Should You Move to a New Office and Commercial Company This Year?

February 12, 2025

In today’s Office and Commercial industry, committing to spending your entire career with one specific company doesn’t necessarily guarantee success. Even if your current employer has no plans to downsize or eliminate your role soon, staying put could be the wrong decision.

With skill shortages on the rise, candidates in the Office and Commercial industry have more freedom to choose where they want to work than ever before. The decision to switch to a new company could help you find a workplace with a better culture, more flexibility, and more development opportunities than you can access today.

You could improve your earning potential by moving to a new employer. According to one report, while staying with the same employer in a high-growth industry could earn you a 5.9% annual raise, jumping to another company could earn you raises of 9% or more.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that switching companies is always the right decision. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps you can take to decide whether now is the right time for you to take a chance and explore new career avenues.

Market Analysis: The Job Market in 2025

If you’re considering moving to a new role in 2025, the good news is that you’re likely making this decision at a good time. The Office and Commercial job market is heavily candidate-driven right now. Not only are employers actively investing in candidates with new skills to help them navigate technological changes and increasing competition – but they’re willing to pay more for talent, too.

According to the Financial Times, in the UK companies invest more in talent acquisition, learning and development, and overall recruitment despite economic downturns. Plus, the rise of remote and hybrid working opportunities means that you could find that you can apply for a more diverse range of roles than ever before – exploring opportunities with companies all over the world.

However, there are still challenges for Office and Commercial candidates to navigate. Rising opportunities for remote workers mean more jobs are available, but more people compete for them. Plus, while demand for skilled candidates is high, the skills companies are prioritising are changing. You may, therefore, need to invest more heavily in learning and development to prepare for evolving roles.

Is it Time for a Career Move? Making the Right Choice 

Deciding whether to stay with your current Office and Commercial employer or move to a new company is a significant step. You shouldn’t just be considering a move because you believe you can access a higher salary or a more impressive job title. You should decide based on your overall career goals, market understanding, and priorities.

Here are three key steps to prepare yourself to make the right choice.

Step 1: Assessing Your Current Situation

Start by reflecting on your current Office and Commercial company and the relationship you have with your workplace. How connected do you feel with the values and missions of your current employer? Do you have a true sense of purpose in your role, and are you fulfilled by what you do?

How much progress are you making towards your specific goals with this company? If you want to move into a leadership position five years from now, will your current employer deliver the development plans and learning experiences to help you get there? Does the organisation have a succession planning strategy in place?

Ask yourself what you like and dislike about the current company you’re working with. Do you love the company culture but don’t have enough flexibility in your role or schedule? Are you being adequately compensated for your work and skills? If unsure, use salary benchmarking to compare your current remuneration with what’s available in the Office and Commercial market.

Lasting, look at your current skills. Are you using them effectively in your role? Do you have skills that could be easily transferred to other positions?

Step 2: Identifying Your Priorities  

Knowing what you want from your Office and Commercial career is crucial to determining whether a move to a new company is the right decision. A good place to start is with salary expectations.

Although you likely want more from your next role than a good salary, a career move could be a good choice if you’re currently being paid less than what you’re worth and your employer isn’t willing to negotiate a raise. According to Forbes, employees who stay in companies for longer than two years can sometimes be paid 50% less.

Beyond the desire for a better salary, ask yourself what will motivate you to move to another company. Are you seeking new opportunities to learn, be challenged, and expand your skills with mentorship programs and training strategies? Do you want to experiment with the latest technologies and processes unavailable in your current workplace?

Are you looking for a better work-life balance – more opportunities for remote and flexible work or a more significant focus from your company on wellbeing? Is a good cultural fit important to you? Maybe you want to work for a company emphasising cross-functional collaboration, diversity and inclusion, or sustainability.

Step 3: Examining the Potential for Change

Next, consider whether it’s the right time for a move. Start by evaluating the job market in your sector. Is it expanding or contracting? Industries experiencing growth often offer more opportunities and stability under their employ. If your industry is in a downturn or many companies are “downsizing”, this might indicate it’s not a good time to search for a role.

Ask yourself how stable your current job is, too. Suppose your organisation is shifting its focus, and you’re worried about the longevity of your role. In that case, it might be time to start considering alternatives, even if you’re mostly happy with where you currently work.

If you know your current job is stable but unsure whether there are many opportunities for someone with your skills, ask yourself if you’re financially resilient enough to manage a transition. Finding another company you want to move to can take time, so it’s worth ensuring you have a financial buffer to handle any gaps.

Finally, consider whether you have the skills you need to move into the type of role you want. Conduct a skills gap analysis and ask yourself whether you need to invest in learning and development before considering switching career paths.

Moving to a New Company: Preparing Your Action Plan

 After examining all the factors above, if you decide that moving to a new Office and Commercial company is the right choice, developing a structured action plan will improve your chances of success. Here’s how to ensure you’re ready to make the transition.

Conduct a Skills Gap Analysis  

Start by evaluating the skills required for the Office and Commercial roles you’re targeting. Review job descriptions, industry standards, and feedback from your network to identify gaps in your expertise. Use online resources, in-person classes, workshops, and mentorship programs to fill these gaps. Upskilling demonstrates initiative and can give you more opportunities to choose from.

Activate your Network

Your professional network is one of your most valuable assets. Inform trusted Office and Commercial contacts about your career goals and ask for advice or referrals. Attend industry events, webinars, and workshops to connect with new professionals in your field. Engage actively on LinkedIn by sharing insights, commenting on posts, and participating in relevant groups. Even consider connecting with a Office and Commercial recruitment company.

Update your CV

Before applying to new roles, ensure your CV is up to date. They should highlight the most relevant skills and credentials for your desired roles. Remember to consider your online presence and profiles, too. Updating your LinkedIn profile, for instance, can make attracting the attention of Office and Commercial recruiters and employers easier.

Develop an Application and Interview Strategy

Define a clear application plan to avoid wasting time on irrelevant opportunities. Research companies that align with your values, interests, and career goals. Tailor each application to the specific role and company, ensuring your cover letter meets their needs. Make sure you’re prepared for success by working on your interviewing skills. Practice responses to common Office and Commercial questions and consider conducting mock interviews with a friend.

Prepare to Negotiate

When you receive an offer, approach negotiation with confidence. Research typical salaries for the role using tools like Glassdoor or industry reports to establish your value. When considering the total package, factor in benefits like flexible working, bonuses, and professional development opportunities. Make sure you’re ready to get the offer you deserve.

Is It Time for a Fresh Start in your Office and Commercial Career?

Deciding to move to a new Office and Commercial company can be daunting, but it can also be the best way to take the next step towards your long-term career goals. Carefully assessing your current situation, the job market, and priorities will help you decide if now is the right time for a change.

If you’re ready to make the switch, use the tips above to prepare for the transition, and remember to leverage the resources available to you. For instance, working with a recruitment company can help streamline your migration to a new company and help you access the opportunities you seek.

Future-Proof Your Career: Essential Skills for Healthcare Professionals

January 16, 2025

In the Healthcare job market, disruption is the new norm. Economic uncertainty, the remote or hybrid work revolution, and rapid technological transformation influence how businesses operate and build their teams. The rise of AI and automation alone is beginning to cause issues for employers and Healthcare candidates.

The World Economic Forum predicts that AI and automation will displace up to 85 million jobs and create 97 million new ones by 2025. The only way to ensure you access the best opportunities in the future is to increase your value as an employee proactively.

As you invest in your long-term health with proactive habits, you can future-proof your career by cultivating and nurturing a versatile skillset. Here’s how to take the “preventative care” approach to ensure you can adapt and thrive in the new work age.

Why Future-Proofing Matters Now 

Leading Healthcare employees have long embraced a “growth mindset”, committing to constantly developing and expanding their abilities to adapt to market changes. This proactive approach to future-proofing your career is becoming increasingly crucial.

Employer priorities are shifting, the skills required to deliver in Healthcare roles are evolving, and job competition is increasing as companies expand their talent acquisition strategies with remote employees. Future-proofing your skillset now means you can adapt to:

 

The Global Skill Shortage Crisis

Four in five employers struggle to find the talent they need in the Healthcare industry. Developing new in-demand skills boosts your chances of getting multiple job offers from various companies and earning the salary you deserve.

Candidates with valuable skills have more scope to negotiate salaries and request additional benefits. Your skillset will ensure you can compete with a broader range of candidates as employers embrace remote staff members to broaden their talent pool.

AI and Automation in the Workplace

Artificial intelligence and automation are reshaping every industry. Sectors from manufacturing to finance and retail are becoming increasingly automated. Even customer-facing and creative employees risk losing their roles to generative AI tools.

While the technology revolution puts some jobs at risk, it also creates new opportunities for those who can collaborate effectively with AI systems. Employees who can effectively leverage AI and automation to become more efficient can sidestep the risk of job displacement.

 

Economic Uncertainty

Market volatility, ongoing industry disruptions, and the ripple effects of global events make economic stability unpredictable. Employers have less to invest in talent and are becoming more cautious about how they build and develop their teams.

Developing a broad skillset now is how you ensure you can convince employers of the return on investment they’ll get from hiring you. It can also help you adapt to new work modes, like remote working, which have emerged as a critical tool for reducing business operating costs.

 

Evolving Workplace Dynamics

The workplace is rapidly changing due to the rise of new technologies and new remote and hybrid working styles, cross-functional teams, and diverse office spaces. Future-proofing your skill set means developing new technical skills and building capabilities to help you communicate and collaborate more effectively in this changing space.

The soft skills you build now, from emotional intelligence to adaptability and communication skills, will help you thrive as workplaces evolve.

Creating Your Essential Skills Framework  

Diversity is the key to building a future-proof skillset in the Healthcare industry. According to McKinsey, employers will increasingly prioritise candidates with specific technical skills (such as digital literacy) plus robust soft and hybrid skills.

Identifying High-Value Technical Skills

In a technology-driven world, digital literacy and robust technical skills are becoming essential to every Healthcare role. The ability to work seamlessly with automated tools, artificial intelligence, cloud platforms, and data will make you more valuable to your employer.

Start by focusing on digital literacy and learning more about data visualisation interpretation, and analysis. Then, develop cybersecurity awareness with courses and workshops that cover steps to protect information in a digitally connected landscape.

Ensure you’re confident using the standard software your team in your space relies on daily, such as video conferencing, file sharing, and collaboration apps.

From there, focus on the industry-specific software you must be familiar with in the Healthcare landscape. Every industry invests in more must-have software, from AI-driven electronic health record systems in healthcare to extended reality applications in manufacturing.

Developing Transferable Human Skills

  • Adaptability: Develop a mindset focused on innovation, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Hone your ability to respond quickly and effectively to changes and commit to constant learning, self-analysis, and improvement.
  • Emotional intelligence: Emotional intelligence is essential in a collaborative workplace defined by diversity. Practice developing empathy, work on conflict resolution skills, and nurture mindfulness.
  • Communication: Written and verbal communication skills are essential for Healthcare employees. Practice active listening to enhance understanding and collaboration. Show cross-cultural awareness by adapting your language when interacting with diverse team members and experimenting with different communication formats.

Building Hybrid Skills

Hybrid skills combine technical and human skills, making them incredibly valuable to various roles. Digital leadership, for instance, is an excellent example of a hybrid skill in the Healthcare industry. It involves developing standard leadership skills related to motivation, problem-solving, and time management, focusing on digital transformation.

For instance, with strong digital leadership skills, you could guide and support remote team members and in-office staff, manage projects with digital tools, and empower virtual collaboration. Business acumen is another significant hybrid skill.

Developing business acumen is about building a deeper understanding of your role’s strategic and commercial aspects. The more you understand your company’s goals, the challenges and risks you might face as you pursue targets, and the customers you’re trying to serve, the more effective you’ll be as a Healthcare employee.

Strategic Skill Building Tips: Shaping your Skillset

Developing a future-proof skillset in the Healthcare industry requires thorough investigation and research, self-awareness, motivation, and creativity. Here are a few practical steps to build your development plan.

Step 1: Conduct a Thorough Self-Assessment

First, ensure you understand your current strengths and weaknesses. Conduct a skills audit, listing your current abilities (including soft and hard skills), then compare your findings with the emerging needs and trends in the Healthcare industry.

Reading job descriptions can help you here, offering an insight into the abilities employers are prioritising in your sector. From there, ask yourself which skills you should focus on now, whether improving your performance in your current role, making yourself indispensable, or improving your ability to reach your career goals.

Step 2: Structure a Clear Learning Pathway  

Once you have a clear picture of the skills and abilities you need to develop and which you should prioritise, design a “learning pathway” that maps out your future journey. Start with the short-term goals you want to achieve in the next three months, such as completing an online course that teaches you how to use a new piece of Healthcare software.

Then, move on to your mid-term goals, focusing on targets that will take longer to reach, such as earning more complex certifications. Finally, outline your long-term vision, extending two to five years in the future. Imagine where you want to be at that stage in your career, and make sure your short – and mid-term strategies are leading you in the right direction.

Step 3: Identify Valuable Development Resources  

With your path ahead laid out, explore the learning resources available. There are many options to explore, depending on your learning styles and needs. For some Healthcare employees, free online courses and workshops offer a fantastic way to quickly build new abilities with minimal upfront investment.

Consider paid certifications and classes to help build your CV with approved credentials. Remember to look beyond traditional learning opportunities. Joining community forums in the Healthcare industry or working with mentors can pave the way to excellent peer-to-peer learning.

Step 4: Track Your Progress and Adapt

Finally, ensure you have a system to track your progress. Define measurement metrics you can use to assess your skill development process objectively. For instance, monitor how much time you dedicate to your education daily or weekly.

Look for success indicators that help you mark stages in your journey, such as completing course segments or earning a certificate. Establishing feedback loops with mentors and peers can also be an excellent way to access outside perspectives you can use to measure your progress. As you continue to grow and improve, adapt your strategy, setting new, relevant goals that push you to greater heights.

Future Proofing Your Healthcare Career

The job market for Healthcare candidates is complex, competitive, and increasingly uncertain. Technological advancements, changing priorities among employers, and expanding talent pools will all lead to new challenges for you to overcome in the years ahead.

Invest in the best insurance for your career’s future by taking a proactive approach to developing your skillset now. Start spending time on regular skill assessments, researching industry trends, and connecting with mentors and peers who can help you grow.

Speak to Healthcare recruitment professionals for advice on how you can become more valuable to employers and invest in varied training and development strategies. The steps you take now will ensure you can survive the changes in the job market and thrive in the new world of work.

CV Gaps: Turning Career Transitions into Opportunities

December 12, 2024

Imagine this: you discover an incredible Office and Commercial career opportunity that aligns perfectly with your goals and priorities as an employee. But, as you prepare to apply for the role, you notice a problem: a glaring gap in your CV.

Maybe you spent a year or two “unemployed” while you dealt with personal priorities, or you struggled to find a new role for a while after leaving another job. Whatever the reason for the gap, you know you will most likely have to explain it to your potential employer.

The thought of explaining a gap in your work history can be daunting. You might assume it will paint you negatively or reduce your chances of getting a job offer. However, CV gaps are more common than you think, and they need not be a red flag to employers.

What matters is how you address the gap. Here, we’ll show you how to frame career gaps positively and ensure you take advantage of valuable opportunities.

Understanding CV Gaps

A CV gap is any period in an individual’s career history where they were unemployed. If this is you, you are not alone, as McKinsey found that 62% of all employees will have a gap at some point in their professional history.

Gaps can be caused by career transitions, such as when you decide to leave an old Office and Commercial role and don’t have a new opportunity lined up in advance. You might transition into a period of unemployment while pursuing personal development opportunities, taking ‘time out’ to travel the world or investing in your education.

Sometimes, CV gaps are because of family responsibilities (such as caring for children or relatives), health issues (physical or mental), and changes in priorities. For instance, you might leave a role to focus on a passion project or voluntary work.

There are plenty of instances where gaps in your career may not be something you could have predicted or prevented. Companies can close, lay off team members, and make employees redundant for various reasons, leading to unexpected career gaps.

The Importance of Transparency

Whether the gap in your Office and Commercial CV was caused by something inside your control or not, explaining it to a new employer can be anxiety-evoking. This is demonstrated by up to 53% of candidates in one study saying they’d feel more confident applying for roles if they didn’t have to disclose the reasons behind their career gaps.

Remember that having a gap in your work history doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have less chance of getting the role you want. LinkedIn found that 79% of managers will happily hire candidates regardless of career gaps.

When you confidently address the reason for the gap with your prospective employer, showing how it benefited you or contributed to your personal development, you’ll seem more proactive and trustworthy to them.

Being clear and transparent about your career gap sets a positive tone for building a relationship with your employer. It shows integrity and self-awareness and allows you to control the narrative surrounding your career history.

Reframing Career Transitions as Opportunities

Many Office and Commercial candidates are concerned that CV gaps would make them seem noncommittal, flaky, or unreliable. However, how a hiring manager or employer perceives a career gap depends on how you frame it.

Even if the reason for your employment gap didn’t directly contribute to your value as a candidate (like a year spent earning an unrelated certification), you could draw attention to how the gap benefited you.

Your unemployment period contributed to your adaptability and resilience, showing you how to adapt to new challenges and periods of potential uncertainty. You might have had a chance to try different interim roles, whether as a traditional employee, contractor, or volunteer, to help you uncover new insights and skills.

Think about how you can draw attention to the gap’s positive results, even if it only helped you progress through a period of self-discovery.

Crafting a Compelling CV 

If you’re invited to an interview, you should have a chance to discuss your CV gap in more depth with your potential Office and Commercial employer. However, to improve your chances of getting to that stage, you must structure your CV correctly.

First, think about the format. Instead of using a chronological CV that lists all of your previous experiences in order, drawing more attention to gaps, highlight the experiences most relevant to the role you’re applying for in order of importance.

Begin your CV with a strong summary or profile section that encapsulates your professional identity, spotlighting your unique characteristics and the strengths you’ll bring to the potential employer. Instead of listing previous job titles, focus on tailoring your CV to draw attention to your achievements and accomplishments over the years.

If you notice a gap in your CV is pronounced, add bullet points explaining what you did during those periods. For instance, did you spend time volunteering, doing freelance work, seeking out courses, or travelling to expand your personal growth?

Addressing Gaps in Cover Letters and Interviews

Before you’re invited to an Office and Commercial interview, you can proactively use your cover letter to address a career gap. Don’t go too in-depth with your explanation in the cover letter, but briefly describe why you weren’t employed during this period, then redirect the focus back to the skills and experiences that make you suitable for the role.

When invited to an interview, prepare to provide a more in-depth explanation. Plan what you’re going to draw attention to in advance, focusing on:

  • What you learned during the period: Did you develop any new specific skills or learn more about the industry, your priorities, and your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Valuable experiences: What experiences did you have during the gap that contributed to your value as an employee? For instance, did you develop more resilience and grit?
  • Relevance to the role: Are there any experiences you had during the gap that are particularly relevant to the role? For instance, did travelling help you better understand the priorities of different Office and Commercial customers or clients?

Take note of your tone and body language while responding to interview questions about the gap. Maintain an open posture and make eye contact.

 

Committing to Continuous Professional Development

All the strategies above will help you frame CV gaps more positively when you’re applying for new roles. However, the best way to make explaining gaps feel less daunting is to proactively invest in constant professional development.

If you’re committed to continually improving your skills and abilities, particularly during unemployment, you’ll have a much easier time making gaps seem optimistic. During career transitions, look for ways to use your time effectively.

Take online courses and explore new certification opportunities. Learn about industry trends and experiment with the latest technology. Invest in networking and visit industry events. Consider freelance work, consulting, or voluntary Office and Commercial opportunities.

In your CV or cover letter, highlight these proactive personal development strategies and explain how they enhance your value as a candidate.

Don’t Fear the CV Gap  

Gaps in a CV are becoming increasingly common, particularly as Office and Commercial employees pursue new priorities and explore non-linear paths to progression. Therefore, explaining periods of unemployment in your career history shouldn’t fill you with panic.

Rethink how you look at these gaps and present them to potential employers. Suppose you can frame your career gaps as periods that enabled you to improve your skills or personal growth. In that case, it helped you become a more valuable prospective employee, enhancing your chances of getting the role.