Perhaps you have been wondering why all your applications for various positions have been hitting a brick wall. Maybe you have concluded that the idea of a dream job is a fallacy. No, there is such thing as a dream job – a job that not only pays you enough to live a decent life, but also fulfils your career goals and aspirations. Having worked as a recruitment specialist and an organizational development consultant for several years, I have watched thousands of people lose opportunities that abound to get their dream jobs.
From the several coaching sessions I have had with job seekers, I have isolated six critical areas of focus which will produce quick results for anyone that pays attention to and implements them.
1. Never use generic resumes
For every position you apply for, never make the mistake of submitting the same resume you used for another position. Tailor your resume to realistically match the expectations of the new position. Read through the job description thoroughly to identify critical areas the company is emphasizing. For every job you apply to, you may need to emphasize certain skill-sets and experiences while you may de-emphasize others. Today, more than ever, recruiters are bombarded with unimaginably high number of applications from job seekers. There is no more time to completely peruse resumes. They either look for relevant skills, knowledge and experience or use a key word software to determine how many related words are in your resume ( in this case they don’t even get to view your resume if you don’t pass the key word test). What you need to do, then, is to expertly re-write your resume for every position you apply for. You may employ the services of a resume coach to help you scale this hurdle.
2. Acquire relevant certifications.
Every employer desires to hire people who can demonstrate mastery of the job for which they are applying. In many cases, the first determinant (to a recruiter) of your proficiency in any field is the certifications you have acquired in that field. Getting a college degree is good, but it is better to complement your degree by taking relevant professional courses. I say relevant, because many people join the bandwagon when it comes to certifications. They do not make proper enquiries about what certifications they need the most, before they make their choices. They only go with popular choices which are not always right. My advice for you is to carefully evaluate your options, be clear about what you want for a career and ask questions from those who you identify as successes in your field. Let them give you reasons why you must take a particular certification as against another. Ultimately, your would-be employer wants to see the fit between what you have and what he needs.
3. Find a mentor.
A friend once said that “your mentor is the prophetic picture of your preferred future”. There is nothing new under the sun. No achievement is strange; no aspiration is out-of-this-world. Everything you can think of, has been achieved by someone, somewhere. All you need to do is to find that someone and your journey is half completed. If, for example, you are seeking a position as network engineer, why not seek network engineers around you and tell them about your career goals. Let them provide you with insider tips of the networking business. They may even inform you of opportunities that show up, which outsiders may not know about. Always ask them to give you the needed tips to aid your job search. They can even be your guide in making the choice of certifications to take.
4. Network yourself to your dream job.
More than any other tip, this is the most effective. Your dream job might just be in that social event or professional seminar which you have been avoiding or considering as trivial. During this period of economic downturn, organizations strive to cut costs as much as possible. Adverts for various positions are no longer as commonplace as they used to be. Instead, recruiters seek leads to qualified people through headhunting, which is usually done in informal settings.
In your search for your dream job, I urge you to seek opportunities to attend or participate in functions that feature professionals in various disciplines. Start exploring events such as seminars, lectures, social events, religious gatherings and even social networks on the internet such as linkedin, facebook and twitter. Let your voice be heard, tell people about your expertise and let them know the opportunities you seek. The more professionals you have as friends, the more rapidly you will land your dream job.
5. Develop sound presentation skills.
You must talk your way to your dream job. No matter your expertise, you must be able to convince your employer that you know what your resume reflects or states. I have seen candidates who are extremely qualified for the jobs they applied for, but whose presentation skills are deficient. It’s not what you say, but how you say it that matters. I can cite cases of people who are less qualified for a job, but who were later employed, simply because they had a powerful and flawless style of presentation and were able to speak their way to the job. Before your next interview, it would help to evaluate how confident, forceful and brilliant you are in speech. You may need to talk to someone whose communication skills you admire to guide you. Practice how to compose yourself before an interviewer and learn to speak with passion and insight.
6. Believe in yourself
As you work in pursuit of your dream job, I encourage you to stay positive and believe in yourself. Your confidence level before and during interviews is a reflection of how much you have worked on your beliefs about yourself. Don’t entertain doubts about whether you are the best person for a position; don’t be intimidated by people’s profiles or qualifications. Do your homework and believe that the job is yours, even if there are a thousand people as qualified as you are.
