New year new career

 

The end of the year is around the corner and as the new year is approaching we start to evaluate the last year(s). With a new year come new year’s resolutions and as your career is a big part of your life, we start to ask ourselves “is the job I want to do for a long time” and “Do I really want to work for this company for the upcoming years?” It’s the time of the year that many people start looking for new opportunities.

Your dream job most likely won’t just fall in your lap. You have to go out and get it! But how?

Write down your goals
What do you want job-wise and which companies match these goals? The easiest way to get a clear overview for yourself is to take pen and paper and start writing down what it is that you’re looking for. Answer questions as for example:

  • Do I like my current role? Yes/No, why?
  • Do I see myself still working for this company in a few years? Yes/No, why?
  • Do I like the environment I work in? Yes/No, why?
  • Would I prefer working for a big multinational or do I prefer a smaller company where everyone knows each other?

 

Maybe you are very happy with your current role, but you would just like to work in a different environment. Or you think it’s time for a big change and want to move abroad to find that dream job. Answering questions like these will help you cross out what you really don’t want and will help you find out what you do want. And from here onwards you can start looking into how to get to your goal.

Once you know what you are looking for, try to find out everything about this dream job. The more you can make yourself fit in to the role and companies’ culture and mindset, the more you will stand out when applying for the job and the better your chances are to actually landing yourself that dream job.

Write a Killer CV
It’s known that recruiters and hiring managers only look at your CV for a few seconds. You’re CV has to stand out from the rest. Mimic the key words of the job application, so when a recruiter views your CV those will be noticed immediately. And next to a killer CV, don’t forget a strong cover letter. A cover letter can be a hassle to write but will set you apart from the competition who didn’t take the time to write a cover letter. Be clear and concise in your CV as well as in your cover letter and make sure your LinkedIn matches your CV. As many recruiters will check out your LinkedIn page after seeing your CV.

Get personal
Find out who’s the recruiter responsible for the job you want and reach out to him/her. Call them to introduce yourself, why you are interested in the job and what value you can bring to the company. Calling someone always makes you come across much better than just sending an email. Once you’ve spoken to the recruiter don’t forget to follow up. This is where many other candidates fail. Everyone is always busy and they might forget. There’s a 7-time rule in sales, that says that it takes about 7 times to get in touch with someone to close a deal. So, make sure you’re patient but keep following up. Even if it’s just an email to thank someone for their time.

Don’t let money drive you
A high salary can be a drive for you, but when looking for jobs forget about money as your main motivator. Not relying on just wage will make it a little bit easier to land you that dream job or a job that brings you a step closer to it. It’s a benefit if you have money saved or are saving money in your current job. This will make you feel more relaxed and you won’t make hasty decisions based on your finances. Having savings gives you more time to apply for the right jobs and go through the whole application process.

Have faith in yourself
You most of the time don’t land your dream job overnight. Believe in yourself and stay positive. Finding that dream job takes time. Keep putting in effort and you will eventually get there. If you don’t get the job the first time, keep your head up and keep pushing. You will get that job if you believe in it. Everyone walks a different path to get to their dream job. But the three things everyone has in common when finding that one job you really want is hard work, dedication and luck.

Happy job hunting