Member Article

New Year, New Career

Chris Sultman, Director at CDS Recruitment, responds to the positive news that the manufacturing sector is improving and shares his tips for people looking for a new challenge in the sector in 2017.

There have been a lot of positive growth indicators for the manufacturing sector within the North East recently and research by the employer’s organisation EEF and business advisory firm BDO LLP indicates regional manufacturers will benefit from a much-improved boost to output and orders at the start of the New Year.

The survey suggests the region is leading the country in creating new jobs. This is a positive message especially in light of recent anxiety surrounding BREXIT and the potential impact on the economy.

The Christmas and New Year period tends to be a time of reflection and with this often comes thoughts on new challenges or a change in direction for many people.

If you do decide as a result to pursue new opportunities in January it is important to carefully evaluate exactly what it is that you want from your next role and identify priorities in terms of what you are looking to achieve.

To help with this here are a few tips to help you through the recruitment process.

Travel – Geography often restricts opportunities that you can consider and reducing the commuting time is often a strong factor in deciding what roles to take. Whilst this is a key consideration it is worth thinking whether a longer commute or relocation is right in achieving the position or type of company that you would like to work for.

Research - Invest time in fully assessing prospective employers by researching their website and press section to gain an insight into growth plans and company performance.

Values – Ensure the company’s values and ideals reflect your own. While salary and job title are important factors people also want a good work-life balance, high level of job satisfaction and to be proud of where they work. Examine their Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR) policies and activities.

CVs – Your CV reflects you as a candidate and sells your skills and achievements to prospective employers. To ensure it does this effectively you need to make sure that it appeals to the reader in terms of being well-spaced out, detailed and easy to digest. Avoid text boxes and tables that make it difficult for database tools to extract key information that is used for searching. Make sure that you review spelling and grammar, first impressions make a lasting impact.

Communications – Have a dedicated email address for jobs and CV correspondence and make sure it sounds professional (name@, jobs@ etc) rather than a nickname. Also, if you are interested in applying for a position, follow your submission up with a call. It is the best way for a recruiter or employer to understand why you are or aren’t suitable.

In an interview situation be personable and try to develop a relationship. Remember, people may forget what you said to them but they will always remember how you made them feel!

January is an exciting time for people looking for a change or to re-energise their careers. Taking the right steps during your search will allow you to achieve your goals.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by CDS Recruitment .