Holidays are a great time to relax and unwind and leave all thoughts of work behind. But having some time away from the normal routine and the day to day pressures of your job can also provide an excellent opportunity to assess your next career move.
Make some notes. Be clear about what it is you want to achieve. Consider what you do and don’t like about your current role, analyse your own strengths and weaknesses and give some thought to your longer term career ambitions. Is there scope to develop within your existing position, opportunities for progression or is it time start thinking about moving on?
Audit your skills set. Review job descriptions for positions that would be of interest and see which particular skills are in demand. Use this information to refresh your CV and also identify any areas where you may be lacking and come up with a strategy to address these.
Overhaul your CV. It’s no good waiting until an opportunity comes along before dusting off your CV. Take some time now to bring it bang up-to-date; you are less likely to forget something important and will be able to act fast when an interesting role grabs your attention.
Do your research. Find out what is happening within organisations that you would be interested in working at; company websites, social media, industry magazines and news sites are a great source of information on a range of topics such as expansion plans, new business wins and client case studies.
Take a step back. Look at your current job with fresh eyes – you may find there are opportunities to explore within your existing company that would give your additional responsibilities, a new challenge or the chance to expand your skills set.
Brush up on social media. As well as updating your Linkedin profile – it’s often the first port of call for any would-be employer - see if there are any relevant discussion groups relating to your industry that you could join which could help you make new contacts as well as keeping on top of the latest hot topics affecting your sector.
Catch up with contacts. Find out what opportunities you would be suitable for by having a chat with a recruitment expert – you won’t have to worry about your conversation being overheard by a nosy colleague!
Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of temporary, interim and permanent finance professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond. CONTACT UStoday to discuss your recruitment needs with a member of our team.