New year, new start?

 12 Jan 2023

The festive holidays are more often than not a good chance to draw breath and think clearly for perhaps the first time in ages. Life and work have a habit of being a bit of a hamster wheel and it’s not until you have the chance to get off it for a few days that the fogs starts to lift, and fresh thoughts can form in your mind.

Although every day of the year brings a new dawn with the opportunity to start over, we symbolically take the chimes of Big Ben at midnight on New Year’s Eve as our trigger to dust off the old and bring in the new.

What do you want out of 2023?

Have you thought much about your goals and aspirations for the coming year? Could a career change be right for you perhaps…?

That sinking feeling

The first potential red flag to note is how you felt about going back to work after Christmas and the New Year. Did the thought of returning to the office at the start of January fill you with dread? If so, maybe it’s time to re-evaluate and look for something that is going to inspire you and make you want to jump out of bed every morning.

If your chosen vocation still makes you happy normally, then maybe it was just some post festive blues or the wintry mornings that have got you feeling a bit out of sorts; it happens to all of us. However, if the dread continues every Sunday in anticipation of the week ahead, or worse still, every morning, then alarm bells should be ringing, and not just on your bedside table.

A new challenge

When we’re growing and learning, we gain an extra zest for life that we can’t achieve when we just stand still. Being around new people, mastering new skills etc. adds that ‘je ne sais quoi’ to our core sense of wellbeing and general satisfaction.

A change of scene may be all we need to reinvigorate us.  

Get some support

It’s a good idea to speak to those you trust professionally, canvas opinion and seek advice, whether from a coach, friend or specialist recruiter. Bounce your ideas around, make lists of what you want and, equally importantly, what you don’t want, and see what your gut is telling you.

Balance

We have come a long way in a short time on redressing the balance between our work and home lives. There is much greater understanding from employers now than ever before on the importance of getting the mix right. Many firms are proactive in their efforts to make the wellbeing of their staff a priority, and actively look to accommodate personal responsibilities outside of the office. If your current employer is not one of those firms, frankly, you could do better.

Remuneration

With the cost of living crisis upon us, we want to make sure we are being appropriately remunerated for our work. The tax market has witnessed significant wage inflation post pandemic, in part to meet increasing demand for tax services from clients, but also to address the shortage of good quality tax talent.

Job rich tax market

The tax recruitment market has been consistently busy over recent years and there is continued high demand for tax professionals.

The new year has brought another surge of new tax vacancies so, if you’re thinking about a fresh start, there is plenty of choice.

It’s natural to feel some trepidation when considering a big life change, whether it be something professional or personal. However, when we align with opportunities that feel right and match our values, we are more inspired, motivated and fulfilled. Anything and everything that adds to our happiness in this life is a win.  

There’s no-one else quite like you. And whatever you decide to do this year for your own good, remember that you’re worth it!