Did you know, the average person will spend about 90,000 hours at work in their lifetime?
When you add it up, that’s about a third of your life!
Annie Dillard, the Writer, famously said “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” The question then becomes, does your work reflect how you want to spend your life? If the answer is no, you may decide 2023 is the year to plan for (and get!) a career that ticks all your boxes and takes you where you want to go.
Where to start though? Job hunting can be stressful and sometimes overwhelming if you don’t have a plan. Don’t worry, here are some suggestions to get you started…
Is it a good time to be job hunting? What’s the job market like?
In short, the job market is hot! Demand for good, qualified candidates, particularly in mining and construction, is high and the availability of suitable candidates is low. It’s an employee’s market and this is only going to continue in 2023.
With new opportunities becoming available every day, it’s an ideal time to be seeking a new, fulfilling and rewarding role.
How do I find my perfect job?
Step 1: Define your perfect job.
‘Perfect’ looks different to different people. We suggest jotting down what’s really important to you. Perhaps consider things like:
- What’s not working in your current role?
- What would you be looking for from your next employer?
- What drives and motivates you?
- Are you interested in working in a specific industry?
- Is flexibility important to you? Is money? Is training and development opportunities?
Once you have this clear in your mind (or notebook), you will know what kind of work environment you’re looking for to best reflect your skills, experience, and career development goals.
Step 2: Create a Career Plan to get you there
A Career Plan is a practical approach to:
- determining your passions, skills, and interests;
- setting career goals; and
- setting those goals into motion.
A Career Plan is a great way to ensure your career is following the path you want it to. In Step 1, you outlined what’s important to you in a workplace/role. Next, define SMART goals to outline how you’re going to find your perfect job.
SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. These may be personal or professional goals or a mixture of both. Either way, by clearly organising and defining your goals (as well as how and when you’re going to achieve them), you’re setting yourself up for career development/job hunting success.
Step 3: Get your ducks lined up
It’s time to update your resume / CV and LinkedIn Profile! Ensure you include information about your most recent roles and be sure to include length of time there, skills, education, key roles, and responsibilities and (where appropriate) successes or ‘wins’ you had.
The “Recommendations” section on LinkedIn provides an ideal mechanism to reach out to your connections and ask them to provide a few sentences about your work ethic and skillset. This information is available to anyone who can see your profile (including potential employers) and is a great way to get a reference in the modern digital world.
Step 4: Be proactive
If you are thinking of switching careers, you many need to complete additional qualifications. To find out which (if any) qualifications/certification etc you may need, why not search for the roles you’re interested in and see what employers are asking for? You can then decide whether further study is something you’re prepared to undertake and work that into your goals.
Your network can be a powerful tool in your career development. Have a look at who you know – who is working in your desired industry? Who works in a role you want to know more about? Who knows someone who knows someone else? We suggest reaching out for a coffee and asking to pick their brain on how they got to be where they are. You’ll often find people love to talk about themselves and appreciate the offer! Plus, you never know where their advice might lead you… it’s worth a try.
Step 5: Work with the professionals
You’d hire a professional to cut your hair, service your car, and build a home, right? Well, there are also professionals who specialise in helping people to find their perfect job…and who help companies find their ideal candidates.
Why not contact a recruitment consultancy to help take some of the hard work out of job hunting?
If you invest time into really thinking about and working on the above, you’ll be in a great position to find your dream job in 2023. We wish you all the success in finding a role that inspires, fulfils and meets all your criteria. If we can help, let us know.
Good luck!
Ready to start your updated resume? Why not check our tips to structure your resume to ensure you have all the main areas covered?
About us
RecruitWest is a full-service Human Resources company whose purpose is to make an impact through amazing teams. It’s our job to find the right candidates for the right roles because we genuinely believe great synergies in teams can change the world!
We work with medium–large companies to find, retain and develop staff to support business growth. These relationships mean we are often the first to know about what roles are available, what the working environments are really like, and what kind of people these companies are looking for.
Trust an expert to help you find your perfect job. RecruitWest has an inspired team of industry professionals who are dedicated to providing the greatest value. We create and support communities of motivated employees and employers.
So, if you’re thinking 2023 is going to be “your year” for achieving career goals, RecruitWest is right behind you!
For the latest jobs available, visit www.recruitwest.com.au or contact us to discuss what you’re looking for in 2023. We look forward to helping you find your perfect job.