European office +44 207 398 7520 Latin American Office +54 114 737 0322
by Mike Daniell
0New Year, New You? Professional Self-Appraisal
Happy New Year! The January jobs market is always alive with opportunity and new prospects. With over 12 years’ experience as a recruiter, Managing Consultant Mike Daniell shares his views on what you can expect and how you can make the most of it.
Self-Appraisal: First Step To New Opportunities
A new year brings with it the chance to not only take a look back at the achievement of the previous 12 months, but also to look forward to what the next will bring. In many businesses, it is also a time when new projects are started or at least prepared ahead of the new financial year. With this in mind, there are a number of ways in which candidates, interim or permanent, can take advantage and take on a new challenge in the new year.
- Your CV
It may sound obvious but you would be surprised how many professionals who are looking for their next role fail to update or refresh their CV. Aside from any roles you may performed in recently, it is also important to ensure that you list any new skills, experiences or achievements. These are differentiators and could be a key way of obtaining your next position.
- Your LinkedIn profile
Similarly, it is again surprising how many people fail to regularly update their LinkedIn profiles at new year. If potential clients or employers are considering you for a role, you can be sure that as much as they will look at your CV, the will also review your LinkedIn profile. If there is any discrepancy or “gap” between the two, this may affect your progress. As well as your positions, recent recommendations and endorsements, as well as a professional picture, are all key. Lastly, many on LinkedIn are now publishing blogs and articles on the site to showcase their expertise and market insight.
- Your network
If you didn’t do it last year, make sure you start the year by fully engaging with your network. Whether that is with specific professional interest groups, accredited bodies or agencies and providers, keeping in touch pays off. Your network also includes any contacts you have made during previous roles. Remain in contact with these people especially – they know how capable you have been in the past and could provide you with the next step in your professional future.
In summary, new year is an important time of the year for you to perform a professional, honest self-appraisal. Ask yourself, what do you want to achieve in 2016, what is your career goal? What didn’t you achieve? Perhaps it is more interim assignments? Experience in a different sector? Perhaps a new qualification to differentiate and support your professional development? Or maybe you want to reassess your work-life balance for the future? In 2016, perform an informal, professional self-appraisal to ensure you have the skill set needed for success.
What do you think are the key steps that need to be taken for professional success in 2016? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
What To Read Next
Interim Careers: Is Sector Experience Really Necessary? →
How To Write An Interview-Winning Interim CV: Infographic →
Your CV For 2016 / 2017– Getting It Right →
