Some of you reading may already be in your dream job but most of you are probably in a job you don't particularly like and know what you want to do you just don't know how to get there. Today I want to share a few simple tips on how you can get that dream job. These are things that most people dismiss when applying or looking for jobs.
My dream job would be a full time blogger, I love blogging and it has created some amazing opportunities for me and I like working from home and having freedom. I live in Birmingham and we don't have a steady flow of blogger events or opportunities most blog events are in London and because of my work commitments I can't just drop everything and go to events. Blogging can be very hit and miss sometimes there's loads of work and sometimes it can be very quiet and I can't afford to not be working which is why I work part time and blog part time which is good enough for me right now.
1. Update your CV! You probably think not much has changed since you last looked at your CV but you should be updating it all the time. If you are working what skills and training have you done recently and can you add this to your CV is it relevant? Are your references and recent employees still correct and are their contact details correct? Do you have different CV's for different jobs? If applying for a role in Social Media / IT does your CV stand out? If it's just a word document then chances are it will go to the bottom of the pile! Could you make a video CV / animated CV?
2. I know that newsletters and emails etc are annoying but set up a separate email account for job hunting and sign up for all the newsletter regarding jobs in your area/ field. It's hard to check for jobs every single day and the last thing you want to do when you get home from work is look through job search engines. Newsletters sift through and show you relevant jobs and this means you have more time to actually apply for the jobs. With the internet now job hunting is a very speedy process so you don't really have time to think about applying because tomorrow that position could already be gone.
3. Most jobs get filled before they even hit the recruitment department. Make friends with someone who works at your dream job or mention to a friend that your looking for work in a certain area. Chances are they know someone who works in that field or may know of a job going. Word of mouth is a great way to get in the door and it means someone doesn't have to sift through a stack of applications.
4. If you like to party or your Facebook page is embarrassing, then check your privacy settings and set it to private. The first thing an employer will do is check you out online. If your social media accounts are relevant to the position then you shouldn't make them private however they should be professional. For example as a blogger it wouldn't make sense for my twitter to be private but my account is professional and I wouldn't mind an employer stumbling across it. A new survey conducted by Bidvine to find out how people present themselves to others online recently found that the average profile picture is 2 years old. The Survey found that from a group of 2000 British social media and online dating users that on average a Facebook profile picture is updated every 5 months where as on LinkedIn its more like 2.1 years! Chances are this means that your whole LinkedIn profile is out of date. You are giving the wrong impression if your profile is not up to date, an employer may think you look too young for the role and dismiss you completely. 11% of the people asked admitted that the pictures used for their profiles were taken more than 10 years ago. And another statistic that I thought was relevant was 1 in 4 would not want their boss to see their current Facebook profile picture! Chances are you wouldn't want a future employer to either!! So update your profiles so that are relevant and up to date.
5. Don't let a lack of experience stop you from applying! Sometimes employers would prefer some experience however not always. Sometimes employers would prefer to teach you themselves and having some previous experience can go against you. It's harder to teach an old dog new tricks. You also don't know what kind of experience the other candidates have so you may be just as qualified as the others, this may mean that even without the relevant experience you could be the best candidate for the job. Just be positive and try and stand out and be unique. You want them to remember you!
6. Any progress is good progress, even if it's just an interview. If you've been in the same job for the last 10 years then chances are things have changed since you last went for a job interview. Do some research about the company, most now have websites and they usually expect you to have checked them out prior to your interview. Even if you don't get the job at least you will have gained some interview experience.
7. Stay positive and be patient. Chances are your not going to hear back off an employer over night or you may need to do you may need to do some training so that you have the right qualifications for the position but don't give up. Do your research and keep your head held high. Stand out from the crowd and let your show your positively.
