It’s the Most Wonderful Time, of the Year…

January can be tough, but RGU alumnus Mark Dalgarno shares some positive perspectives on job hunting at the start of the year and some steps to get yourself to where you deserve to be...

Yep, it is January and yep, that’s the song of yuletide joy. But it’s more like, it’s the most wonderful time, for careers…

Some people wince at the ‘new year, new me’ outlook in January, but whether you believe in resolutions or not, I believe most of us will adopt a positive approach to the start of the year, with even the slightest intent, to make some aspect of their lives better. Sure, that excitement and enthusiasm might be matched with a dose of anxiety and trepidation, but I honestly feel most of us want to enter the new year determined to make it better than the one before it.

Love it or loathe it, January comes around every 12 months and after the pause of work and overindulgence of December, this month provides us with an opportunity to gain focus and find a renewed sense of purpose.

I say embrace it. Don’t fight it. Breathe it in and seize the opportunity that hits us but once a year and be thankful for it. Because whatever goals you set, they are only ever going to be positive.

Do we have to be realistic? Arguably. But don’t refrain yourself because other people might say you won’t follow through on them.

It’s no great revelation that some of the most common January goals are within our careers and professional lives, where people typically start looking for new roles or some form of development that are founded on ambitions and for personal reasons. 

For many, it might just be a flash in the pan. The grass may not be greener and the need to make an immediate change to your job situation might subside. You may end up realising that you are happy where you are. And that’s great.  But for others, change and career development will happen.

The great thing is, regardless of the outcome, this time of the year has a great way of encouraging us to improve our self-worth and connect with who we really are.

And we should enjoy that sense of drive that becomes part of us - even if it is only for a few weeks…

We live and work at an autopilot like pace and can be so consumed by the everyday actions, that we tend to forget why we are doing it all. And, parking all chat about personal and professional development as a result.

Here’s the thing.

If we want to make progress in our career, we must stop and take stock of the ‘why’. We are never going to make a move in our career, at any time of the year, without some consideration as to why you need to make said move.

Allowing yourself that time is difficult. But January and everything that comes with it, gives you that time and mindset.

The who, what, where and the why

We know the career we have impacts our personal lives and general well-being. So, job hunting and looking for career progression, provides us the perfect opportunity to check in with who we are, what we are doing, where we are, what we’ve achieved, what we’re working towards, set goals, timelines and look at the improvements needed.

When considering the next move in our career, we’ll typically ask ourselves these questions:

• Why am I looking to make a change in my career?
• What do I want to do?
• Why do I want to do it?
• What experience do I have?
•  How am I going to make it happen?

The brilliance here is that you get to make emotional connections with what’s going on in your head and heart. Against what truly matters - how you feel.

We spend around a third of our lives working and that’s a lot of time to be doing something you don’t enjoy or feel like you’re not living to your potential within. Establishing what’s key for you, is key for your search.

We all know the strain of job hunting, but you’ll be better served, when you’ve carefully thought about it all. If you do that, it’s a lot easier to get inspired and feel positive about putting yourself out there. And guess what, you might actually enjoy it.

Believe it or not, it’s fun recalling your experiences, remembering achievements and noting the skills you are good at. It is exhilarating outlining your ambitions and goals. It’s energy boosting feeling determined and positive. You’ve earned all these. They deserve celebrated. Otherwise, what were they all for?

That’s the key to our careers; what makes us happy in what we do. We’re all striving for that, surely?

The starting step

People tend to go straight for the CV, cover letters, job boards and interview prep. Then get overawed by the magnitude of it all. We can all write a CV and cover letter. We can all apply for jobs and talk in interviews. They’re hard, but they become a lot easier when you stop, think and plan, first.

And that, my employability loving friends, is what January in all its glory can bring.

It might be busy and competitive. It might be uncertain and uncomfortable. Challenges may come. But there’s no better time of the year to dive straight in and connect with who you are and what you want.

Whether you end up making a career move or not, see this time of year as a great chance to check in with the most important aspect of your career. You.

Because if you do, you and your current or future employers will appreciate that you did and will benefit from it.

Here’s to your 2024!