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Naomi Rothwell-Boyd, May 12 2022

5 First Things To Consider When You Need A New Job

I need a new job! Where the !&@! do I start?

Making the decision to find a new job can be tough but it's also an exciting time. You're finally ready to take control of your career and make a change! But where do you start? There are so many things to consider, it can be overwhelming.

Most people decide they need a change, and then when they first thing "what do I do now?" they freeze. There are many questions to ask yourself. What kind of job do I want? What are my qualifications? How much money do I need to make? Do I want to stay in this area? Do I need a big change or just to a small move?

The idea of finding a new job can feel like a mountain to climb. That's why we've put together this list of the first 5 things you should think about when making the decision to find a new job.

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The 5 First Things To Consider:

1) What am I not getting at the moment that I will need from the next job?
2) Do I need to change industry or just job to get what I need?
3) What are the craziest job ideas I can consider?
4) How am I going to sell myself?
5) When do I need to get this done by?

Let's look at each in depth.

1) What am I not getting at the moment that I will need from the next job?

This is an important question to ask yourself. What are you missing in your current role that you know you need in your next job? For example, maybe you need more responsibility, or more creative freedom. Maybe you're not being paid what you're worth, or you need better work/life balance.

If you're not sure what it is that you need, take some time to think about your long-term goals. What do you want to achieve in your career? Once you have a goal in mind, you can start to look for jobs that will help you achieve that goal.

Remember, it's important to be honest with yourself. Don't just look for a job that sounds good on paper, make sure it's a job that will really make you happy and fulfilled.

Consider all the key factors that are important to you. If you're not sure, make a list!

Some factors you may want to consider are:

Once you know what you're looking for, it will be much easier to find the right job for you.

If you're still not sure, talk to friends, family, or even a career coach. They may be able to help you figure out what it is you're looking for in a new job.

2) Do I need to change industry or just job to get what I need?

This is a tough question to answer. Sometimes, changing jobs is all you need to get what you're looking for. Other times, you might need to change industries entirely. It really depends on your situation and what you're looking for.

If you're not sure whether you should change jobs or industries, there are a few things you can ask yourself:

Do I have the skills and experience that are transferable to another industry?

Is there an industry that I'm passionate about that I could see myself working in?

Are there any industries that are growing that I could move into?

Remember, it's important to do your research before making any decisions. Talk to people who work in the industry you're interested in, and get a feel for what it's really like. Once you have all the information, you can make an informed decision about whether changing industries is right for you.

You also need to consider whether your current industry is actually fine for you and whether you're just unhappy with the company. In this case, you might want to look for a job in the same industry with a different company.

3) What are the craziest job ideas I can consider?

This is an important question to ask yourself, because sometimes the best job for you is one that you never would have thought of. When you're considering your options, don't be afraid to think outside the box.

For example, if you're a creative person, maybe you could consider working in advertising or marketing. Or if you're good with people, maybe you could think about working in customer service or sales.

Start with the obvious

The trick here is to start by writing down all the obvious job ideas. These would be ideas that are in the same industry as your current job, or jobs that you've always thought about. Once you have a good list of these, start to think about other industries that might be a good fit for your skills and experience.

Get creative

Then you should branch out. Start adding in ideas that sound a little silly or scary but are jobs that if you had the option you would do. You're not going to apply just yet, you're just writing down ideas as an exercise so try not to artificially limit yourself.

Go crazy

And then finally write down the super crazy nuts ideas, the things you day dream about. The jobs that make you think "that would be amazing but there is no way I could ever do that".

Once you've written these down, you should have a comprehensive list. Hopefully you should also start to realise that when compared to other crazy ideas, perhaps some of your merely ambitious job ideas are actually quite reasonable even though they will take some work.

If you'd like a little inspiration, check out our list of 110 New Job Ideas.

4) How am I going to sell myself?

This is vital and needs some careful consideration. Selling yourself to potential new employers comes in a few parts.

The first is understanding what your unique selling points are and playing to them.

What are the skills and experiences that make you stand out from other candidates? What are the things that you're really good at? Once you know what these are, you can start to focus your job search on roles that will play to your strengths.

What you should focus on here are the transferable skills, not necessarily just your niche hard skills. For example, negotiating is used by so many people daily, and it doesn't have to fit in a particular box for only certain roles. These types of skills are often call competencies. Competencies are you transferable skills.

The second part of selling yourself is your pitch.

This is what you'll say when someone asks you "so, tell me about yourself". It's important to have a well rehearsed answer to this question that hits all the key points you want to get across without sounding like you're reading from a script.

Your pitch should be no longer than 30 seconds, and it should be something that you can easily adapt to different situations. For example, if you're applying for a job that requires customer service skills, you might want to focus on your experience dealing with difficult customers.

The final part is your CV.

You can only pitch yourself once you've secured an interview first, and securing interviews is far more of a science than an art. The best way to sell yourself on your CV is by using keywords.

When an employer is looking through a large number of CVs, they will often use keyword search to help them find the most relevant ones. So if you want to make sure that your CV is being seen by employers, you need to make sure it's full of the right keywords.

You can find out what the right keywords are by looking at the job adverts and seeing which words and phrases are used most often. These are usually the skills and experiences that the employer is looking for.

Companies will also receive CVs every day so recruiters will be looking for professional candidates that peek their interest when hiring.

You can also play around with testing different CV styles and formats. Some people swear by traditional CVs while others prefer more creative ones. The important thing is that your CV is easy to read and it highlights your most relevant skills and experiences. This is key especially when using job sites or social media to find a job.

If you're not sure where to start, check out our post on the 15 Best CV Layout And Formatting Tips in 2023.

5) When do I need to get this done by?

It's important to set yourself deadlines. This will help to keep you motivated and it will stop you from procrastinating.

Start by setting a deadline for when you want to have your job search finished. This should be a realistic deadline that gives you enough time to do a thorough job search without getting too stressed out.

Next, set smaller deadlines for each task on your to-do list. For example, if you need to update your CV, set a deadline for when you want to have this done by.

If you need to apply for jobs, set a deadline for when you want to have all of your applications submitted by. And so on.

By setting deadlines, you're giving yourself a goal to work towards. And by breaking down your job search into smaller tasks, you're making the whole process feel a lot less daunting.

So there you have it, the five first things you should consider when you need a new job. By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to looking for a new job.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I've been job hunting for months and I'm starting to feel really discouraged. What should I do?

A: Don't give up! Job searching can be a long and difficult process, but it's important to stay positive and keep pushing forwards.

Q: I've been offered a job that I'm not sure is right for me. What should I do?

A: It can be tough to turn down a job offer, especially if you've been job hunting for a while. But it's important to trust your gut and make the decision that's right for you.

Q: I'm not sure what kind of job I want. Where should I start?

A: If you're not sure what kind of job you want, it can be helpful to sit down and make a list of the things you're passionate about. What are the things that make you excited to get out of bed in the morning? Once you have a list of your interests, you can start looking for jobs that align with these.

Q: I'm not sure my CV is good enough. How can I improve it?

A: There are a few things you can do to improve your CV. First, make sure it's clear and concise. Second, focus on the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the job you're applying for. And finally, use keywords to make sure your CV is being seen by employers.

Q: How can I make sure my applications are getting seen by employers?

A: The best way to make sure your applications are getting seen by employers is to use keywords. When an employer is looking through a large number of CVs, they will often use keyword search to help them find the most relevant ones. So if you want to make sure that your CV is being seen by employers, you need to make sure it includes the right keywords.

Q: I've been invited to an interview. What should I do to prepare?

A: The best way to prepare for an interview is to practice your answers to common interview questions. This will help you to feel more confident and it will give you a chance to think about what you want to say before the actual interview. 

Written by

Naomi Rothwell-Boyd

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