Make 2015 a year for action

Whether you’re satisfied in your career or looking for something better, make the New Year a time for action, and here's how to do it.

The New Year is here, and many of us have already drawn up our list of New Year’s resolutions. Losing weight, exercising more and even making new friends are popular pledges to begin the year.

But what about improving your career? If you’re satisfied looking back at your career in 2014, you might enter 2015 on a good trajectory and be tempted to sit tight. But whether you’re satisfied in your career or looking for something better, make the New Year a time for action. The career experts at Bayt.com have compiled a list of the top five career resolutions that you need to make this year:

Know what skills are in demand

Each year, Bayt.com conducts studies to determine areas where there is a growing gap in the number of employees needed to fill new job openings. Based on data from its Middle East Job Index Survey of July 2014, employers in the Middle East are looking for candidates who have good communication skills in Arabic and English (62 per cent); who are team players (49 per cent); and have good leadership skills (47 per cent). In terms of experience, candidates who have the ability to manage a team (42 per cent); who have computer skills (31 per cent); and have worked in sales and marketing (30 per cent) are the most sought-after. The same survey also projects a current and upcoming need for accountants (16 per cent); sales managers (14 per cent); HR professionals (14 per cent); and project managers (14 per cent). Use these sources to find out if the need for your skills is growing or shrinking, and adapt your career plans accordingly.

Update your CV

Keeping your CV updated is important for several reasons. For one, if a recruiter or a friend-of-a-friend calls out of the blue with a great job opportunity, you’re going to want to have it ready to go. It’s also a lot easier to update your accomplishments periodically when they’re fresh in your mind. The Bayt.com Modern Job Search in the Mena poll of November 2013 goes into detail on what the ideal CV looks like for employers in the Middle East and North Africa region. In terms of length, a short and concise CV that is no longer than one page is the preferred format for the majority of respondents (42.5 per cent). Experience is considered to be the most-important element in a CV (25 per cent), followed by skills (19 per cent). Less important are education at 10 per cent, a career objective statement at 7 per cent, and lastly any awards, badges and endorsements – all at 6 per cent.

And while you’re getting your CV in shape, go through the rest of your documents too – refresh your portfolio, edit your online profile and create a personal list of accomplishments – a running tally that you don’t hand out, but that would come in handy as talking points in cover letters and interviews. Also, send your references a note to say hello and make sure you have their updated contact information.

Expand your network

Contrary to popular belief, the best time to network isn’t when you’re looking for a job – it’s long before that. In fact, having a broad, diverse network already in place will make the job search that much easier. Like sales, networking comes easily to some people and is excruciating for others. The good news is that online networking sites have become a common ground for keeping in touch and reconnecting with peers, colleagues and potential employers. If you’re introverted and it’s easier for you to network online, then use these tools to your advantage. For those who prefer face-to-face interactions, set up networking meetings or informational interviews to learn more about a certain organisation, technology, or different industries and functions. Just make sure, no matter the networking road you take, always remember it’s a two-way street – give people something of value in return for their time and goodwill.

Create more time for work-life balance

Getting in shape is not about being a size zero or having six-pack abs; it is about being healthy and strong and building your immune system. And yes, good health and a good work-life balance lead to better productivity. In our Work-life Balance in the Mena poll of September 2012, we discovered that Mena professionals are keen on maintaining a healthy work-life balance. In fact, 26.9 per cent of the polled professionals believe that their poor work-life balance has jeopardised both their mental health and happiness, and a staggering 64.8 per cent of them would even accept a pay cut to have more free time on their job. To sustain peak performance over the long term and avoid stress and burnout, you need to eat well, sleep well and try to squeeze some exercise into your routine on a regular basis.

Save more money

No job is totally secure, and in today’s job market it makes a lot of sense not to be reckless with your spending habits. So whatever your income level, always aim to put a fraction away for a rainy day. According to our Salary Survey 2014, 36 per cent of Mena professionals did not save any percentage of their monthly income in 2014.

Those are our top five career resolutions for this year. Choose a couple or resolve to do them all – we guarantee you’ll set yourself up for success in 2015.

Lama Ataya heads the marketing department at Bayt.com and within that role is also responsible for communications, content, community experience, and corporate social responsibility.