Since the idea of Blue Monday was first launched as a marketing ploy back in 2005, much has been made of the third Monday in January being the most depressing day of the year. Christmas is almost forgotten, New Year’s resolutions have already been broken, and the coldest, bleakest winter months still have some way to go.
However, the tide is turning on Blue Monday, and it is increasingly being seen as a truly positive time of year, when people are spurred on to take positive steps to improve their career, their work/life balance and their health and wellbeing. Here are a few thoughts on making this day a springboard for positive change.
Take stock
This is a good time to take an objective look at how things are going. As an employer, you may wish to examine the structure of your team, how each member is doing, and whether any change in leadership approach might be helpful. Would some training benefit individuals, or the team as a whole? Are you about to lose a team member? Do you need a like for like replacement, or someone with a completely different take on the job?
As an employee, have you outgrown your role, or do you need some training to help you excel at it? Do you love your job? Are you ready for the next challenge? It could be that the next challenge is with your current employer, so it’s a good idea to have a chat with your line manager to discover whether you can advance your career without changing employer. If not, it may be time to look for a new opportunity.
Find a new job – or a new team member
Being in a role you’ve outgrown can be very frustrating, but Blue Monday is actually a great time to start looking for a new one. Many employers wait until the New Year before advertising a position, but a great many candidates also choose January to start job hunting, so competition can be keen. With many great minds thinking alike, it is a good idea to team up with a recruitment consultant. After all, matching the ideal candidate with the right role is what we do best.
We not only advise candidates on how to apply for vacancies and prepare for interviews, we also help employers to craft job descriptions which attract those ideal candidates. Often, when an employer comes to us for help, we know instantly that one of our current candidates would be perfect for them – if not, we know how to attract new candidates. Similarly, if you’ve registered with us as a candidate, we can identify which vacancies would suit you down to the ground. As a result, some of these vacancies never actually reach the job boards as we’re able to match them with candidates straight away, which shortens the process for everyone.
Update your skills
This may mean learning a new skill, or moving to a more advanced level with an existing one. January often brings special offers for training courses, with some amazing bargains to be had. If you have felt in the past that a lack of training has held you back, have a chat with your line manager and see if they will help you embark on some more training. Many courses can now be completed remotely, and this often brings down the cost. Don’t forget to add your new skill to your CV – it may make all the difference in your next appraisal, or your next job search.
Updating your CV and your LinkedIn profile is a must. Many people only do this when looking for a new job, but updating regularly not only lets you monitor your own progress, but, on LinkedIn especially, it could signal to a prospective employer that you’re someone who takes their work seriously, and that’s always attractive!
If you are looking for a change, or a new member of your team, we can help. You can visit our jobs board here, or register as a candidate here. You can also give us a call on 01245 362500 or send us an email at info@pursuitgroup.co.uk.
We’re here to help.
Every Monday can be a great day!