Blue Monday blues? It might be time for a career change

Reportedly the most depressing day of the year, Blue Monday typically falls on the third Monday of January and is said to be the result of the festive come-down and the reality of returning to work. Did you find yourself groaning about another Monday in the office this morning? Chances are, Blue Monday is not to blame. Have you considered that maybe it’s time for a career change?

If it isn’t work that’s getting you down, Dr Cliff Arnall (the psychologist behind the original study that highlighted Blue Monday as the most depressing day of the year) has some top tips for increasing motivation and happiness at this time of the year.

·      Be your authentic self – stop pretending to be somebody that you’re not. Embrace your real personality and your true hopes and dreams, and live your authentic life. If this means giving up your day job and pursuing your childhood dreams, then so be it. Don’t squash yourself into a predetermined mould.

·      Get rid of toxic people – negative people bringing you down? Then it is time to remove them from your life. While we may feel we are harsh cutting out toxic people from our lives, it is better for our wellbeing in the long run. Positivity and encouragement are key from friends and family.

·      Simply decide and choose to be happy – a favourite quote from the famous bard, “Tis nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so” – Shakespeare. Take charge of your thoughts. Happiness is not something to be found or to be sought after. You just decide and take action.

·      Understand your goals – Dr Cliff Arnall advises a little bit of self-reflection and forward thinking - sit down with a piece of paper and title it “I choose to…”. Follow it up with goals you want to achieve throughout the year, whether this will be to learn a new sport or travel to your dream destination. While these may seem similar to New Year’s Resolutions, heading the sheet with a self-declaration enables you to take responsibility for your actions, motivating you to really take them forward in the following year.

Speaking to the BBC in 2012, Arnall said he was keen to use the day as a “springboard into looking at what actually matters in our lives”, a sentiment that aligns perfectly with reassessing your work-life balance. Do you need a career change? Does work fulfil you as a person? Are you suppressing a life’s dream that you’ve always wanted to pursue? Instead of accepting Blue Monday as the most depressing day of the year, why not use it as an excuse to start pushing yourself to achieve what you’ve always wanted?

While many feel it’s too late to switch directions, with the proper coaching and industry expertise, it is entirely possible to achieve your dreams. As part of the Baker Coaching New Years resolution, we have created a new online career coaching package called ‘Project Star’. This is an engaging and thorough career coaching programme that operates on a three step basis, guiding you through who you really are as a person, what career change would fulfil you fully and how to go about getting there. If you are looking to Explore, Dream and Discover a new year in 2016 why not get in touch so you can be part of this new programme when it launches towards to the end of this month.

Don’t box yourself in and sell yourself short – harness the Blue Monday buzz and get in touch today about maximising your career change potential. Call 01638 751087, email jennifer@jenniferbakercoach.co.uk.

Read more...

Hundreds of Applications and No Interview? Here’s How To Get A Job

Submitted hundreds of applications and had no success? Been told ‘thanks, but no thanks’ one too many times? Whatever it is, something in your job application process may need to change. Here are some top tips on how to maximise your opportunity and increase your chances of securing an interview.

Utilise Social Media

Don’t shy away from social media – embrace the digital age and utilise its potential. If you don’t already have one, set up a professional LinkedIn account, and if you do have one, take some time to bolster your details with case studies and examples of your work.  Ask respected colleagues for genuine recommendations and make sure you return the compliment. Without stalking people seek out good connections within your desired industry and don’t be too shy to say hello. Join groups within your targeted sector and join in the discussions and start creating dialogues. Proactively post comments on interesting articles. Find companies you’re interested in and Follow them. LinkedIn is made for making connections, so get linking.

Create a Professional Blog

Think blogging is just for budding journalists or the fashion savvy? Think again. A good professional blog can showcase not only your interests within your industry’s arena, but also your knowledge through detailed case studies of what you’ve already achieved. The content posted on your blog can also be pushed out via LinkedIn, offering ample opportunity for leaders in your sector to interact and be impressed.

Find a Good Recruitment Company

Take the time to seek out a good recruitment company that will serve your best interests, and not just routinely process you with faceless online forms and automated emails. Find a company that excels within your industry to make the most of their existing contacts. Be sure the recruitment company you choose is putting as much effort into finding you a job as you are.

Target Specific Managers

Out-dated and generic – ‘To Whom It May Concern’ may be killing your application before it has even begun. Take the time to identify the specific manager who you’d be working under and address them directly in a personalised and tailored covering letter. Do some research into their on-going work and generate a current conversation – something they’d be interested in following up on.

Read more...