Want a new job in 2019?

Want a new job in 2019 but worried about Brexit? Ignore the B-word and follow these 10 tips on how to go about landing the right position!

Millions of workers feel undervalued in their current workplace.
69% of workers say they ‘don’t see themselves’ in their current role in 12 months.
Three quarters of UK employers say they are planning to hire, according to Totaljobs.

Are you unhappy at work? Perhaps there’s no prospect of getting a promotion or you find yourself easily bored or lacking enthusiasm when you walk through the office door.

Whatever your reason for wanting to move on, you’re not alone.

Millions of UK workers are going into 2019 feeling undervalued in their current workplace according to figures released by online jobs board Totaljobs.

Totaljobs’ second annual Job Satisfaction Index figures suggest UK workplaces are being blighted by a growing trend of dissatisfaction among the nation’s workforce at a time where employers are finding it increasingly difficult to retain loyal, motivated talent.

The research indicates that these frustrations are making UK workers increasingly likely to explore their options.

For example, 69 per cent of workers say they ‘don’t see themselves’ in their current role in 12 months’ time, representing a three percent increase from December 2017.

If this is how you feel, then perhaps a new job in 2019 may be just the thing you need, especially if you can land a job that you can look forward to doing.

Here’s ten tips from leading recruitment and employment experts on how you can land a better job.

1. Don’t let Brexit hold you back

Brexit may be cause for concern as it creates uncertainty and there’s no telling what kind of impact it will have, especially if we crash out of the European Union with No Deal.

However, employers are telling a different story.

Simon Winfield, managing director of Hays UK&I points out: ‘The availability of skills is set to be a developing picture, however whilst we wait to hear the outcome of Brexit negotiations employers are demonstrating clear intentions to hire for the year ahead.

He adds: ‘The outlook is positive for job seekers for the year ahead as in our recent survey of almost 23,000 people, over three quarters of UK employers say they are planning to hire.

‘There are a number of areas which are particularly skills short and, as such, job seekers can use this to their advantage.’

2. Update your profiles and CV

When last have you updated your LinkedIn profile or CV? The last thing you want to do is find a dream role or get that call from a recruiter only to find that you need to still polish your CV before you can send it off.

Career author James Innes explains: ‘I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to have a strong online brand and this means your LinkedIn profile has to be up to date and keyword rich.

‘Update your CV and make sure it stands out by highlighting achievements and using the right keywords to get past those pesky Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS’s).’

It’s also important to take down any negative images or messages you may have uploaded on social media. Few recruiters want to be faced with photos of your drunken New Year pub crawl when they type your name into Google.

Innes explans: ‘Manage your entire online brand. LinkedIn is the priority but you need to make sure that your other social media profiles are suitable for potential recruiters to view!’

3. Find out where skills are needed

If you’re still concerned, the trick may be to land a job that is future-proofed to take on any knocks whether it be from Brexit or any other kind of economic hurdle.

Winfield points out that in Hays’ list of top ten jobs for 2019 (see table blow), technology roles dominate the list as well as roles in finance and construction.

4. Don’t call in sick or make up an excuse to attend interviews

It’s best to be honest with your potential employer if you’re finding it difficult to get time off from work to attend the interviews.

Winfield says that if you’re working with a recruiter most will understand this dilemma.

He says: ‘Employers are more flexible than you may think, especially as the availability of talent is scarce many employers will happily conduct interviews either before or after work to accommodate.

‘If this isn’t possible, your next best option is to book annual leave if you have enough time to do so.

‘Taking the day off will allow you to clear your mind ahead of the interview without worrying where your employer may think you are.

‘If this isn’t an option, then try to avoid calling in sick or making an unrealistic excuse. You can opt to ask for a couple of hours off for an appointment instead and then offer to make the time back.’

5. Learn a new skill

If you’re finding it hard to land a job within the sector you specialise in why not try and learn a new skill in 2019?

According to job search-engine Adzuna, software engineers and quantity surveyors are two of the most in demand roles.

Adzuna highlights there are currently 17,887 vacancies currently available for software engineers who earn an average not to be sneezed at £51,300.

Adzuna says: ‘This has been boosted by huge hiring efforts at tech giants Amazon, Google & Facebook: together currently looking to fill over 2,000 open roles, close to record hiring levels.’

Meanwhile, in the quantity surveyor sector there are currently 8,882 job opportunities with average salaries of £51,000.

6. Use apps to look for your dream job

There are plenty of job apps and websites out there that will make it easy to bag a new role in the New Year. There’s the usual suspects like Monster, LinkedIn and Indeed.

But there are some specialist apps being launched that make the jobs application process less formal.

Job Today for instance is a mobile hiring app that is revolutionising the way millennials find work.

It says it has matched over 100million candidates to over 400,000 businesses and counts the likes of Costa Coffee, Pret A Manger and EAT among its regular clients.

Instead of posting an ad on a website, or asking prospective candidates for CVs, the job search app connects employers with future staff, allowing them to message back and forth to discuss roles and speed up the hiring process.

7. Don’t job-hunt at work

According to Totaljobs, 55 per cent of employees admit looking for a new role during working hours, a marked increase on the 50 per cent who admitted doing so in 2017.

It adds that 69 per cent of workers say they don’t feel their boss supported their career goals, a marginal increase from last year (68 per cent).

But this is the wrong way to go about it and could land you in trouble.

To be fair, with all the websites, apps and free WiFi available at most of the major coffee shops there’s no excuse not to find a job in your own time.

8. Don’t be put off joining the gig economy

No full-time job is ever 100 per cent secure. Meanwhile, freelancers or contractor have to deal with the lack of job security and an ever-changing monthly income.

But Innes says this shouldn’t put job-seekers off. ‘The advantages are obvious – the flexibility, the variety and, hopefully, the potential to earn quite a bit more.’

9. Apply for the right role

Importantly, you don’t want to be sitting on New Year’s Day of 2020 feeling the same way about your new job as you do about the one you are sitting with now.

It’s very easy to find jobs because we have better search results, job boards and online job advertisements – there are plenty of apps, websites and print adds to choose from. What’s more difficult is finding the role that’s right for you.

Winfield explains: ‘It can be tempting to take advantage of advanced ways of applying for jobs with ‘one click’ applications, however unsuccessful candidates are often those who have dived head-first into the job search process, without thinking about what they really want and what exactly they need to do to get there.

‘As a result, they end up applying for roles that aren’t necessarily right for them at that moment in time.’

10. Come prepared

Remember to do your research about the company and the people that are interviewing you. Be informed and come with savvy questions about the role and the company.

To get the right role you want to know whether the position is right for you too. If you don’t do adequate research you could be in the same boat in 2020.

Originally posted on 7th January 2019 on thisismoney.co.uk

Posted on January 21, 2019 in Career Advice