The Pat Kenny Show Is “new year, new career” really a good decision?
Dec 4, 2025
Donal O'Donoghue, Managing Director at Sanderson Recruitment, shares his insights on the complexities of a career change in a challenging job market. He emphasizes cautious considerations around moving jobs, especially regarding redundancy and lost protections. O'Donoghue discusses AI's evolving role in recruitment, highlighting benefits like interview practice tools but warns against over-reliance that could lead to mismatches. He also addresses midlife career shifts and stresses the importance of upskilling and understanding labor market dynamics.
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Episode notes
Unusual Labour Market Signals
- The labour market is unusual: record employment but rising unemployment and falling vacancies.
- Donal O'Donoghue suggests 2026 may be a year to develop within your current employer rather than move.
Weigh Legal And Career Risks First
- Assess risks before switching employers because you lose employment protections and face probation again.
- Consider investing in upskilling and growth where you are if your employer supports it.
Use AI For Practice, Not Public Content
- Avoid overusing generic AI for public job materials because employers spot ChatGPT-style content and it can hurt interview performance.
- Use AI to practise interviews and get feedback on length, structure and STAR responses instead.