It comes as little surprise that many people evaluate and consider new opportunities when the new year comes around. Over the Christmas period, there is the inevitable amount of socialising that occurs with the frequently asked question of 'how's work' and, if it hasn't been the best of years, the discussion that follows is often about how people feel that it is time to move on. We're certainly aware of this new year phenomena and have come up with some tips to help.

Pros and Cons
The first step is to come up with a list of pros and cons regarding your job to determine if it actually is really as bad as you're making yourself feel it to be. The last thing you would want to do is jump ship only to discover that you've landed somewhere worse and when you're frequently focusing on the negative, it is easy to build up that feeling instead of what's right about your role. Often when people evaluate the job they're in, they can discover that it is often just enjoying being on holiday and the dread of going back to the daily routine that fills them with horror more than the actual job itself. However, should you come up with a list of cons that outweigh the pros, then perhaps it is time to look at other opportunities.

Update The CV
Your CV is the #1 tool used to sell yourself into a new role so it makes sense to spend significant time and energy in getting it right. When you approach updating your CV, ask yourself, 'how do I know I've been successful?' which you can use to document your achievements. Most people won't spend more than a few minutes looking over your CV so if the information they want to see doesn't jump out to them in that time, you won't get a look in. Keep the design clean with the information easy to see. If you've been working for some time, place your employment history before your education and ensure you always go from the most recent back. A quick Google search will bring up many worthwhile articles on updating your CV so do a little research first to ensure you create a masterpiece.

Of course, your Folio is a whole other story and you can find articles on how to maintain your folio here.

Talk To Your Consultant
Give your friendly Artisan consultant a call and feel free to chat with them about what you're looking for. In fact, your Artisan consultant can be helpful in the previous two steps, giving you up to date industry trends and feedback on updating your CV, so a phone call in is always going to be worth the time. Have an idea of what you would like to move to next as your Artisan consultant is well networked and may be able to present you to your dream employer on your behalf. Who knows? With many employers having their head space in 'recovery mode', the timing of your call might be just perfect for landing that job you've always wanted.