Questions To Ask Yourself Monday Morning To Advance Your Career

It’s a Monday morning, and you are taking your place at your desk, turning on the usual equipment and reviewing your plans for the day. A thought enters your head, Am I on auto pilot or why have I become a creature of habit?

How you start the morning sets the tone for the rest of your day, which is why the morning is a perfect time to pause and reflect on your life and indeed choice of career.

Are you asking the right questions?

Ask yourself; What did I learn yesterday and is there the potential to learn something new today? If the answer is a resounding No, maybe it’s time to ask another question.

Should I be looking at new roles? and if so, what type of role should I apply for?

What not to do!!

Job searching can be tough enough all by itself. There is no need to make it even harder by doing or saying the wrong thing. Being strategic about your job hunt can re-invigorate you and give you the motivation to keep going. Below are my top 8 things you shouldn’t do when you are job searching;

1. Typos. Should a typo in your CV or cover letter drop you out of contention? It shouldn’t, but, it might. Employers typically get hundreds of resumes for each position they list. Perfection counts.
2. Job Search Only Online. Do not apply for all roles that appear on the job boards. Don’t hope that your email In Box will start to fill up or your phone will start ringing off the hook. It won’t happen. You need to be proactive when job searching and use all available job search resources – online and offline.
3. Synopsis of suitability: Do not send a CV without articulating suitability for the advertised job.
4. Don’t have a Linked In Profile: This is affectively an online CV. More and more employers are using Social Media to recruit talent. Don’t limit your chances.
5. Insult your Former Employer. Even if your last job was horrible and your boss was an idiot, don’t mention it. Speaking poorly about former employers is never wise. How does your future employer know that you won’t talk about him that way, next time around?
6. Underdo It. Don’t be a slob. Candidates who are unkempt, disheveled and poorly dressed won’t get the job.
7. Show Your Desperation. Are you almost out of a job? Don’t know where you next meal is coming from?  Don’t give an inkling of any of that away. You want employers to believe that you want this job for no other reason than because it’s a good opportunity and you can be an asset to the company.
8. Give Up. Regardless of how good the job market is, job searching isn’t simple, and it’s not always easy to stay positive and focused. When you’ve sent hundreds of resumes without much of a response it can be difficult to keep going. It’s important though to keep plugging away, to use all the job search tools available, and to keep a positive outlook.

What you should do!!

1. Speak to the company  or agency such as CareerWise with regards to the requirements of the job.
2. Understand exactly what they require, do not waste your time or theirs unless you have the skills, experience and education to perform the role.
3. Mentally prepare yourself for change and consider that sometimes you may have to dip out of your comfort zone to reach your full potential.
4. Only apply for the role if you are committed to change and if the location is of interest to you.

What do you do if you are offered a role?

1. Carefully consider the offer, and understand what the role consists of.
2. Read the contract and make sure that you are in fact progressing your career.
3. Do not take a drop in salary or in benefits as you may not recoup anytime soon.
4. If you are happy, sign the contract and set yourself some goals in the new role.

Finally

Never be presurrised into making a decision, it’s your future, make sure that your decision is progressive and will add value to you and your family in the future.

Article by: Tom Devaney (CareerWise Recruitment)

Joe Robbins

(Director) BBS (Hons), MBPICS – Shannon Office

Joe Robbins is co-founder of CareerWise Recruitment. A graduate of the University of Limerick (Degree in Business Studies, 1985), Joe worked in the UK for five years where he specialised in materials management, production management and plant management for a number of companies.

He returned to Ireland in 1992 to become Operations Manager for a Cork-based start-up, FMC Automotive Division which was subsequently taken over by Snap-on Equipment. Joe managed the business re-location of this company to Shannon in 1997 before setting up CareerWise Recruitment in 1999.

He is a committee member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Mid-West region, and a former Director and Vice President of the Shannon Chamber of Commerce. Joe is former Chairperson of the Sixmilebridge Camogie Club and current Chairperson of the Clare County Camogie Board.

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