Revitalize Your Job Search: How to Land Your Dream Job
Finding a new job can feel like an uphill battle, especially in uncertain economic conditions like we’re in now. Landing the job of your dreams is within reach, but it takes more than just a great resume or an impressive cover letter. While those are important pieces of the application process, there are other steps that you can take to become more competitive and get closer to securing the job of your dreams. In this comprehensive blog post, we’ve compiled a list of expert tips from the practical, tactical, and personal, to help make your job search a seamless and more enjoyable process.
Finding the Right Job Opportunity
Get clear on what you want. If you’re working 9-5, that means you’re spending eight hours, or one-third of your time at work, so it’s important to do something that you love. Before you get too deep in your search, clearly define your ideal role and envision yourself being happy at work. After you’re done with your visualization, write down exactly what you saw. This can include:
Where is my office located (or do I work at home)?
What title or position do I hold?
What hours do I work?
What level of flexibility do I have with my creative output as well as my time?
What are the opportunities for advancement and upward mobility?
Are there mentorship opportunities?
What is the company culture and how is my team structured?
What will a typical day look like?
In the words of Career Coach Jessica Sweet, “The clearer your target, the clearer your strategy can be for landing the job.” One great way to start is by setting SMART goals for your job search.
Schedule informational interviews. Use your network (both virtual and personal) to your advantage by learning more about companies of interest. After you’ve done a bit of research, it’s likely that you’ll find a few companies that pique your interest, even if they don’t have any active job postings. Do a quick LinkedIn search to see who you might know at the company and request an informational interview. If you don’t know anyone directly, you can search for someone in your department of interest, share your desire to learn more about the company, and ask them if they would be willing to meet for coffee or a 30-minute informational interview. While reaching out blindly may seem intimidating, people are more likely to accept your offer to meet than you think, and are generally happy to share about their work and that of their company. This is also a really great way to learn about new jobs before they are open to the public and establish a personal connection before going through the formal process.
Let opportunities come to you. Put your expertise to work by sharing your skills and being more vocal and active on social media and networking platforms like LinkedIn. You never know who is watching, and when you put yourself out there, you open yourself up to the possibility of a recruiter reaching out to you. If you’re a freelancer or entrepreneur, another way to do this is by creating a personal website with clear calls to action (CTAs) so that individuals searching for experts in a certain field can be led directly to your homepage.
Landing the Job Interview
Customize your resume. Employers want to know that you’re interested in their job, not just any job. So, to put your best foot forward, customize your resume and tailor your experience to meet the needs of each job you’re applying to. Do this by taking a thorough look at the job description, and tailoring the tasks and responsibilities you list to be appropriate fo the opportunity at hand. Remember: a single job posting can get hundreds and even thousands of applications from interested and qualified candidates. According to Nathan Brunner, CEO of Salarship, “To reduce the candidate pool, recruiters use an algorithmic filter that checks the candidate's resume against the job description. For example, if a job description requires ‘Data Analysis’ in the skill section, all resumes that don't mention ‘Data Analysis’ will automatically get deleted.” So, to prevent yourself from being removed based on a simple technicality, Brunner recommends doing a keyword search to ensure that you’re including the right terms in your resume and application.
Reach Out to the Recruiter. While this may not always be feasible, one way to put your candidacy ahead of the rest is to reach out to the job poster after you’ve submitted your application. Send a note thanking them for the opportunity to apply, write a brief 2-3 sentences about your interest in the role and why you’d be a good fit, and share your email address so that they can reach out. One simple note like this can go a long way.
Be prompt and professional. First impressions last a lifetime, and when you’re on the hunt for your next career opportunity, you want to be sure to make an impressive impression. When corresponding with a potential employer, be sure to:
Respond promptly and professionally to emails. Here I might add that it’s always important to confirm that you’ve received a message. Leave nothing up to interpretation; communication is key.
Answer the phone! While it’s typical to avoid unknown numbers like the plague, this is the one time that you might just have to take a risk and answer one of those pesky scam or telemarketing calls. Answer all calls to ensure that calls from your dream job don’t slip through the cracks.
Always arrive on time for interviews and phone calls. If there is an emergency that prevents you from being able to make it on time, communicate with your interviewer so that they’re in the know.
Preparing for Your Interview. Chances are you’re not the only person being considered for a position, even if you are a top candidate. Take these steps to adequately prepare for an interview and leave a great impression:
Research the company. Visit the company website and do a quick web search to learn more about the company, their vision and values, as well as any recent news or features. Mentioning relevant updates about the company an