Hate your job and want a fresh start? Follow our experts’ guide and make your dream job a reality in 2017

THE January jobs rush is almost upon us and so is the race to bag your dream career.

Many of us dread returning to the daily grind after the Christmas break – and it shows.

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Resignations and online job searches are at their highest next month, with many setting resolutions to finally pursue a new career – even if they don’t leave as dramatically as Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire.

The thought of starting again may be daunting. But whether you want to set up your own business, switch industries or just update your CV, we’ve got the advice for you.

Here, our experts guide you through each step.

Listen to all the feedback

APPRENTICE finalist and Founder of The Be Group BIANCA MILLER has teamed up with Microsoft Office to launch the #My365 campaign which aims to inspire people to set up a business in 15 days.

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Here she gives her tips on getting your business off the ground.

1. Invest in the right technology: Setting yourself up with a laptop, phone, internet connection and software is crucial.
2. Create a business plan: Research the idea. Who are your customers? Where will they find you and how much are they willing to spend? Who are your competitors and how do you differ?
3. Plan your finances: Create two spreadsheets – a Personal ­Survival Budget, which documents how much you personally will need, and a Business Only spreadsheet to work out your monthly costs.
   Plan for the next 12-18 months and work out how you will raise the finance.
4. Start selling and get some feedback: Negative feedback helps you improve, while positive feedback tells you what you are doing well. So listen!

Freshen up that CV now

CLAIRE HARVEY, senior divisional director for REED North, reveals why you should update your CV before the January rush. Here are her tips.

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1. Perfect your CV now: If looking for a new opportunity in 2017, act now and focus on updating this year’s achievements.
   More and more employers are looking for people with good cross-functional skills, so showing you are a key team member is vitally important.
2. Search-engine friendly: LinkedIn and other social media platforms are big players.
   Consider this when writing your CV and make sure you can be found by employers looking on the internet.
   Job titles won’t tell the story of your career and skills, so you will have to.
3. Showcase skills: Highlight key areas of experience and expertise to stand out.
   An employer wants to know the results you’ve achieved from your experience and how it can benefit them.
4. Be honest: I cannot stress this enough. Simply changing your job role or grades can be classed as fraud and send your application into disrepute. Employers do check.

Consider an internship

SHAUN THOMSON is the CEO of Sandler Training in the UK.

Here he reveals how to make your career change a success.

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1. Challenge yourself: Be sure about the real reasons you want to leave. You must be absolutely clear about your goals and the sacrifices required to get there.
2. Identify transferable skills: If your career dream passes the realism and passion tests, identify any existing skills that will be useful, such as personnel management and problem solving.
   If you can demonstrate that, you will stand out from the competition.
3. Ask your boss: Before you start applying for new roles, check to see if there are any new opportunities where you already work.
   Employers always respect ambitious, focused individuals.
4. Get your foot in the door: Doing an internship or signing up for a trainee role may mean making a sacrifice when it comes to your salary, but it will get you over the first hurdle, allow you to get a foot in the door and help you to start climbing the ranks.

Whatever your age, life is too precious to waste it in a job you don’t enjoy

HANS SCHUMANN is a life coach and author of Falling In Love With Your Job.

Here are his tips on career change.

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1. It’s never too late to change: Whatever your age, life is too precious to waste it in a job you don’t enjoy.
2. But get your “why” right: What are you looking for in a new career? Would it be enough to change jobs, or are you thinking about a new line of work altogether?
   The answers you come up with will help you plan your next move.
3. Do your research: Find out as much as you can about your possible new career.
   Is the grass really greener on the other side?
4. Get support: A mentor already established in your new profession could be a great asset.
   He or she would share their expertise and help you create a strategy for switching careers.
   If you don’t know anybody suitable, try LinkedIn or Google mentorship programmes you might qualify for.
5. You could also hire a career coach to support you with your transition.

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AT YOUR SERVICE

MORE than half of Brits would back voluntary national service as the Government launches a review into the issue.

The Full Time Social Action Review, announced today, will consider whether the Government should encourage more young people to do a “year of service”, mirroring schemes in the US, Germany and France.

The poll, commissioned by City Year UK, showed that 55 per cent of 16 to 25-year-olds and parents aged 40 to 60 would back a scheme, with only 8.8 per cent against the idea.

Sophie Livingstone, boss of City Year UK, said: “Our polling shows an appetite for bringing back a recognised programme of voluntary National Service from not only young people, but their parents too.”

CRUNCH TIME TO QUIT

NEARLY three quarters of employees have fantasised about dramatically quitting their job – with 26 per cent saying it’s a regular occurrence.

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A study commissioned by Crunch Accounting found that 10.3million workers – 32.5 per cent of the UK’s workforce – are considering moving on, but most will hang on until January 31 before handing in their notice.

Bad bosses topped the list of reasons why people want to go (46 per cent). Lousy pay, stress and the daily commute all ranked highly too.

Around one in five (18 per cent) of Brits are ­quitting to start a new business, while 43 per cent can’t bear the thought of another year at work.

Darren Fell, CEO of Crunch Accounting, said: “It’s that time of year when people draw up their plans for New Year resolutions – and it looks like a career change is high on the list.”

BOOM IN GOING IT ALONE

BUDDING entrepreneurs have set up more than 95,000 businesses in the last five years – with the support of a scheme designed to boost innovation.

The new ventures have been launched through the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) across a wide range of industries and sectors.

Jobseekers who want to start their own firm can access government funding and on-going expertise from dedicated mentors through the scheme.

Employment Minister Damian Hinds said: “Hardworking people who run their own firms have played their part in our employment success story this year. I’m delighted the New Enterprise Allowance is continuing to support those who have the get-up-and-go to launch their own business.”

GETTING IT WRONG AT WORK

ONE in five employees are terrified of making a mistake in the workplace.

Research by independent job site CV-Library found that of those affected, a third believe these fears have impacted their career, while a similar number have suffered from anxiety.

The biggest workplace fear was making a mistake (20%), followed by public speaking (18.4 per cent) and not meeting deadlines (13 per cent).

CV-Library’s MD Lee Biggins said: “It’s concerning to learn that so many of the nation’s professionals are affected by workplace fears, and these are having a negative impact on their career progression.

“That workers are turning down good opportunities, or not applying, is alarming.”