OUT with the old, in with the new job.
Two-thirds of us will be seeking a job, or a better job, as our New Year resolution for 2020 according to a study by online jobs board CV Library. The next most popular resolutions were to manage money better and to lose weight.
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To help with the job hunt, employment minister Mims Davies has a message for Sun readers.
She says: “I know lots of people will have made it a New Year’s resolution to change careers, bag a promotion or nab a new role. Now is the perfect time to help people get ready for that next step.”
So with five days still to go until the new decade, we asked Jobcentre Plus managers Julia Nix and
Joanne Crentsil for their tops tips to get you ahead . . .
Keep your CV updated: Use your time over Christmas to bring your CV up to date and ensure you tailor it to the job you want. Employers will decide whether to ask you for an interview based solely on your CV, so it’s important that it does you justice.
Log your good work: We all have skills employers are looking for. They don’t have to be from a previous job either. If you’ve just left education, you will have organised your time to meet deadlines. If you have a hobby, you may have displayed communication skills or the ability to learn new things. Volunteering is also a great thing to put on a CV or talk about with an employer.
Turn negatives to positives: Demonstrate you have learned where a task or project hasn’t gone to plan. Sometimes being open about this benefits you in the long run. Don’t dwell on it, though — quickly move on to your strengths.
Do your research:A favourite question from employers is: “What do you know about us?” Make sure you do your research. It can give you a little insight into the job role, the company ethos, even just the size of the team you would be joining. It proves you are interested in them and the work.
Get support: Don’t feel like finding a job is something you have to do on your own. If you use your local jobcentre, there are many different routes available to you, like gaining experience through short work placements or going through a sector-based work academy.
BE ACCOUNTABLE
ACCOUNTANCY giant BDO is hiring 500 new entry-level employees next year.
The trainee positions are for both apprentices and graduates aged 18 and over.
There are also a further 100 internships and summer school positions open to Year 12 students. Graduate roles are open to those with a 2:2 qualification or above, while apprentices need three A-levels at A* to C and nine to four in maths and English at GCSE.
Managing partner Paul Eagland says: “BDO has continued to develop its recruitment strategy to attract a diverse, dynamic and forward-thinking cohort of trainees who will be advisers of the future.”
You can apply now at bdoearlyincareer.co.uk.
Join the clubs
PREMIER League clubs were the employers most people hoped to score with in 2019.
Careers platform LinkedIn found footie jobs dominated the top 25 most-viewed vacancies in the past 12 months.
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Roles including relationship manager at Manchester United, duty operations manager for Tottenham Hotspur and business strategy analyst at Arsenal topped the list.
Another popular ad was Mark Carney’s replacement as the Governor of the Bank of England. And hundreds of thousands viewed Love Island’s Head of Client Partnerships role.
LinkedIn’s Darain Faraz says: “There aren’t many situations where you find the Governor of the Bank of England listed alongside roles at Love Island.”
GO IN FOR THE SKILL AT WORK
NINE in ten firms struggled to fill vacancies this year as they were unable to find staff with the right skills.
Here skills expert Byron Nicolaides, founder and CEO of PeopleCert, explains how to improve yours in 2020.
He says: “If you have the right skills, you will stand a much better chance in terms of career progression.”
- Assess your own skills gap. Work out which ones you have currently and the skills you will need to step up.
- Work out the quickest way to plug the skills gap. Does your employer offer courses? Does work you do count towards a professional qualification? You might be closer than you think to your next step.
- Follow the demand. The biggest gap globally is between the demand and supply of candidates with high-level ICT skills. There are always roles available in software development, digital marketing and cyber security.
- Not all skills come with a certificate. Managers are increasingly looking for candidates with “soft skills”, including creativity, critical thinking and problem solving.
- Consider going freelance. In the US over a third of the workforce is freelance. Working on multiple projects can help you upskill quicker.
- Reskill even if you don’t want to move jobs. It’s in your own best interests to push yourself to gain qualifications you need so you are seen as an expert in your chosen field.
Jobspot
- PLAY a blinder by landing a new job at GAME. There are 16 on offer, including store managers and assistant managers. For details, see jobs.game.co.uk/search
- PIZZA chain FRANCO MANCA has UK-wide vacancies for kitchen porters, pizza chefs and waiters. Find your job at jobs.francomanca.co.uk.
