While many employees have been enjoying working from home and others have been keen to get back into the workplace, now is the time to think about the next stages.

You might have already returned to work in a workplace that looks very different, or perhaps you’re still working from home. Whatever your situation, the reality is that as we move forwards, your working life will be different from the one you left in March.

This can throw up all kinds of questions as to what the future holds.

You will be considering the future of your career, your current workplace, and how to navigate this workplace in the coming weeks and months.

Returning to work in a place that looks different might be a challenge at first, but there are ways to familiarise yourself and feel in control.

In today’s article, we look at the key areas employees must consider right now and as we go forward.

Your Employer’s Future

The first thing you must consider is your employer’s position. The pandemic has changed many businesses, and while some have remained relatively untouched, others have faced significant difficulties.

Your employer should have been keeping you informed in terms of returning to work, restructuring and redundancies, but of course, this is not always the case.

If it is clear that your current organisation will be making cuts, you must ascertain where you stand with your manager. It might be an uncomfortable conversation to have, but you must plan for your future.

If we do enter a recession, for every business that makes redundancies, others will be hiring. If you find yourself in a position where you will need to look for a new job, upskilling and demonstrating your skills will be crucial – I will talk about this more later.

Next, let’s look at how to manage your career in the coming months.

Advancing Your Career

The next few months will be critical in many people’s careers. As the job market shifts to adapt to the new economic changes, there will be a mixture of challenges and opportunities. If your role is secure and your organisation is in the position for you to return working as usual, then nothing should change.

In this case, your priorities should be working alongside your employer to get back to speed, get used to working in your socially distanced office and demonstrating your key skills.

In times of significant change, this is an excellent opportunity to prove your skills to your current employer, and develop your skills thinking about future opportunities.

Stepping up to help management, taking on additional roles and overcoming challenges posed by COVID-19 will all be great additions to your CV when the time comes to move on.

However, if upon returning, you realise that your role or your workplace is not conducive with your career goals, it might be time to think about moving to one that is.

A Change of Role?

Think back to before the pandemic – where were you in terms of advancing your career? The outbreak stopped everyone in their tracks, but there will no doubt have been employees who were considering, or even applying for new roles. With recruitment freezes in many organisations, your career plans might have been put on hold.

If the same career opportunities aren’t available anymore, what does that mean for you?

Returning to your role and finding those previous opportunities are no longer there can be a shock, but it is key to weigh up the pros and cons of this.

Yes, you might have envisaged being in your current role for many years to come, but instead, focus on how a move to a different position will be even more beneficial to you.

In times where organisations are making cutbacks, you might feel as though looking for a new job will be a difficult task. However, many organisations are continuing to thrive, and while some are making redundancies, others are recruiting in numbers – the key to navigating this job market is upskilling.

Upskilling

Now is the time to amplify your critical skills and become more attractive to employers. As I mentioned earlier, taking on additional responsibilities is a great way to do this. Additionally, consider the following –

• Find a way to adapt old working practices to fit in with life post-COVID-19. Are there changes you can make to the workplace or your processes that will make life more manageable for everyone?
• Be proactive and set your objectives if old ones are out of date and your manager has not discussed new ones with you. What are your new goals for the next three months?
• Overcommunicate and be hyper-aware of problems in your workplace. There will likely be teething problems from the recent changes; how can you apply yourself to solve these problems?
• Take additional courses, either provided by your employer or online. Online courses have seen a surge in uptake since the start of lockdown – if others are upskilling themselves, don’t get left behind.

Your role after lockdown might be very different from what you have been used to, especially in the period as we return to the workplace and as we find a ‘new normal’.

But what is key to remember is that it is possible to keep your career progressing in the way you want. It’s about being aware of your current situation, constantly re-evaluating, and upskilling yourself as much as possible.

What Next?

If your pre-COVID-19 job is not able to provide what you need and you are looking for a new role, we can help.

We have a range of roles available, call our team on 01772 259 121 or get in contact here to discuss your career options.

About Clayton Recruitment

Clayton Recruitment has been partnering with organisations across the country since 1989, and during that time has built up an excellent reputation for trust and reliability.

With specialist divisions covering Commercial, Financial, Industrial, and Engineering appointments, on both a permanent and temporary basis. If you are looking for your next career move, we can help. Call us on 01772 259 121 or email us here.

Feeling overworked is a modern-day problem that is common in a large portion of the workforce. A recent survey found that 28% of employees felt overworked often, or very often, with 55% reporting that they feel overworked most of the time.

Additionally, a CIPD survey found that 1 in 4 employees put in at least 10 hours of overtime each week. “Great!” you might be thinking, “Overtime means extra pay!” – but what if I told you that the vast majority of overworked employees are not compensated, either fairly, or at all for their efforts.

It is this combination of being overworked and underpaid which causes stress and eventually burnout – work-related stress and anxiety now accounts for over half (57.3%) of all sick days taken in the U.K.

To avoid this, employees should be aware if their job is causing them undue stress and what to do if it is. In this article, I will share the recruiter’s guide to taking action if you are overworked and underpaid.

What Am I Worth?

Working out if you are being compensated fairly for the work you do can be tricky. If you have been in the same role or company for a while, it can be easy to accept the incremental changes to your salary and not question if you should be asking for more.

If you aren’t comfortable asking your manager right away, you can do some of your own research. If you work for a large company, take a look at the current vacancies and see what they are offering for similar roles to yours.

When you stay with the same company for a lengthy period, but your salary hasn’t changed much since your initial offering, this can be a sign that you are being underpaid.

Am I Being Asked To Take On Increased Responsibility?

A common problem in workplaces across the U.K. is that the longer employees stay with the same company, they are expected to take on more responsibilities – without any increase in salary.

As you stay and grow with the company, you will naturally learn about processes that are directly in your job description and outside of it too.

Perhaps you had to cover for a co-worker when they were on holiday; your job is in marketing, but you helped out in the accounts department, and now you help them out when they ask you because they ‘know you can’.

Often, increased responsibility comes in the form of a long-term staffing issue – either a co-worker is on long-term sick, or there is a vacancy that your employer can’t seem to fill. You and your colleagues take on the extra responsibilities at first, but these ‘extra’ responsibilities soon become the norm.

There are also physical and psychological signs to look out for which can indicate that you’re overworked; these include-

• Difficulty relaxing and ‘switching off’
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Feeling tired all the time
• Loss of interest in things outside of work
• Increase in, or loss of, appetite
• High blood pressure

Being overworked for extended periods can have significant adverse effects on your physical and mental health, and it is advisable to decrease back to your contracted hours to alleviate these effects; otherwise, issues can occur for you as time goes on.

Benefits and Perks Aren’t Everything

Many employers believe that offering generous benefits and perks is equivalent to a salary increase – and many employees agree with them.

If you prefer flexible working, a free gym membership or early finishes on Fridays over a monetary reward, then that’s great if your employer offers them.

But if you started your job thinking that the perks were a nice bonus, but you also had salary expectations which have not been met; then it becomes an issue.

If you believe that your employer is offering you extra perks to try and deflect away from the fact that they are not paying you enough, this is a sign that it’s time to act and do something about your career.

Should You Strike a Deal or Not?

If you realise that you are overworked and underpaid, you have two options; either ask for a pay rise or begin the search for a new job.

If you plan to go to your manager to discuss your situation – always go prepared.

If you are planning to ask for an increase in pay since you have taken on more responsibilities, make a list of everything extra you now do (and if possible – the time it takes to do these extra tasks) for the same salary.

You should have had a performance review in the last 12 months; admittedly, this doesn’t always happen in some organisations. If your manager gave you praise for your work during this review, you could use this as an example of your excellent performance.

What Next?

Are you overworked and underpaid? If the points raised in this article sound familiar, there is a good chance you could be.

If you want to talk to someone about your employment options and how to secure a job where you are fairly treated and compensated – get in touch with us today.

We help employees find roles where they thrive, and we only work with the highest-standard of employers in the North West.

About Clayton Recruitment

Clayton Recruitment has been partnering with organisations across the country since 1989, and during that time has built up an excellent reputation for trust and reliability.

With specialist divisions covering Commercial, Financial, Industrial, Nursing, and Engineering appointments, on both a permanent and temporary basis. If you are looking for your next career move, we can help. Call us on 01772 259 121 or email us here.

Temporary employment, or ‘temping’ is one of the fastest-growing sections on the job market – why is this?

Once considered to be only for students, or people between jobs, temp work has taken off in the last few years, as people from all sectors and at all stages in their career realise the benefits of this flexible working style.

Employees are now taking on temporary employment for a variety of reasons – to help during a career change, to fit around your studies, for flexibility when starting a family or looking after young children, or when you are looking for a more permanent job but haven’t found the right one yet.

If you have been considering temp work but aren’t sure if it’s right for you – these seven benefits of temp work should be able to help you to decide.

1. Gaining New Skills

The job market is constantly changing. Clients frequently contact us with roles which require new and emerging skills, especially in commercial divisions. To fill these roles, we need employees who love to learn new skills and are looking for a challenge.

Taking on temp work in an area that you are unfamiliar with is an excellent way to build up your skills repertoire, as increasingly, employers are looking for candidates with transferrable skills. Candidates with a broader range of skills from temping are often looked on more favourably for specific roles than candidates with a more limited skill-set due to being in the same position for many years.

2. Experience

As well as new soft and hard skills, temp work allows employees to gain new experiences, both personally and professionally.

Temp work can take you into organisations you never thought you would be a part of, and allows you to meet new people and experience different roles within different sectors. Working for a few different well-respected companies makes your CV instantly more impressive to employers.

3. Career Change

Speaking of experience, many people utilise temp work when they are in the middle of a career change. Temping is a great way to experience roles that you have you been interested in for a while, without being tied into a permanent contract.

You might find that the job or sector you thought you wanted to get into isn’t the right fit for you; likewise, you could be pleasantly surprised by a position you had not have otherwise been aware of.

4. Flexibility

Choosing temp work gives you control over your life that those in permanent positions don’t have. If you’re in a transitionary period, are figuring out what to do next, or fancy seeing more of the world – temping allows you to do this.

You decide the hours that you are available and the period that you want to work for – there are a variety of different temp contracts so you can choose one to fit your requirements.

5. A ‘Way In’

For those who are looking to get into a particular sector but have not been able to find a permanent job – temping is a great way to get your foot in the door and meet industry connections: to build your network.

Some sectors are very competitive, and with high volumes of applicants for each role, those with temp experience will have much more of a chance of being considered when a permanent position becomes available.

6. Time Out

Work-related stress and burnout are on the rise. The number of new cases of work-related stress, depression and anxiety in 2019 was 246,000 – an incidence rate of 740 per 100,000 employees.

Increasingly, people now realise the importance of managing workloads and not trying to battle on through when you are struggling.

Taking a career break from your long-term career is a great way to manage stress, and temp work can fit into this perfectly. If you decide on having a year out from your job, intending to carry on or change your role slightly when you return, taking on temporary employment is a great way to help tide you over while you figure out your plan for the future.

7. Your Rights are Covered!

Some employees are reluctant to explore temporary work as an option because they believe that temp workers are not afforded as many rights as permanent employees.

But this is not the case.

Temp workers are protected both by law and by the contracts that your recruiter negotiates with your new employer to ensure that your rights as an employee are protected and so that you are not treated any differently to permanent staff.

Finally

Have you been considering temp work? Whether you need something fast to cover a period coming up, or you are thinking about a career change and are exploring your options for the future – we can help.

We specialise in temporary contracts and have a range of positions to suit you – get in touch with our team today to find out more about the roles we have available.

About Clayton Recruitment

Clayton Recruitment has been partnering with organisations across the country since 1989, and during that time has built up an excellent reputation for trust and reliability.

With specialist divisions covering Commercial, Financial, Industrial, and Engineering appointments, on both a permanent and temporary basis. If you are looking for your next career move, we can help. Call us on 01772 259 121 or email us here.

If you would like to download our latest interview checklist, you can do so here.

The average employee will now change jobs 12 times in their working life – that’s a lot of application forms and interviews to get through.

Where do you find the time in your busy life to get ahead in your career? There are ways that you can job hunt ethically while you are in your current post, which I will cover in this article.

First of all, let’s get one thing clear – do you really want to leave your current role? Starting a job hunt because you are disgruntled with your current employer is never a good idea – what are your reasons for wanting to leave your current company?

Perhaps you haven’t been given the pay increase you were promised at your last review, or a staffing problem has meant that you are dealing with an increased workload. Talking through your issues with your line manager is always the best thing to do if you feel unhappy with the way things are working out in your current role, as problems can be solved and your employer will want to keep a current employee rather than begin the recruiting process once again, which is becoming increasingly difficult in the current skills-short job market.

However, if you are adamant that now is the time to move companies, ensuring your job hunt is conducted graciously will set you in good stead with both your current, and future employers – burning professional bridges is never a good idea.

Job hunting ethically while you are still employed signifies a big part of your personality. The fact that you are respectful to an employer and team that you have says a lot about who you are.

Increasingly, in the skills short job market, employers are looking for people who have a good attitude and respectable morals, just as much as they are looking for skills and qualifications.

Our article today discusses the ‘do’s and don’ts’ of conducting a principled job search while you are still employed.

1. Don’t – Job Search While You Are at Work

The main thing to remember when beginning your ethical job search is that even if you have mentally moved on from your current role and are wanting your next position as soon as possible, until the last moment of your employment with your current employer, you need to ensure that you fulfil all of your outstanding duties.

We understand that it can be a tumultuous time when you are preparing for a job move, and it might seem like every second counts when searching for your next role, but resist the temptation to use your working hours to search for jobs online – and applying from your work PC is a big ‘no-no’.

Do – Use your Own Time

We also understand that some of the best roles get snapped up quickly, and so it always pays to be diligent in your job search. Instead of being tempted to scan job boards on your current company time, use your lunch break to search and apply for jobs, or dedicate an hour before work to your job search.

2. Don’t – Take Too Much Time Out

Your prospective new employer will understand that you might be limited to what times and days you can arrange interviews – and if they aren’t, this is a red flag in itself over their principles. You might have no holidays left to take, and your current company might be running on a skeleton team where every absence is impactful.

If you must arrange interviews during your work time, try to give as much notice as possible – don’t leave it until the day before to ask for an ‘emergency appointment’ – keep in mind the needs of your current colleagues and the business as a whole.

Do – Schedule Interviews at a Time Convenient to You (Where Possible)

We know that it can be tricky scheduling interviews around your current work, so wherever possible ask for interviews to be arranged after work or during your lunch hour if it is possible to get there and back.

A client I recently worked with selected their final candidate based upon the fact that they rescheduled their interview because they didn’t want to let their current employer down – it proved how diligent and trustworthy he was.

3. Don’t – Post Your CV on Public Job Boards

Most online job boards have an option for you to post your CV publicly, but we suggest you refrain from doing this. You never know who might spot your CV, and your current employer might become disgruntled if word gets out that your CV has been seen and that you’re looking to leave.

Do – Tell Your Potential New Employer About Your Current Employment Situation

Apply through the private channels and ask your prospective employer to be sensitive if you think that it might cause a problem for you where you currently are; they will understand and value your honesty.

4. Don’t – Tell Your Current Colleagues About Your Plans to Leave

You might think that you’ve got a great relationship with your colleagues, but things can take a sudden turn when the question of leaving arises – we have worked with candidates for many years, and have witnessed this all too often. Sometimes it is done maliciously, sometimes it is mere office gossip, but the fact remains that you don’t want anyone to know about your plans until the deal has been sealed.

Do – Wait Until Your New Position is Finalised to Say Anything

Wait until you have signed your new contract to mention anything to your colleagues, and remember – tell your boss first before anyone else. Finding out in the corridor or at the water cooler will make you seem duplicitous – not something you want your lasting reputation to be.

Finally

Working with a recruiter is the best way to take the stress out of your new job application. They will find and arrange your interviews at a time that suits you, will sort out your references and make the entire process seamless. If you need help upgrading your job search, get in contact with us today – we can help.

About Clayton Recruitment

Clayton Recruitment has been partnering with organisations across the country since 1989 and during that time has built up an excellent reputation for trust and reliability.

With specialist divisions covering Commercial, Financial, Industrial, and Engineering appointments, on both a permanent and temporary basis. If you are looking for your next career move, we can help. Call us on 01772 259 121 or email us here.

If you would like to download our latest interview checklist, you can do so here.

Be honest – is your current accounting role fulfilling all the expectations you had when you first started?

Next big question – how long have you been in your current role despite knowing that you could be doing better elsewhere?

Quite often, great accountancy employees tell us that they have wanted to change jobs for a while, but are hesitant due to several reasons.

Becoming comfortable in a position and company you are familiar with, fear of change and not wanting to “job hop” are among some of the reasons we hear from employees who are in two minds about leaving their current role.

While leaving any job can be stressful, it is only by progressing in your accountancy career that you will be able to reach your full potential.

It is no longer frowned upon to change your role or even your entire career direction at intervals in your working life like it once was. Forbes also states that the optimum time frame to change your job should be every three to five years at least.

So, how can you tell when it’s time to change your current accountancy role for pastures new? Here are the top five reasons to consider.

1. You Aren’t Challenged Anymore

Why did you get into accountancy? Because you love the responsibility of being in charge of accounts, you are adept at crunching numbers, or you like the thrill of saving time and money that no-one else has worked out yet?

None of us want a job that is so hard that they end up being stressed, but studies show that there is a happy medium. The longer we go on in jobs that fail to challenge us – the unhappier we become.

2. To Increase Your Sector Knowledge

You might be thinking, “I like my job, I’m paid well, and I get on with my colleagues – why would I leave?” However, from a career point of view – this isn’t the best approach to consider.

In accountancy, there are a plethora of career opportunities for you to take, and settling for a role that you have grown fond of is slashing your opportunity for personal and professional development.

Even if you are an expert in your specialism, there will be challenges that a new place of work can bring. Great Accountants know that there is always more to learn. Cloud technology and mobile-based accounting platforms have continued to dominate the innovative side of the sector, and with artificial intelligence still threatening some roles, it always pays to keep ahead of the game in an ever-changing market.

3. For a Better Company

If changing jobs isn’t on your agenda, it can be hard to admit that the company you have settled for just isn’t that great.

Your boss can be impossible; there is no camaraderie between your colleagues and the tasks are unrealistic.

You would be shocked at the number of candidates we speak to who report frankly unacceptable working conditions but put up with them because they have grown so accustomed to them they believe that it’s the norm.

If you have been considering a career move to a different company for a while, speak to an accountancy recruiter, who will be able to discuss with you your career options and where they think you can go with your career in terms of a new direction or a more rewarding salary.

4. Your Values Have Changed

If you have been in the same job for more than five years, there is a good chance that you are a different person to the one that accepted this particular job.

You will have been through changes in your personal life and will have learned new things about yourself and your sector. For instance, having children naturally makes people want to slow down and consider their work/life balance.

This change becomes even more apparent when employees have been at the same company and also in the same role for years and years. It seems almost unthinkable that it was once the norm to stay with one company for the entirety of your working life.

The world of workhas changed, and it is not just considered normal, but it is actively encouraged to change your company in line with your personal values.

5. A Better Offer

And finally, I’ve saved the best for last here – the number one reason to leave your job should always be for a better offer.

That can mean a better salary or compensation package, a more prestigious company, or a new area of workthat you have always wanted to be involved with.

If you imagine your accountancy career as a line graph, the line should be steadily going upwards. This doesn’t mean that it has to be accelerated at break-neck speed, but it should always be going in the same direction – upwards.

If your accountancy career has been on the same trajectory for more than five years, it really should be time to consider your options for the future.

Finally

If you need help with your accountancy job search, get in contact with a dedicated accountancy recruiter, who will be able to go through your options with you.

About Clayton Recruitment

Clayton Recruitment has been partnering with organisations across the country since 1989 and during that time has built up an excellent reputation for trust and reliability.

With specialist divisions covering Commercial, Financial, Industrial, and Engineering appointments, on both a permanent and temporary basis. If you are looking for your next career move, we can help. Call us on 01772 259 121 or email us here.

If you would like to download our latest interview checklist, you can do so here.

Are you preparing for an upcoming accountancy interview? Would you like to know the common questions that come up time and again?

When preparing for any interview, it helps to have some insider knowledge on what types of questions typically come up. Having in-depth recruitment knowledge at our disposal here at Clayton Recruitment based on over 30 years experience, we share the most common accountancy interview questions. Read on to find out which questions accountancy hiring managers are asking this year.

Why Do You Want to Work For THIS Company?

You have accountancy skills, that’s why you’re sitting in this interview, but hiring managers will often want more than this. They will want to know why you are more hungry for the job than any other candidate. Is the location where you want to be? Did you see something on their website that caught your eye? Was it the culture, potential career opportunities or the chance to work with a marketing leading product or service. Demonstrate that you’ve done your research on the company to nail this question.

Do You Know About These Accounting Standards?

Rehearse your basic accounting principles including real and nominal accounts, accounts payable and receivable, everyday business transactions and the difference between International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

When applying for a higher level role such as senior accountant, be prepared to talk in depth about how provide financial support to your current business ensuring sufficient understasnding of various financial issues that facilitates the achievement of business targets.

How Have You Managed Bad Debts?

This is a handy question for hiring managers to see not just how much experience you have, but your financial nouse. As an accountant, the blame often lies with you when the numbers don’t look good, even though the root of the problem might have come from a different department.

Have specific examples that you can share of when you have turned around a negative debt situation. Be able to describe what the situation was, what you did and the result you achieved for your company. Only by sharing these situations do you demonstrate the value you bring to a company who is lucky enough to have you on their team.

What Would You Do Differently?

All candidates are human, and hiring managers know this. There is often a worry from the candidate that they think the interviewer expects them to be superhuman – they don’t. This question is useful because it helps the candidate talk about how they approach and solve problems, without having to admit to previous mistakes.

When this or a similar question about problem-solving arises in the interview (because there will be one), remember to answer with a focus on the positive. You can say ‘while this was a problem at the time, this is how I solved it…’ or ‘if this problem arose again, I would approach it in this way…’.

Tell us About a Time When You Reduced Costs

As an accountant, you will be expected to be able to reduce outgoings at all costs. Give examples of when you have achieved this in previous roles, by sharing the details of the problems and the steps you took reduce expenditures.

Showing that you are continually looking to manage and reduce costs for a business will get the attention of a hiring manager’s good books and validate that you are responsible in your role as an accountant – looking after the health of the companies finances and not just keeping them in order.

Hiring managers are looking for pro-active candidates who understand how vitally important credit control is in today’s financial sector, not just someone with the right certificates.

Tell us About Your Hobbies and Interests

This might seem like an outdated question but now more than ever hiring managers are trying to create a company culture which aims to retain staff. This question is not necessarily about finding whether you are going to be a new member of the company squash club, but it seeks to find out what drives you and if you have a similar ethos to other employees. Be honest and talk about your passions outside of work – hiring managers want to see the real you, not a homogenised version.

Where Do You See Yourself In (X) Years?

This is a standard question but it applies now more than ever. There is a chronic skills shortage in specialised sectors such as accountancy and businesses are desperate to keep the best talent. If the truth is ‘I want to do it for a year to put on my CV’, you might want to modify this answer.

Make it clear that you want to grow with the company. Talk about the plans you have for the future that you can incorporate these into their business, sharing how you want to develop professionally and you see yourself doing that with this company.

Prepare your answers to these common questions and you will have all the main topic areas covered.

Remember, this isn’t an exhaustive list. If you work in the field of tax, audit, treasury or management accounting, be prepared to answer more in-depth questions on your subject area. Remember that interviews are not about being right or wrong, they are mostly about allowing the interviewer see the real you.

After all, if you get the job and you realise you aren’t the right fit, it will be costly for the company and yourself. Lastly, relax, and remember to smile!

About Clayton Recruitment

Clayton Recruitment has been partnering with organisations across the country since 1989 and during that time has built up an enviable reputation for trust and reliability.

With specialist divisions covering Commercial, Financial, Industrial, and Engineering appointments, on both a permanent and temporary basis. If you are looking for your next career move, we can help. Call us on 01772 259 121 or email us here.

If you would like to download our latest interview checklist, you can do so here.

Here’s a good question to reflect on: when was the last time you stepped outside of your comfort zone?

Comfort zones exist for a reason; they provide a sense of peace and safety, and the confidence that comes from knowing what to expect. As such, they do an excellent job of protecting us from danger, impulsive decision-making, and potential embarrassment. However, the flipside is that our comfort zones also protect us from growth.

Sometimes, a comfort zone is just a cleverly-disguised cage, holding you back from achieving your true potential. When you’re “comfortable” in a position, you stop striving for greatness, which means that you stay in the same place rather than moving forward. Although staying still can seem like a good thing at first, it can too often hold you back – especially when it comes to standing out in your career.

Here are five ways your comfort zone might be holding you back from achieving your professional ambitions.

You’re Not Reaching Your Goals

Everyone wants to feel comfortable in their jobs; we spend a large portion of our lives at work, so it’s crucial to feel satisfied with what you do. That’s why organisations invest so much time into company culture to attract and retain the right talent.

However, when you’re too comfortable in your position, you can begin to be swallowed by it. Eventually, you realise that you’re not making any progress towards your long-term goals, you’re just standing in place.

There’s a common idea among successful people that you’re either moving forward, or you’re letting your ambitions die. If you stay in the same place for too long, you may miss out on opportunities to explore new roles and challenges that improve your quality of life. For instance, if your accountancy career hasn’t got off on the right track, it’s up to you to set the necessary goals that will improve things.

You’re Not Networking

The easiest way to change up your work life and step out of your comfort zone is to look for ways to network and collaborate with others. Take advantage of opportunities to work on challenging projects with others on your team. Even if you discover that you don’t like the work, you’ll still be investing some time into networking, which can be crucial for your future.

Whether it’s done online or in person, networking can be challenging; talking to people we don’t know and advocating for ourselves are things most people would rather avoid, regardless of their qualifications or experience. However, expanding your professional network is an essential part of career development in today’s competitive job market.

Not only will regular updates on LinkedIn allow your network to keep up with the work that you’re doing, but it can also serve as an excellent tool for recruitment. You wouldn’t want to miss out on the next big step in your career, just because networking was outside of your comfort zone.

You’re Afraid of Change and Failure

Fear isn’t always a bad thing; it can sometimes keep us safe from dangerous experiences. However, fear of change in the modern workplace is often detrimental to career development. With the ever-changing landscape of the finance sector, if you’re unable to evolve with the times, you may find that your career is stuck in a rut.

Often, a fear of change in the professional world comes from the desire to avoid failure. We assume that if we stick to the things we know, we’ll be less likely to make mistakes. However, the best employees know that they need to take risks from time to time.

As with being afraid of change, being afraid to fail will keep you a prisoner in your comfort zone. Rather than going after the career you really want, you’ll only focus on what you know how to do. We shouldn’t be afraid to fail, however, because failures pave the way for improvement and growth.

You’re Not Developing New Skills

The only way to discover your potential in any career is to experiment. You only find out more about yourself when you take on new challenges and explore unique opportunities by pushing your limits. It’s also important to remember that you might be heading toward redundancy if you’re not proactive in developing your skill set and adapting to workplace changes.

Trying new things in the workplace improves your chances of thriving in your career. You’ll learn more about what you like and dislike about your role so that you can pursue positions that suit you better in the future. Plus, you show that you have an experimental side with new experiences to place on your CV, which improves your chances of standing out to a future employer.

Twenty years of employment as a relationship manager is excellent, but not if you haven’t gained anything from it. On a successful finance professional’s CV, you’ll see endless accomplishments that came from each of the roles they took on, no matter how long they stayed with a firm. A career is much more than just a profession; it’s a way to develop your knowledge and talents as an individual.

You’re Starting to Settle

Finally, if you stay in your comfort zone for long enough, then you might be conditioning yourself to settle. Even if you’re no longer happy in your role, you’ll tell yourself that it’s better to stay where you are than try something new.

However, this prevents you from pursuing a life where you’re delighted by your career. You may even reject opportunities to grow and explore new things because you’re afraid of the uncertainty the future holds.

The most successful people know that sometimes, to accomplish great things, you need to be willing to embrace change. You don’t have to be a risk taker, but you should be confident in yourself to know that if you do fail, you’ll learn from it and grow from it. It’s therefore critical to be confident in your abilities and know your worth.

Future employers want to see that you are willing to try something new as evidence that you’re motivated and passionate in your professional endeavours. Don’t let your fear of the unknown or of failure hold back your career; you alone have the power to transcend the boundaries of familiarity and comfort that you’ve established for yourself.

About Clayton Recruitment

Clayton Recruitment has been partnering with organisations across the country since 1989 and during that time has built up an enviable reputation for trust and reliability.

With specialist divisions covering Commercial, Financial, Industrial, and Engineering appointments, on both a permanent and temporary basis. If you are looking for your next career move, we can help. Call us on 01772 259 121 or email us here.

If you would like to download our latest interview checklist, you can do so here.

Whether you’re fresh out of uni with a degree in accounting or you’ve just recently changed career paths and received your accountancy qualifications, the world is now your oyster. In addition to being one of the world’s oldest professions, accounting has always been one of the most in demand. Moreover, while certain professions may come and go, the world will always need more accountants.

With a high median salary and a constant demand for qualified accounting professionals, the time has never been better to join the field. However, you’ve probably already realised just how large and diverse that field is. With so many opportunities to apply your skills in some different areas, knowing where or how to start your career can be a little overwhelming.

So, here are some tips on how to get your accountancy career off on the right track.

Set Career Goals And Be Focused

Rather than applying for the first position that you find, start by clearly defining your goals and mapping out an accounting career path. Before starting your job search, make sure you’ve carefully considered the following questions:

Where do you see yourself in five years? What would you like to have accomplished by then?

Do you want to specialise and if so, which areas of accounting do you want to focus on? How could you gain more expertise in those fields?

Do you want to work as part of an accountancy firm, or would you instead work in-house for a particular company/industry?

Are you willing to commute long distances or even relocate for a job?

What sort of salary and benefits do you aspire to in your career?

Are you willing to work more extended hours to get ahead quickly, or is work-life balance more important to you at this stage in your life?

Know What Employers Are Looking For

Being aware of what potential employers are looking for from accounting candidates is essential not only in planning your job search but in preparing for future interviews.

Beyond the basics – requisite education and qualifications – companies are often looking to work with or hire an accountant who understands the ins and outs of their business. Having at least some experience in a relevant industry can go a long way in landing you a job with a company. For example, if you’re changing careers and already have a background in retail or manufacturing, you might consider applying your accountancy skills in one of those industries.

If you’re interviewing to work as an in-house accountant for a company, they’ll also want to make sure that you’re the right fit culturally and that you have the soft skills to match your accounting chops. Are you a reliable team player who can work well with others, and are you able to communicate beyond the numbers? These are just some of the questions potential employers will want answers to when considering you for a role.

If you want to specialise in a certain area of accounting, working for an accountancy firm or a larger private company with their own accountancy team may be the right move for you. However, if you’re aiming to work with a smaller business, where you are likely to be their sole financial professional, you’ll need to be able and willing to do a bit of everything, from record-keeping and managing payroll to preparing taxes. In addition to ensuring that you have these sets of skills, employers will also want to know whether you are up to date with using the latest accounting software.

Access Contacts And Build New Networks

As the saying goes, ‘It’s not what you know; it’s who you know.’ Knowing how to make connections at professional conferences and networking events can help open doors to new jobs. Keep in mind that your most valuable contacts may not be the obvious ones (those working in accounting). For example, your next-door neighbour may have a brother who’s a CFO at a growing company.

While real-world networking can still be highly effective, social networking online has become equally (if not more) important. In addition to reviewing all of your social media accounts to make sure they cast you in a favourable light, making sure your LinkedIn profile is complete and polished is every bit as critical as keeping your CV up to date.

As the world’s largest professional network, with over 550 million members worldwide, LinkedIn is an extremely valuable resource for both researching and networking with potential employers. Maintaining a complete profile that’s replete with the right keywords can be a highly effective way of connecting with the kinds of companies you’d like to work for.

Work With A Specialist Recruiter

In addition to networking, finding a specialist recruitment consultant who is willing and eager to invest time learning about your skills and preferences can give you a definite edge in your job search. You’ll want to work with a specialist recruiter with connections within the accounting field who can help you find opportunities that suit your background and career interests.

In addition to saving you valuable time in your job search, a good recruiter will help to prepare you for interviews by giving you insightful background information about potential employers. And since recruiters are paid by the company they place you with, they have an incentive to find you the highest-paying position possible and will serve as a strong voice on your behalf during salary negotiations.

Businesses ranging from start-ups to large companies routinely use recruitment companies to locate potential hires with in-demand skills and experience. By working with a specialist recruiter to boost your search, you can increase the likelihood of landing the right position with the right company, thus setting your accountancy career off on the right track.

About Clayton Recruitment

Clayton Recruitment has been partnering with organisations across the country since 1989 and during that time has built up an enviable reputation for trust and reliability.

With specialist divisions covering Commercial, Financial, Industrial, and Engineering appointments, on both a permanent and temporary basis. If you are looking for your next career move, we can help. Call us on 01772 259 121 or email us here.

If you would like to download our latest interview checklist, you can do so here.

The month of March is all about leadership with International Women’s Day at the start of the month and World Leadership Day at the end.

Why the big focus on leadership?

Being a great leader will determine how successful your organisation is and becomes as you move forward.

You don’t need to be a wildly dynamic, charismatic, gung-ho person to be an exceptional leader. If you have quieter people on your team, that approach may well be counter-productive.

What you do need is a considered, communicative and natural approach: one which will send the message to your team that though you have a job to do you’re on their side and working together is about everybody winning.

So, what are some of the traits of great leaders? We explore what they are in this week’s post.

Set Big Goals

The best leaders know how to set goals in a way that makes everyone feel involved.

When discussing team goals, bring everyone together and paint a picture of success – one which they can see themselves contributing to and can get excited about getting involved and doing their part.

Use examples and case studies of other teams or companies who have achieved greatness; it doesn’t have to be within your specific market. This will demonstrate that goals can be achieved in business and by their organisation too.

Make sure you relate the goal to their part in delivering results. For instance, if someone has to organise and develop a new CRM system, understanding that this makes the sales team more productive which equals more sales, will connect the dots for team members as they understand how critical their role is in delivering a team goal.

They Remove Ego From The Equation

Remove ego from the equation. As a manager of a team of you will need to lead, motivate, and direct your team.

Remember, your role as a leader is not to show your brilliance, but to support and encourage theirs.

This is the case across all departments, whether you’re leading a team of customer service advisors, salespeople, or finance administrators. If you’re not an expert in every aspect of your team’s work, be upfront about that, explaining that your role is to facilitate their success rather than be able to do their job as well as they do.

Listen Like Never Before

Listen as you’ve never listened before. This is the most powerful skill you can have as a leader, and the best leaders listen more than they talk.

Effective listening not only alerts you to possible opportunities and issues you might have missed, but it also makes your team members feel like their voices are heard and valued. There is no better building block to a high performing team than good communication.

Understand Your Team

Bring the team together. Extroverts will need no encouragement, but introverted employees will often display a preference to work alone, which can stifle collaboration and morale within the team if it’s allowed to progress too far.

Be understanding and accepting of natural work-style preferences, but also be sure to bring the team together regularly for meetings and collaborative efforts, or you might find you are working with a set of individuals rather than a team.

Be Authentic

Be your authentic self. Showing your vulnerabilities, admitting mistakes and talking about life outside work may seem like admitting weakness, but authenticity is a quality that draws a team together and builds mutual trust. In a team with an authentic leader, mistakes are admitted rather than hidden, and the team are loyal to the leader. Showing your human side is a powerful leadership quality.

Praise and Give Feedback

As a specialist recruitment company, it’s fascinating how often candidates state that their reason for wanting to leave their current employer is that they didn’t feel valued or recognised for their contribution.

Saying thank you is powerful. I know people have a role and expectations; however, a ”thank you, I appreciate what you have done this week for us”, can make all the difference.

All employees need feedback on how they are doing and where and what they need to do to improve.

All your team will have performance objectives at some level that feed into the companies’ overall goals, and feedback on objectives needs to happen consistently.

A more formal six-month review is what many companies implement. However more regular ‘catch-ups’ can help your team improve much faster and stops any veering off track too.

Be Transparent Whenever Possible

Bring your team in on the big issues. Nothing consolidates a team more than a challenge – if issues are discussed with transparency and a solution-focused mindset. Bring the team together to honestly discuss issues, ask for their opinions, and always keep an upbeat attitude that a solution will be reached.

The alternative is to hide problems, which everyone senses on some level, causing a wedge of distrust to form between your team and you.

People aren’t born great leaders; it’s something you learn over time. If you can incorporate these steps into your leadership style, you will be well on the way to becoming the standout leader you want to be.

About Clayton Recruitment

Clayton Recruitment has been partnering with organisations across the country since 1989 and during that time has built up an enviable reputation for trust and reliability.

With specialist divisions covering Commercial, Financial, Industrial, and Engineering appointments, on both a permanent and temporary basis. If you are looking for your next career move, we can help. Call us on 01772 259 121 or email us here.

If you would like to download our latest interview checklist, you can do so here.

Whether you’re taking time off over Christmas to enjoy the last few days of 2018 or are already looking ahead to what 2019 will bring, the end of the year is the ideal time to pause and think. We’ve looked back at some of the highs and lows of the year, to help you reflect on what’s gone well for you in 2018. We’ve also included a round-up of our most helpful blogs from this year, so that you can plan ahead and get 2019 off to a successful start.

2018 in review

This year has been challenging for business in general, and this has an impact on employees. When talking with candidates, one of the things that often comes up is the issue of job security – and many of you tell us that you’d like more!

Brexit is causing uncertainty, and the effects have been widely felt, particularly in the automotive sector. Vauxhall hit the headlines earlier this year when it was announced that the company would be cutting hundreds of jobs in the North West. It’s also been a tough year for industries that rely on EU migrants to staff operations. This could mean a greater workload for individuals, as they try to cover the same amount of work that would usually be handled by more staff.

The retail sector has also suffered job losses this year, with reports suggesting up to 50,000 people have been made redundant. And while the headlines make for gloomy reading, it isn’t all bad news for candidates. Roles in digital and tech industries are increasingly in demand, as are professional services such as accounting and finance. New and emerging sectors are building on those foundations, with Fintech (short for Financial Technology) expected to grow by 88% in the next three years.

So, whether you’re just about to enter a new industry or are starting a new job, you’ll want to get off to a flying start. Our tips on how to make a good impression in your new job will help you get settled and make a positive impression, we hope it helps!

The job market in 2018

While uncertainty can mean job losses, it also means that businesses are keen to hold onto their top talent. The CIPD found that following the Brexit referendum, 26% more companies said that they wanted to develop staff internally. That’s good news for those of you who are worried about job security or who are looking for development opportunities.

As hinted above, the service sector has been booming. In January we reported on the most in-demand job roles, which included administrators, telesales executives and accountants. Professional services, such as accountancy, generates work for a raft of support staff, as do industries such as the creative and media sectors. This is good news for candidates; not only does it offer new employment opportunities, for many people a supporting or junior role can be a fantastic route into an industry that interests them.

2018 has seen the continuing trend of ‘Northshoring’, with companies moving operations from London and the south of England to the North. Cities such as Leeds and Manchester have benefitted from this, and the impact on candidates is positive too. Economic growth means more employment and career progression opportunities that might otherwise have been missing.

So if you’re planning your next career move, the best thing to do is plan ahead. Be sure of where you want to go in your career and look at how your company and location can help you to get there. If you’re not sure whether you can see a future with your current employer our blog, ‘How to tell whether your job is going well or not’, will help you make a decision.

Clayton Recruitment is committed to your success

Our reputation rests on our ability to help you find the very best job for your skills and interests. Two of our key values are trust and relationships and we work hard to build both of these with the candidates we work with. Candidates appreciate these values and the fact that we listen to what you want to get out of a new position.

What’s more, we also build strong relationships with our clients. This is beneficial to candidates because we have a solid understanding of the businesses we work with and the vacancy on offer. By taking the time to know both parties we can successfully match applicants with their ideal role. In the short term, it means that you find the new position that you’ve been looking for, and in the long-term it gives you confidence that you’ll feel happy that your values align with the company’s values for a long time to come.

Candidates and Clayton Recruitment: success stories

From directors to part-time staff, in our lifetime we’ve helped over 2,000 professionals find their ideal role. Our passion for recruitment means that we’re always improving our service, so that we can help more and more professionals.

In 2018 we’ve expanded our service for those seeking temporary work. We recognise that not everyone is looking for full-time or permanent work; in 2018 there’s no such thing as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ job role any more. We’ve developed our temporary recruitment service so that we can help even more people find the role that is suited them, their lifestyle, and their skills.

Planning ahead to 2019

There have certainly been challenges and minor setbacks in 2018, though there have been opportunities for candidates also. And while it’s helpful to look back at successes and challenges this year and determine what that might mean, it’s also key to look ahead at what the future holds.

So, if you think that 2019 could be the year that you make a career change, we’ve put together our top five blogs from this year to help you land the role you’ve been dreaming of:

1. Do I stay, or do I go? How to make the decision whether to stay in your current job or leave
2. What to leave off from your CV
3. What is your interviewer actually thinking? 
4. Banish interview jitters with our interview checklist
5. The job offer – what next?

And if you’re thinking of making a fresh start with a new job in January, it’s not too late to apply! We’d be happy to discuss what you’re looking for and to get things underway ahead of the new year.

Call us on 01772 529 121, and one of our friendly and professional consultants will be happy to help.

You may also like to download our guide on How to Develop Your CV.

In the meantime, we hope you have an enjoyable Christmas and a very Happy New Year!