For many people, January is the worst month of the year.
The holidays are over, you’re feeling groggy after too much food and fun, and it’s time to get back to the daily grind. Combine the post-holiday come down with the terrible weather that we Brits get most winters, and it’s easy to see why so many people feel restless by “Blue Monday,” the saddest day of the year.
Fortunately, there is a way to make January a more positive and productive time. All you need to do is embrace the “New Year, New You” mentality, with a revitalised career plan!
Here, we’re going to look at some of the things you can do in January to get out of your rut, explore new opportunities, and accomplish your professional goals.
1. Banish Boredom with New Challenges
One of the main reasons people feel down about going back to work in the New Year is that they’re tired of their old routine. After the fun and excitement of the holidays, the idea of falling back into the same pattern of repetitive work isn’t always appealing. Fortunately, if you’re feeling uninspired in your career, there are some things you can do:
- Embrace a growth mindset: Challenge your thought processes and ask yourself what you can do to become more efficient and effective at work. Would changing your routine make you more productive?
- Get involved in teamwork: Volunteer to take part in new challenges with your team. This will both strengthen your relationships at work and give you an opportunity to learn new things.
- Ask for something new: Speak to your manager about taking on extra responsibilities that are relevant to your career plan. This is a great way to start the new year by showing your commitment to your role.
2. Consider Alternative Opportunities
If no matter what you do at work, you can’t seem to find any passion for your old role anymore, it might be time to rethink your options. Perhaps you want to specialise in something new, like AI or big data, and your current company doesn’t offer that opportunity.
Connect with a specialist recruitment company like ROD, and spend some time listing companies in your area that offer the employer brand and potential roles you’re looking for. Once you’ve got a short list of the places you’d most like to work for, ask yourself what you’d need to do to get a job there.
Does your CV match the competencies that the businesses you want to work for are looking for? How can you adjust your personal brand so that it reflects the characteristics those organisations value?
3. Find a Mentor
Sometimes, the biggest problem an employee can face in the new year is a lack of motivation. If you’re not sure what you need to do next to achieve your career goals, or you’re feeling uninspired, then one of the best things you can do is look for a mentor.
Find a senior member of staff or leader in your space that is willing to share their experience and insights with you. Ideally, it’s best to look for someone who has the kind of role you’d like to get in the long term. A mentor will guide you to your career targets by giving constructive criticism and keep you motivated when the going gets tough.
Your mentor can also be useful when it comes to applying for technology roles and promotions, as they may have connections that improve your chances of success.
4. Update Your CV
January is a fantastic time to update your CV. You have an entire year of experiences behind you, which means that there’s a good chance that you can change something about your CV before you head back to work. Having a great CV on-hand will be useful if you start to feel as though you’re burning out at work, or not getting access to the opportunities you need.
Remember to:
- Keep it short and sweet: Remove anything from your CV that isn’t necessary for the roles that you’ll be applying for. Aim for just one page.
- Double-check for errors: Don’t let formatting or grammatical errors stop you from getting a significant role this year.
- Tailor to the role: Always edit your CV to make it unique to the position you’re applying for. Don’t forget to add a custom cover letter too!
5. Learn Something New
Finally, if you’re concerned that stagnation has set in with your digital automation, software testing or digital marketing career, then get out there and learn something new! The technology space is always changing, with innovations emerging almost every day. Learning a new skill in your free time is a great way to rediscover your passion for the industry while showing your employer that you’re willing to go above and beyond to prove your value.
Look at your career plan for the next 12 months and ask yourself what kind of educational opportunities would help you reach your goals. For instance, if you want to become a manager in big data, then you’ll need skills in data analytics and insights. If you’re interested in artificial intelligence, look at robotics and machine learning.
About Resource On Demand
Resource On Demand is Europe’s first specialist Salesforce Recruitment Company, now also focusing on growth Cloud markets.
We assist innovative and disruptive organisations to grow their technology teams. Supporting companies to fill Cloud roles that span across Digital Marketing, Marketing Automation, Human Capital Management and the growing Salesforce.com suite of skills.
The team at Resource On Demand have access to an extensive database of key talent, registering over 8000 Cloud professionals each year.
To find out how we can support you call us on 01322 272 532