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The prospect of changing jobs is scary, and there’s no getting around the fact that it can be a time-consuming and long process to land the role you want. However, there can be loads of reasons why you might not make a leap of faith, and apply for that perfect role. This week’s blog goes through the common obstacles that people hit, and what you can do to overcome them.
Time
Many people are put off simply because of the time it can take to go through the whole application process. The only way you can achieve this is by dedicating time to it during the week. It’s impossible to do this alongside something else, as the quality of your applications will suffer. Block out the time, i.e. 7pm-9pm, 3 times a week. There’s no way of avoiding the time commitment, but you can help yourself by working efficiently, and creating a routine around your job search.
Skills/Experience
Many people are put off when looking at a person specification, as they see things missing from their own experience or skillset. The important thing to look at is the difference between ‘essential’ and ‘desired’ criteria. The key is to focus your application on the core skills you have that are indispensable to the role. It’s highly unlikely that a candidate will meet every piece of criteria that is outlined, so don't let this discourage you. As long as it’s not a specialist role, with exacting requirements, apply away!
Worried About Change
It can be the case that the need to move positions can be a very quick development, and may be an unexpected development. This can be pretty overwhelming, as there are a lot of variables that will impact you (new commute, unfamiliar routine, new colleagues). This is often unavoidable when looking to change roles, and is something that should be embraced. Sticking with what you know can be limiting, and might not be the best thing to progress your career.
You are only looking and applying, so nothing is decided yet! These are parts of the process that will come in time; the important thing is to apply if you’re at the stage where a change is best.
Not the Right Time
Realistically it never is, and it’s always possible to find a reason why you should delay. You might be just about to get a promotion, or pay rise at your current employer. If this is the case, then you might be able to negotiate something with your potential employers in the final stages of the interview process.
Your sudden departure may leave your current employers in a tough situation, or you could be in the middle of a big project. This is something that affects anyone that is looking to move, and these issues will manifest themselves whenever anyone moves from their current position.
If your dream career move has just materialised, then there is no need to feel too guilty, as it’s a completely acceptable decision to make. You work through a notice period for a reason, and your current employers will have the time to reassign your workload, and transition effectively.
Candidate Market
Lots of people worry about the competition for places, and how difficult it is to be shortlisted, never mind landing the position. There is some good news when looking at the general climate for jobs, as there is the highest number of people employed in the UK since 1971. There are also an estimated 850,000 vacancies at the moment, not including seasonal work. All of which is good news for people looking for work, as there is a high demand in every industry. So if there was ever a time to apply, it’s now.
So if you’re apprehensive about changing careers, don’t be! It’s perfectly normal to be anxious about some of the aspects of moving to a new position. But remember that almost everyone has gone through this process at some point in their lives, so there are plenty of people to help you. If you’re starting to apply now, we’ve got loads of vacancies throughout the region, click here to see what we have available.