself how you feel about your current job. If you are still enjoying it and you feel that you are valued and can achieve more in your current employment, then plan how you can work your way to a promotion in 2011. However, if you are dissatisfied and feel undervalued, perhaps it is time to do a career audit to analyse whether or not you would be better exploring new possibilities. Start by thinking about the following questions:

Continue reading “New Year, new you: Checking to see if your career is on the right track” »

If you’re always the one that gets left in the office between Christmas and New Year make the most of it – time well spent now could set you up for the rest of the year…

The good news about this period is that it’s usually pretty quiet and that means the usual office rules are generally more relaxed – slightly later starts perhaps, longer lunches and swifter exits. If there are others in the office, the atmosphere will be more jovial, banter more free, and there’ll almost certainly be an excess of Quality Street and Cadbury’s Roses! However, that doesn’t mean you should pilfer the time away on Facebook or chatting on the phone – your managers will still expect to see some results on their return. As well as enjoying this more relaxed atmosphere, there are certain tasks that you could be getting on with that won’t really seem like work at all.

Jobs for the Christmas period:

1. Sort your desk – clearing all the clutter from your desk will help you focus on a new start for the new year. Go through your drawers and banish all the junk that you have accumulated over the year. Perhaps you might like to rearrange your desk – try moving your computer, getting yourself a new in-tray, or ordering some new stationery – a new pen pot or notebook can do wonders for morale! Continue reading “5 Jobs for the Christmas period” »

For many people, the beginning of 2011 will be the right time to look for a new job. But if you’re thinking about launching your job search in January, you might want to consider how many other people – your competition – will be doing the same thing.  Gill Bell, HR Director of Handle Recruitment, the leading recruitment consultancy for the media and entertainment industries says you need to ensure you are ready to hit the ground running in the New Year to be one step ahead of fellow candidates.

So how do you go about being at the top of an employer’s list? Why not use your free time to ensure you are up to speed with your industry? Companies, especially in the media and marketing sector will expect candidates to not only have the ability to do the job, but also have a good knowledge of the industry they operate in. Use your time to do research, and think about what the ‘next big thing’ will be. Use all the tools available to you – publications, blogs, and Twitter are a good start. This will help you when meeting potential employers and portray you as a ‘rounded’ professional.

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With the recession behind us companies are looking to hire only the very best talent and those individuals that are really going to add value.  Gill Bell, HR Director at Handle Recruitment recommends know how to sell yourself but also know how to add value to the organisation once you have that job to ensure they retain, or better yet promote, you.

You need to think of yourself as a unique, branded product and know what characteristics set you apart from your competition.  Think about what these things are: do you identify and solve problems before they become real issues?  The benefit here is that your future employer will have less headaches and if you can demonstrate this to them they are far more likely to hire you – they may even save money just by having you on the team. Ensure that you have a list of all these things that form the ‘you’ brand ready for that next interview.

So how do you add value to your employer once you have secured your job? Make yourself visible – go the extra mile and remember that everything you do matters. In any organisation personal branding is always through ‘word of mouth’. It is important to remember that everyone you come into contact with – your friends at work, your acquaintances, is your marketing vehicle. It is what they say about you and the way you work that will feed back to management. Continue reading “Marketing yourself and adding value to your company” »

Holidays for many are a luxury, as well as a time to unwind or do things that you don’t usually have time for during the usual work day. Getting that perfect job requires a lot of effort, which can be a challenge after a long, difficult day at work. But by setting aside some of your holiday to focus on job-hunting, you can make long difficult days at work a thing of the past.

Start by thinking about what job you actually want to do by looking for a career that matches your personal profile and attributes. You don’t need to stay at home by yourself, though. When you meet up with friends and family, talk with them about what they think. Engage in professional and social networking, actively recruiting recommendations from people you have worked with. Meet with new people who may either want to employ you, or can connect you with somebody else who might.

Once you’ve found a vacancy for which you want to apply, build a CV that emphasises why the employer should choose you. Take time to write a cover letter that stands out. Also, think about what kind of questions you will be asked at your interview.

Continue reading “Make the most of your holiday period” »