Only one in five people in the UK make new year’s resolutions; but many more of us see the new year as the ideal time for a fresh start. As such, we tend to see a lot of movement on the recruitment market in January time.
If you are considering a change of job, it needs to be carefully planned. Sometimes, it’s easy to get caught up in the hype of ‘new year, new job’, when in reality, this isn’t always the best timing.
There are some important questions to ask yourself, if you are thinking of jumping ship.
- Do you know what’s missing from your work life and do you know what ‘better’ looks like?
Understanding the root cause of why you feel the urge to change jobs can take a fair amount of unpicking. It’s important to make a list of what is actually making you unhappy and seeing if there’s any way this could be addressed. For example, you might find that you’re working long hours but haven’t yet raised the possibility of getting some additional help. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking the grass is greener on the other side, before trying to address any ongoing issues.
If you decide that there are major niggles which just can’t be fixed, then what does the ideal job look like? Always keep your ‘wish list’ in mind through your job search and don’t settle for the first offer that comes along. Finding the right move can take months and you are far better to keep looking for the ideal role rather than jumping into something which doesn’t fully make your heart sing.
- Are the market conditions favourable?
The recruitment market goes through phases; sometimes, competition for roles is high and at other times, we have hiring companies reaching out as they are struggling to find the right talent for their vacancies. If the market for your niche isn’t working in your favour, you might be better off waiting. Having a chat with a recruiter who knows your industry well is a great barometer check.
For example, in late 2022, certain industries undertook widespread hiring freezes, only employing very specific skill sets, or backfilling essential roles. This was not necessarily a great time to be on the job market.
So, before you mark your new year with a new job, be sure you’re aware of what’s happening around you. If it’s a time of uncertainty and change, finding high-quality roles may require additional patience.
- Are you prepared to take on a big learning curve?
Even if we know an industry inside and out, every single job change sets us on a learning curve of new colleagues, new systems, and a new company culture.
Research indicates that it takes most people about three months to feel comfortable within a new job - but for some, it can take even longer.
A change may be a fresh start, but it comes with a period of adjustment. As such, it’s better to do this at a time when you are not overwhelmed with other commitments. If your life is going through other changes, such as a house move, new relationship, new baby, mounting debt – whatever it may be, it’s probably best not to throw ‘new job’ into the mix, if you have a choice about that.
To conclude…
If you’ve read this far and answered ‘yes’ to all of the above, then you are probably ready to embark on your job hunt! Many hiring companies who paused their hiring over the holidays may well have a backlog of opportunities there for the taking.
However, if you answered ‘no’ to any of them, this might not be the right time. Great opportunities will always be there for talented job-seekers, whether it’s January or any other month of the year.
To discuss current job opportunities in R&D tax or corporate governance, or just to get a sense of the current market, please do get in touch with one of the Leonid team for a chat.