How to write references in a CV

Recommended CV references concept

Your FAQs on CV references answered: from who to choose, through to where they should go on your CV template and what to do if you get a bad reference.

4 ways to supercharge your employability skills

Employability - woman on tablet

Employers are looking for employability skills: those attributes that are vital to success in the workplace regardless of the sector or level of the role. Find out how you can gain these skills and present them effectively on your job applications.

How to ask for a pay rise

How to ask for a pay rise

If you feel that your hard work and efforts over the years should result in a pay increase, there is only one way to get one – ask your boss. Here are seven pointers to keep in mind when you do.

7 free CV templates to beat your October blues

CV Template Master mug

If the drizzly mornings are getting you down and a new job is on the cards, here are 7 lovely free CV templates to download and edit for your own personal use, created or updated in October to beat your Autumn blues.

10 free CV templates to brighten your Thursday

Thursday sucks - worst day of the week

We think Thursday is the worst possible day and right around now you might be thinking about getting a new job. If this is you, you’re in luck – we’ve got 10 lovely fresh CV templates to help you on your job seeking way.

The well-known Chinese philosopher Confucius is often quoted as having said:

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

Whilst we’ve since learned that it’s unlikely Confucius actually uttered these words, the saying holds true. Work takes up a huge part of our lives and if we’re in the wrong job, every day feels like a chore.

Our careers advice articles cover a wide range of topics and are designed to give you the best chance of success in your career – whatever you decide to do. Above all, it’s important that you enjoy your job and you are happy in your role – if not, then maybe it’s time for a change.

Ask yourself: are you in the right job?

Choosing a job

Are you in the right job?

We all deserve to have a career that we love and are passionate about every day. However, more and more people are finding themselves waking up on a Monday morning dreading the commute to work because they just don’t like their job.

Are you one of these people that feel like they deserve more from their career? Or are you just not sure whether you have taken the right option?

To help you decide, here are some warning signs that it may be time for a career change after all!

I don’t like Mondays…

Do you often feel anxious and stressed when it comes to Sunday night? This could be a big sign that you are in need of a career change. Worrying about work can cause your health to deteriorate, and symptoms like headaches, migraines, aching limbs and anxiety is a sure fire sign that something is wrong.

If you are experiencing any of these problems, then now is the time to evaluate your career and consider looking elsewhere before things get worse. Your health and mental state is extremely important, so now is the time to make that change. Browse our careers advice articles above for inspiration on your next step!

I lack confidence…

Having high self-esteem and being confident in your career is extremely important. But if for some reason this appears to be difficult to find, then these could be the warning signs you need to make a big decision and move on.

Some jobs can just leave you feeling down and lacking in self belief. In could be a manager or co-worker that’s making life difficult. Or even the job itself leaves you feeling like your lacking in passion and energy, and a sense of achievement is hard to come by.

A change in career may just be what’s needed to revitalise yourself and get back that passion and energy you’ve always wanted. It doesn’t matter how much it pays, it just isn’t worth it in the end if you come home feeling dejected. Take a look through some of our careers advice articles and get your confidence back!

I’m only in it for the money…

Earning a wage which is enough to support you and a family is of course the most important thing when it comes to choosing a career. However, it’s vital that you find the right balance when it comes to the amount you earn.

There is no point earning a really high wage if you are just not happy – and you probably won’t enjoy spending it anyway! A huge amount of our time is spent at work, so no amount of money will bring you happiness if you hate what you do.

It might seem like a good idea at the start, but slowly over time you will become miserable and unhappy if you are just not passionate enough and you are not feeling any professional and personal satisfaction with your career. Start reading through our careers advice posts and find the motivation to hunt down that dream job!

I’m constantly think about doing something else…

This might be one of the more obvious signs that you are ready for a career change, but you’d be surprised at how many people there are that constantly dream about something else whilst they are at the workplace.

The sky’s the limit – unless you want to be an astronaut. So why continue dreaming about another career when you could be living the dream! Take our best piece of careers advice: initiate a change!

I’m really bored!

It’s not unusual to occasionally get a little bored and unenthusiastic at work, but if this happens every day, you are certainly in the wrong career. Mundane tasks are quite common in a career, and can sometimes be part and parcel of any job. But for the majority of the time you should be feeling energetic and engaged in what you’re doing.

Job satisfaction is what drives a career, and if you are just not getting any and you are lacking in energy and interest, then a new career is what’s needed to bring back that feeling of satisfaction and reward. Start looking through our careers advice articles and tips, and find that interest again!

My friends have a better job than I do…

This may be the case, but does that fact leave you feeling down and depressed? It shouldn’t, and there are lots of reasons why.

There will always be someone out there that earns more money than you, or has a job that may sound more exciting, but when it comes down to it the most important thing is how passionate and enthusiastic you are about your own career.

It doesn’t matter what you do. You could be washing dishes or flying fighter jets. What matters is how you feel when you show up for work every day, and there is no other person or career out there that can match yours if you love what you do.

So if you find yourself constantly feeling jealous of a friend’s career, then it may just be because you are not getting job satisfaction in your own, and not because they earn more money or you assume their career is more exciting. Our careers advice articles are here to help you find your dream job – the one that will make your friends envious of you!

I can’t leave, even if I wanted too…

Why? What’s stopping you? Is it because you wouldn’t be able to pay your bills? Would you not be able to find another career that pays as well?

None of the above reasons should stop you finding the right career for you. Sure, it may not be possible to just up and leave your job tomorrow because there are bills coming out at the start of the month. But this doesn’t mean to say you are stuck there forever.

If money is the only thing that keeps you in a career you hate, then don’t let that stop you in the long term. Make plans and be smart about a possible career move. Do you need a particular qualification to make that move? Then why not consider night classes, or weekend courses. It may be a lot to take on, but it will be worth it in the end if you get to work in a job you are passionate about for the rest of your working life.

Use our careers advice resources

If it’s time for a change then don’t hesitate – browse through our careers advice articles to help you decide on the next step!

More careers advice resources:

  • National careers service – information and advice to help you get on in work and life.
  • Prospects – advice on work and experience for students
  • The Guardian – excellent articles covering a wide range of careers advice topics