Five Tips for Landing your Dream Job - CareerAlley

Five Tips for Landing your Dream Job - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. You graduated from college thinking youll immediately land on your feet? You didnt? Well dont be surprised; youre not the only one. With the current economy, it may be weeks or months before you get a job you studied for. However, if you are looking for that dream job, then that is a different story. It will require planning, patience, determination, enthusiasm and the ability to accept failures. So lets walk you through some steps or the top five tips that will help you get your dream job before you can say Hamilton Island. Define your goal (You need to have a Goal) Before you start looking for your dream job, there is one question you need to ask yourself; what is it that you really want to do? You really need to think about this long and hard. Your own conclusion is what provides you with a starting point. Your college major may give you a platform for identifying your career goals. But provided its feasible, it is perfectly normal if you wish to pursue a field that has nothing to do with you major. Perhaps you spent four years of your life doing something that you did not really like. But why make the same mistake all over again? Research (Dont rely on Google solely) Once youve made up your mind as to what you want, the next step is; Research. You need to find out about the companies that offer the job which you want to get. Your research should go beyond the company background. You need to research about the requirements for relevant position, application process, format of resumes and cover letters, interview questions etc. Itll be a great idea to learn about people who are already working with the company. You can check their professional profiles; see what their educational background is and what else they had to offer to the company. Perhaps you can contact them and schedule a meet up. This takes us to the next point. Meet the Right People (Broaden your Social Network) Network! You never know, you might end up finding your dream job over a cup of coffee or tea, when you are looking for opportunities; you are actually looking for people with similar interests. Its just like dating. The importance of this step should not just be underestimated. Opportunities are usually connected to people. You need to go out and network with the right people. By now you must have figured out who the right people are. Suppose you want to work in a bank and one of your friends might have an old college buddy already working there. He can help you get valuable inside information. He might even be able to squeeze in an interview. Are you Right for the Job? (Be Realistic!) Now you know all about your dream job. Whats next? Customize your profile and resume matching the requirements of the employers. There are going to be hundreds of applications for the same job. Your resume and cover letter should highlight what it is about you that the company needs; you need to emphasize on how you will add value to the firm and what distinguishing skills and experience you have. Be realistic! You should be able to backup all the information youve provided. Perhaps you might discover that your desired job requires certifications and training you do not already have. Dont be disappointed! You are young, if not, willing to learn. You still have a long way to go. You can decide to go back to college for a while or take up relevant courses. Consider going an extra mile. It is bound to pay off in the long run. Dont Just Give Up (Go Big or Go Home) Youve tried your level best but you still dont have that job. Landing your dream job is no walk in the park. You need to be focused and be willing to make sacrifices. Consider accepting a position that might seem below your requirement but is somehow related to what you want to do. It will in one way or the other help you get closer to your dream job. Alternatively you can try to get an internship in the company where you want to work eventually. Getting your dream job sounds like a lot of lot hard? Of course it is. But the efforts will be worthwhile. Life would be way more exciting if you thoroughly enjoy your job and it doesnt merely serve as a means of earning money. All you need is the right information and the right attitude, and youll get your dream job before you can say Ben Southall.