5 steps to changing your job

The start of a new year often provides a good opportunity to review your current job situation, set new goals and start planning for the year ahead.

While some people are happy sticking with their current role, some people find themselves wanting a fresh start in their job.

So, if you are one of those people – where do you start?

Think about why you want to change

Most people decide to find a new job because they are unhappy in their current one – and this can be for many different reasons. According to latest research by Joblist, the top five reasons for wanting to change jobs include:

• Wanting better pay (47%)
• Reducing stress (39%)
• Better work-life balance (37%)
• Wanting a new challenge (25%)
• No longer passionate about current job (23%)

If you find yourself nodding your head to any of the above, maybe it’s time for a change. Remember – if you’re unhappy with your current job, finding a new job can have a positive impact on your mental health, your overall happiness and the amount of money you can earn.

Decide what kind of work you want to do

The next step is to consider what kind of work you want to do – and you may already have a good idea. Have you always wanted to get behind the wheel of a HGV? Or do you fancy yourself in the kitchen as a chef? Perhaps you want a behind-the-scenes job working in a warehouse? Once you’ve decided what it is you want to do, then you can begin the search.

If you are not quite sure – it’s a good idea to write a list of the things you like doing. That might include:

• Being on the move
• Working more flexibly
• Being outdoors
• Working with more or less people
• Supporting others in an admin role

You can use this list and think about what jobs might fit the kind of things you like to do – and if you are still stuck, we have a range of different opportunities on our website that you can use to generate some ideas.

Commit to change

One of the worst things you can do when you’re unhappy in your job is ‘stay put’ just because you’re comfortable. This may lead to further unhappiness and leave you desperate to change roles later down the line, and regretting not making a move earlier on.

If you’ve spent the time considering your current job and have made the decision, now is the time to take action and find something you are passionate about, that suits your lifestyle, or simply pays more – commit to change.

Update your CV

Once you have decided to make the change and you know what kind of job you want, it’s important to review your CV to make sure it is up to date and relevant to the industry you are looking to join.

Of course, making a change in your job doesn’t require creating a new CV from scratch, but instead fine-tuning what you already have and providing a detailed description of your current skills and experience to help you explain to employers why you would be best suited for the role.

If you are changing industries or job roles completely, think about what skills your current job requires that can be transferred over to a new role. Soft skills including communication, problem solving and working in a team are highly sought after by employers and are good to put down in your CV.

You can read our article to find out more on updating your CV here.

Talk to a recruiter

Finding a new job can sometimes be a daunting experience. But there is help out there.

Here at Gi Group, we have in depth knowledge of all of our industries and can help you to find your next job. We work with our candidates to understand their strengths and goals, providing them with the right information to enable us to secure a job that is the right fit for employer and candidate.

You can get in touch with us here.