6 strategies to achieve your dream job

business company confidence interview job success

Are you looking for a new professional challenge? Are you wondering how to be more successful and increase your chances of landing the job of your dreams?

After a few years working in Human Resources, I've collected a few ideas that can make a real difference when you are looking for a job. I want to share them with you so you can master your job-seeking skills!

1. Look for your ideal companies and contact them

Actively looking at job sites is not enough; you should directly apply to your favorite companies, even if they do not have any open vacancies for your role. You never know when they'll need someone like you. You can also contact key people on Linkedin (recruiters, HR Directors, managers...) or send them emails to let them know your interest. Submitting your CV is OK, but if you want to stand out, offer them an idea of your expertise that can really bring value to their business.

2. Stay in contact with recruitment agencies

They can help find the right job for you as they have wide knowledge of the labor market and are continually researching open positions. Some of them specialize in specific industries; they can help you improve your CV and guide you during the recruitment process for free. It is worth doing a bit of research and contacting the agencies that will cater to your needs.

3. Keep your CV simple, customized and creative

Recruiters screen lots of CVs every day, so they appreciate receiving simple and clear ones. Having more pages on your CV doesn’t make you look more qualified; in fact, it can work against you. A long and overwritten CV will be perceived as a lack of synthesis capacity. It's better to simply include your most relevant experiences and get to the point; you'll have time to give more details in the interview. The ideal length for a CV is 1-2 pages. Use your CV as an opportunity to demonstrate your skills, not just your experience/knowledge. You can do this by synthesizing your information in an eye-catching but easy-to-read way, or attach links to resources that showcase your talent (portfolio, pictures of your work, websites, reports...).

4. Get to know yourself and build self-confidence

It's good to be aware of your strengths and weaknesses, identify your skill set, and compare it with the job requirements. Chances are, you will not meet all the requirements for a specific role, but you'll have other skills (e.g.: communication skills, time management abilities, problem solving skills, knowledge of methodologies, software or tools) to add value to the position you’re vying for. Find and identify these skills! In addition to that, it’s also a good idea to prepare a quick summary about yourself, so you can communicate who you are, what you’re looking for and how you can benefit the company, in a minute or less (this is known as the elevator speech).

5. Look for information about the company

You are not supposed to know everything, but knowing the basics is a must. The more you know, the better. For the interviewer, it's usually very encouraging to meet candidates who show genuine interest and see that they have been doing research beforehand. It will also help you be more confident and make sure it is the place you want to work at. Here are a few tips:

  • Read essential information on the company website: Their history, values, products, team members, founders...
  • Connect with key employees on Linkedin: You can easily connect with someone from the department you want to join to find out more about it. You can also look at the profiles of those interviewing you to have an idea of their background and expertise.

6. Ask the right questions

An interview should not be an interrogation. The interviewer will also expect a few questions from you. These questions are a crucial part of the interview, so you should prepare them in advance. It's a good opportunity to show your interest and find out what is crucial for you.

Here are a few question ideas that will not only help you understand your prospective job better, but also help you impress your interviewer:

  • What are the expectations for the role during the first year?
  • Can you tell me something about what my typical day at work would be like?
  • What is the company culture like? What about the company values?
  • What do you like most about working for this company?
  • What are the main challenges of the department?
  • What is the typical career path for someone in this role?

 

 

I hope you find these ideas useful. If you need help or advice on how to be more successful when looking for a job, do not hesitate to contact me! I'll be more than happy to help you.

Andrea Arcusa
Psychologist and Life Coach