New year resolutions are traditionally associated with getting fit and losing weight, but according to a new survey it is their work situation that many people are concerned with improving each year.
Almost half of new year resolutions were found to be work related in the latest survey by IrishJobs.ie, with workers citing the notion of upskilling and finding more challenging jobs as among their plans for 2011.
While fitness/diet related resolutions were made by 35 per cent, 16 per cent of resolutions were family related, and six per cent money related, 43 per cent of respondents told IrishJobs.ie that their main new year resolution for the year ahead was work related.
Specifically on these, more than one third claimed they intended to find a more challenging job in 2011 with one in five stating they were planning to upskill.
Meanwhile 16 per cent of Irish workers plan to challenge themselves more in their current role, with a further 13 per cent claiming they will seek promotion in the coming year. More than one in 10 (11 per cent ) intend changing their profession/career while eight per cent of respondents planned to draw more attention to their achievements at work.
Alongside the drive to change job and challenge themselves more in their work this year the IrishJobs.ie survey found almost two thirds (64 per cent ) of respondents described themselves as content or happy in their current job/profession – with the IT profession being the most happy.
“The old saying New Year, New Career certainly rings true according to our survey,” said Valerie Sorohan, marketing manager with IrishJobs.ie “We have found that people always start the New Year with fresh plans for their career so it is important for them to maintain that momentum and draw up an action plan to achieve set goals.’’
More than half (54 per cent ) of respondents admitted that the current economic climate is preventing them from making a career move such as leaving a secure job; 27 per cent said it had no impact on their career decisions, while 19 per cent were unsure.
“It is interesting that one out of every two Irish workers is concerned about making a move, such as leaving a secure job,” Ms Sorohan added. “On a positive front, we have been monitoring the Irish jobs market via our online jobs index since April 2009. Figures since our index began document a steady growth in jobs ever since, which is good news for people thinking about dipping their toe in the job market this year.”
Work related stress is also an issue that people are addressing, with 62 per cent admitting they struggled with stress in the evenings after work, 19 per cent at the weekends, and 12 per cent while on holiday; 29 per cent confessed to feeling stressed all the time.
Respondents revealed they were planning to take action to combat stress, with 60 per cent resolving to take more exercise, again demonstrating a confident attitude to addressing issues relating to job and career; 14 per cent resolved to sign up for a stress relieving activity such as yoga, and almost one third opted for a healthy eating regime.
