No secrets or insider information — just straight forward talent expert advice from career coaches, head hunters, and recruiters that may open up few new possibilities for you on how to fine-tune your career and land the perfect job.
There is a difference between a job that pays the bills and a fulfilling career. We wondered why the distance between our job and our dreams is often so wide. Just as work has been reshaped by technology and globalization, so too have our professional fantasies. While jobs atop the corporate ladder haven’t totally lost their luster, more and more Americans are seeking work-life balance.
The old rules still ¬apply—network, network, network! And yet our hiring process still resembles the way it was back in the 1970s. Little has changed in how we post, apply, and interview for jobs on or offline.
Figure Out What You Actually Want
Before you start applying, the most important thing for you to do is to think about what you actually want out of your new job, The No. 1 mistake job seekers make is not being able to articulate what kind of job they want. “A lot of people will say, ‘I’m not exactly sure, you need to be able to describe what you want. If you can’t share that, you waste people’s time. Blindly applying to online postings won’t get you very far; instead, knowing what you’re after will be your guide to creating a tailored job search plan.
Know Your Story..
Once you figure out what you want, research careers and industries that map to your skills and interests. Now it’s time to string that together with your skills and past experience in a way that makes sense for your next position. Knowing your story well enough to tell it forward and backward won’t just help you in the interview, it’ll help you with your application materials and networking efforts.
Use social media for creating your brand, not for self-promotion
In the era of self-publishing and social media, it’s easy to get cynical about “brand building.” According to our experts, more than 90% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find talented candidates, even when looking to fill top management jobs. And it influences them. You’re one in (quite literally) 300 million potential job seekers on LinkedIn. People have to be incredibly more creative than they were in the past Think of your profile as a place to provide your career narrative rather than your career history, connect and grow relationships with people who have your dream Job.
Learn to be flexible, change with the pace of business
Your dream job today may not exist tomorrow, let alone five, 10, or 20 years from now. You’ve got to be open to whatever industry change comes your way. And recruiters will reward you for it: “Comfort with ambiguity” is among the most sought-after qualities in job candidates today.
Companies don’t just want people who can perform; they need people with relevant experience who are adaptable and quick learners.” Individuals who make a personal investment in staying valuable by seeking feedback, learning new skills, and thinking ahead— you have to present yourself as “a professional in motion.” Skills always win…yes, even over likability, charisma, and charm.
Don’t focus primarily on money…if you’re really good, it will find you.
Discover the work that calls out to you and start doing it. If you’re just in “the game of work” for the money, title, and illusion of power, you’ll never feel completely satisfied or fulfilled. Develop mastery in your chosen profession so you will continue to create job opportunities throughout your entire life.
Demonstrate genuine gratitude in your current position.
Gratitude is an excellent trait to master. Most people enjoy working with grateful, humble, genuine people who give their all. Do the absolute best you can and if you’ve been slacking a bit, go the extra mile to build better habits before seeking that dream job.
In conclusion – Be Positive
Having a positive mindset will put you on the path to success much faster than a negative one will. The easiest way to do this is to re-frame your thought process. Instead of being negative with a bunch of “I don’t” and “I can’t” phrases try to incorporate “how”. Every problem should be seen as solvable and a great learning experience to tack on your belt. The job you dream of is yours if you put in the work and effort to deserve it.