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How to take your first steps towards a career change

15 Jan 2021

Hoping to switch things up this year but don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered.

January can be a daunting month. It might feel like everyone around you has returned from the festive season with plenty of new goals and career changes planned for 2021.

If you are hoping for a change but don’t know where to start, here are some stories that could help guide your first step – however small it may be.

You might be hoping to secure a higher salary. If so, it’s a good idea to keep yourself updated on what other companies are currently offering in your industry.

A handy resource here is Matrix Recruitment’s new salary guide, which was published earlier this week. It predicts that people working in financial services could be looking at slight pay increases in 2021, while the averages in other fields, such as IT and manufacturing, will likely stay the same.

Maybe your current employer won’t be in a position to make you a better offer and you’ll have to look elsewhere. Sites like Great Place to Work and Glassdoor are a good starting point if you’re keen to learn more about different companies.

Just this week, Glassdoor revealed its Best Places to Work in 2021 for Canada, France, Germany, the UK and the US. Some of the highest-rated firms included Salesforce, SAP, Siemens Healthineers and Sanofi.

There were also a couple of jobs announcements this week that could be worth checking out.

Lahinch’s HRLocker said it will more than double its workforce with 50 new jobs across sales, software development and customer support. In Dublin, e-scooter start-up Zipp Mobility will also be hiring for at least 30 new people as it expands its micromobility fleet.

Another year of transformation

Whether you’re seeking out something new or not this year, it looks as though working life will continue to change regardless.

As the pandemic presses on and companies keep adapting, it is expected that digital transformation will carry on at pace. We heard from someone working in the thick of it – Stuart Larner who is a digital accelerator at PwC Ireland.

As working from home also continues, your remote management skills might be due a refresh. This checklist from Hays’ Nick Deligiannis gives an overview of what to focus on, from the technology you choose to how you practise inclusive leadership.

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Lisa Ardill
By Lisa Ardill

Lisa Ardill joined Silicon Republic as senior careers reporter in July 2019. She has a BA in neuroscience and a master’s degree in science communication. She is also a semi-published poet and a big fan of doggos. Lisa briefly served as Careers Editor at Silicon Republic before leaving the company in June 2021.

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