Now that the Thanksgiving holiday is behind us, it’s time to look to the future – and I don’t just mean the Christmas holiday. You may not believe this, but this month is a great time to look for a new job or to go for that promotion. This is the time of year when companies are winding down and looking to move full steam ahead come the new year. Isn’t it time that you do the same?
Making a career move can seem scary; we all get into the comforts of knowing how we’re spending our days and bringing in a source of income to live. But if you are feeling frustrated or bored with aspects of your job, or you feel ready to move either to a new industry or to take on a leader role, then I would encourage you to make the decision and make the leap.
If you’re unsure if this is the ‘right time,’ then consider the following:
- Do you hesitate to get out of bed in the morning, or you delay going out the door and go to work?
- Do you find yourself feeling unhappy, dissatisfied, or bored with the work you do?
- Do you find yourself feeling more stress about your job that you are not sleeping well, you find yourself more irritable, or you are having more health issues?
Any of these are signs that you are not finding fulfillment in your job which, if not taken care of, can lead to a decline in your performance (of which you could jeopardize your employment) and your physical/mental health. The fallout can be great if not addressed.
If you are thinking of finding a new job, here are some steps to help you get there:
- Take a hard look at your current role – list all of the tasks and activities you do each day, such as meetings, committees you serve on, your actual job duties, other tasks you take on – either given to you or you assume because others aren’t/can’t. Rate your level of satisfaction/dissatisfaction with each of those: which ones excite you, which use your skills the most, which deplete you. The results can be the basis to know if a new job is in your future.
- Define your ideal job – we all have one in mind so dream big, as your possibilities can be your realities. List the title, the company, the skills and competencies you want to use, the job tasks you desire or that excite you, and include the pay and benefits you desire. I also recommend writing down the traits of the boss you would like to work for and the company culture you want to work in; both of these are critical to your career success.
- Update your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, and any supporting documents you have so you are fully ready to apply and make the case for why you are the best job candidate. If you’ve been writing down your accomplishments and ‘win’s this will be an easy task; if not, then you’ll need to take the time to do so (and then can begin to document them as you move forward). I believe this step also helps to increase your self-esteem when you see all the good work you’ve done and can feel accomplished. Self-confidence is the key during these times.
- Begin the job search – there are so many ways to begin to research and find that ideal job, which can include: company job boards, networking events, job fairs, LinkedIn job app, Facebook’s Social Jobs app, BranchOut, job board sites, past employers, current employment, friends and family, recruiters/headhunters, and getting help from a Career Coach. There are so many ways to find your next role; it does take time and consistency. Having a good job search strategy is the key to putting this all together so you won’t feel the frustration of not knowing what to do or which way to go each day.
If you are frustrated with the job in any way, I encourage you to take advantage of this time of year and jump on the bandwagon. If you don’t, someone else will so make the move today!
If you find yourself feeling job stress or are ready to move to the next level, contact us today at http://www.cyscoaching.com. Take advantage of our Black Friday Weekend special.
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