Landing your dream job is no simple feat. You will need great determination, and you must be ready to take on extra commitments to get you where you need to be. There will be trying times; sometimes, you will need to apply for over one hundred roles before you even get an interview! It can be pretty disheartening to get that email, giving you the crushing news that your application has been unsuccessful. However, there are a few things you can do before you apply to maximise your chances of landing not only the interview, but also being employed with a great company! Read ahead to ensure you are aware of the steps you can take to increase your chances of landing your dream job.
Qualifications
Some companies require all employees to have relevant qualifications before you are even considered for a role. In this instance, you will need to do your own research regarding what specific qualifications are required. Do you need to obtain a bachelor’s degree before applying? Or is a 6-month certificate program enough? Should you apply for some student internships to undertake while you study? Does the job you are considering allow you to study while you work, or do you need to have completed your studies before commencement? These are all things you should consider before you apply for any job.
Networking
Networking is a great way to get your name known in the industry you are hoping to work in. Attending networking events lets you chat with potential employers and get a feel for the kind of morale you can expect within your intended industry. However, not all networking must be done so formally. You can network with every single person you interact with. Your uncle, your neighbour, even your best friend’s cousin; any of them might one day create their own start-up company. If you leave a good impression on these people, you may be able to call on them later to help you land an internship or even a job. They might even be able to refer you to other start-ups looking for interns. For example, your dream job might be to work for a luxury car company. Your neighbour might be a mechanic. When the time comes for you to gain hands-on experience with cars, you could call your neighbour and ask for some work experience in his mechanic’s shop. Any experience is good experience when it comes to applying for jobs in your chosen field!
Internships
There are two types of internships: paid and unpaid. Unpaid internships are much more common because companies offering internships are usually willing to take on new people and train them up if they are getting work done for them for free. While this may sound a bit disappointing, don’t underestimate the value of unpaid internships when it comes to applying for jobs. Whether it’s an I.T. internship or an accounting internship, your future employers will hold any internship in very high regard! Internships provide you with practical experience and extensive knowledge in any given field. They also give you a feel for the industry to help you decide if this is really the job you’re looking for long-term. Applying for internships is similar to applying for jobs, and this means that you can gain experience in the application and interview process as well. You can practice your interview skills and ask for feedback on your resume to refine it perfect for when you’re applying for jobs. You can find available internships in your area by looking online, keeping an eye on newspapers, and sometimes even on flyers posted to community noticeboards.
Skill-Building Courses
If your chosen career requires some special skills that you feel you may be lacking, you could consider taking a course to work on these skills and help refine them. There are courses that can help you with developing leadership capabilities, communication skills, including written and verbal communication, and teamwork skills. These courses can help you develop your skills to a point where you can confidently walk into a job interview and tell the interviewer how good your skills are and how you may be able to apply these skills in your new role, should they hire you. If you are going for a job in a management position, you might like to consider undertaking a corporate management program to help you refine your skills, so you are more than ready to take on the challenge.
Resume and Cover Letters
Usually, the very first impression any future employer has of you comes from your resume and cover letter. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that these two documents are of exceptional quality and portray the best qualities you have to offer to the company. Your resume should detail your personal details such as your name and contact information, including phone and email. It should also include your relevant skills and experience as well as your professional and educational history. If you have any degrees or qualifications, they should be noted on your resume. If you have had jobs in the past, they should also be listed on your resume, with a brief description of your role and what skills you utilised or gained while working in that role. Your resume should be brief, no more than two A4 pages. The cover letter is where you can get much more detailed.
When reading job descriptions, there will often be a list of required skills. Your cover letter is where you get to explain to the employer why and how you have the necessary skills required. Use the list from the job description and explain why you believe you have each skill. You can even provide examples of times when you have had to use such skills in the past. Your cover letter should not exceed one A4 page, but it should be detailed enough to show your personality and relevant experience to the employer. You are trying to stand out amongst all the other applicants, so remember to tweak your cover letter for each job you apply for. It must be specific to each role. There are companies around these days that can help you write your resume and cover letter if you need some tips on what should and should not be included.
There are many ways in which you can maximise your chances of landing your dream job. This article details just a few. The best way to increase your chance is to gain as much experience as you possibly can. Make sure your resume and cover letter are professional, with no spelling errors, and really try to sell your best points to your future employers. Remember to network with everyone, because you never know when you might want to call on a favour from someone you’ve met in the past. Take on extra qualifications and consider unpaid internships, because the more experience you gain, the higher you will rank to potential employers.