Christmas is over for another year. The presents have been opened, the turkey has been eaten and before long the festive jumpers will go back into the wardrobe for another 12 months.
However, before we completely return to normality, there is the small matter of new year. 2015 is on the horizon and, as ever, this is the time of the year when we start making our resolutions in a bid to improve our lives.
One of the most common pledges people make at new year is to find a new job in the next 12 months. Indeed, according to research from YouGov more than one in five make a new year's resolution that focuses on a career change. If you would like a new job in 2014, why not consider entering the parking industry? Here are five reasons why working in parking might be worth your while.
Get active
According to YouGov, 51 per cent of people make a new year's resolution to do more exercise and improve their fitness, while 47 per cent aim to lose weight. Getting a parking job could actually help you achieve these goals. For example, civil enforcement officers spend the majority of their day on their feet patrolling a beat. This is a great way to stay and shape and stop the pounds from piling on.
Perks
There are plenty of extra perks to working in parking. Hours can be flexible and many parking roles are in the public sector, meaning there's a good chance you can enjoy more generous pay, pensions and holiday allowances.
Not going away
Few things are certain in life, but that people will always need to park is. As long as we continue to drive cars, we will have to park them and that means there is guaranteed to be some level of demand for parking professionals. Indeed, the UK's cities and roads are becoming increasingly busy and congested, which means the need for effectively regulated parking is paramount if the country is to keep moving.
A helping hand
When people think of parking professionals they often imagine jobsworth employees who are desperate to hand out as many tickets as possible. In reality, things are actually quite different. Civil enforcement officers are not incentivised to penalise drivers, they are simply there to ensure parking regulations are adhered to.
What's more, helping the public is actually becoming a more important part of the position. Officers are being encouraged to offer more of a customer-based service, in which they provide advice and information to the public on everything from parking rules to giving out directions.
Variety
While civil enforcement officers are the external face of the parking profession, this is not the only job the sector has to offer. There is actually a decent level of variety in the industry, with a number of different positions available. These can range from appeals officers, who deal with parking disputes, to traffic engineers, who manage the flow of traffic in towns and cities. Whatever your skillset, there may be a parking job for you.
Have the reasons above convinced you to pursue a parking career in 2015? If so, take a look at our vacancies and don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.
