‘New year, new you, new job’ are a common triplet of resolutions up and down the UK, so Gi Group, one of the world’s leading HR solutions and staffing companies, has kicked off 2023 by sharing five manageable goals to help job seekers work towards their dream career.
It’s estimated 21 per cent of Britons will make a New Year’s resolution for 2023, with pursuing a career aspiration being in the top five goals for most respondents, along with spending more time with family, less exposure to social media and increasing volunteering or charity work. That’s according to the latest study conducted by YouGov in December 2022, which surveyed 2,007 people living in the UK.
However, it seems that the recurrent challenge for most people isn’t making the resolution, it is keeping it. Data from the survey highlighted that at the end of 2021, 17 per cent of people hadn’t managed to keep any of their New Year’s resolutions.
But with the help of Gi Group, 2023 could be the year that all changes. The global company and its team of recruitment specialists, based in all major UK cities, are keen to share tips and tricks to help job seekers secure their perfect role, take a leap into a new industry, or work their way up the ranks.
Laura Stretton, Candidate Manager at Gi Group, said: “Many of us are already setting career goals for the year, but it’s important to be realistic and set achievable targets. A good place to start is to reflect on last year, what did you achieve? What experience and skills did you gain? This will help you think about your next steps to growth.”
1. Set a goal
Laura adds: “Ask yourself what you really want out of your career. It might seem silly, but perhaps you don’t know your own goals and aspirations as well as you think you do. It’s also worth taking time to reflect upon whether you’re in the right industry or whether you should consider switching paths.”
Gi Group consultants understand how important it is to take the time to get to know each candidate, in order to find out what they want from their next role.
Whether it’s a short-term, temporary contract or a permanent career move, Gi Group is dedicated to doing its best to find every candidate a suitable role.
Currently, Gi Group has more than 5,000 vacancies in the driving and logistics, manufacturing, warehouse, food production and pharmaceutical sectors across the UK.
2. Put yourself out there
Gi Group, which places roughly 15,000 candidates in new roles each week, reported that the fear of rejection or failure is a commonality among job seekers.
Laura comments: “If you put yourself out there, it means you’re already on the way to victory. There are plenty of valuable skills and experiences you’ll gain from saying yes to more opportunities, so why not make a resolution to put yourself out there and don’t be afraid of the negative outcomes, it may just lead you to your perfect job.”
3. Update your CV regularly
Laura adds: “Updating your CV as regularly as possible will save you time and effort in the long run. If an opportunity arises, you’ll already be prepared. It’ll help take away the additional stress of having to update your CV with a deadline looming when a job does arise. Updating your employment status as well as any new skills or experiences could make you stand out from the crowd.”
Gi Group can guide and support job seekers by offering expert advice on CV writing, interview advice and preparation, as well as personalised support on job application forms.
4. Practice, Practice, Practice
As with anything else, practice makes perfect – the same applies to job seekers looking to secure their ideal role. As our expert, Laura says, help can come in many different forms: “Whether you ask a friend, partner, or us to help you prep for an interview, the more you practice, the more you’ll feel comfortable and confident during the real interview.
“Your New Year’s resolution could be to allow yourself time to organise, prep and practice. The same goes for a new hobby – you practice until you master the skill, so why not do the same when it comes to getting your dream job? Practice your interview skills and you could be celebrating before too long.”
5. Have a work-life balance
Laura says: “We talk about a work-life balance a lot, not only to our team but to our candidates too. It can be all too easy to slip into bad habits, staying late, checking emails out of hours, and not regularly exercising. But all that does is contribute to a toxic work environment, not only for yourself but for your employer too.”
Having a good work-life balance means you’re less likely to experience burnout, which has a huge impact on your productivity at work and in turn, on your career progression.”
With 24 UK branches across the country, Gi Group, are on hand to ensure job seekers find their perfect role and achieve their career goals within the next 365 days and beyond.
For more information about Gi Group in the UK, please visit: uk.gigroup.com.
About Gi Group
Gi Group is active in more than 100 countries, thanks to its direct presence and strategic partnerships. Through its key brands, the company provides a full and comprehensive suite of recruitment and HR solutions to more than 20,000 companies worldwide, generating revenues of €3.2 billion1, and making it both the 5th largest recruitment and HR Services company in Europe, and the 16th largest worldwide.
Gi Group is uniquely committed to the creation of social and economic value for both employers and candidates alike. Called “More than Work”, the Group’s aims are two-fold: firstly, to ensure that employees experience enjoyable and life-changing work environments; and secondly, to enable a sustainable, streamlined, and harmonious labour market for employers and employees alike—one that reflects the ever-changing needs of candidates and companies.