The first couple of months of the year is a common time for many people to take stock of where their career is heading. So how do land your dream job? I’ve got a lot of recruitment experience – both good and bad – so here are my top tips for securing the job you’ve always wanted!
Chuck your CV in the bin…
That’s probably the opposite of what you’ve been told all your live, but believe me – I know how to get you where you want to be, and it’s not the old-fashioned way!
If you’re stuck in a job that’s not satisfying you or not paying you what you want, or you have been waiting for that promotion that never happens, here’s what you’re doing wrong…you must stop focusing on doing things the way everyone else is, and start doing the things that will set you apart, will get you noticed and get you what you want. Here’s what you need to do.
Figure out your target
If you don’t know what you’re aiming for, I guarantee you’ll never get there! So the first thing you have to do is figure out who you want to work for. Ask yourself – what excites you? It’s like the old quote – “choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life”. Decide which job could make you feel that way. Then ask yourself why you want to do that job, and what it is about that particular brand, company or individual that gets you excited.
Then the real work starts!
Targeting like a killer
Once you’ve worked out where you want to get to, you can start to focus on what you actually have to offer. I’m not talking about crafting a perfectly worded CV, sending it off to someone in HR you’ve never met and sitting back and hoping for the best…that’s why I told you to ditch your CV earlier!
You’ve got to get OUT THERE! Network like mad, attend all the events you possibly can, fire out messages on LinkedIn, and talk to everyone and anyone who has connections to where you want to be. You’ve got to do the work, to find out where YOU and YOUR particular skill set can add value to a business.
You have to make yourself invaluable to them. Come up with ideas, solve their problems, and show you’ve got something special instead of just completing a bog standard application or sending an email which is never going to stand out from hundreds of others. I remember once being told a story about an HR director who used to throw out exactly 50% of all the applications and CVs they received. Their explanation? “I don’t want unlucky people working for me” 😂
Even if most companies don’t do this, you have to stand out. So if that means turning up and sitting on the office doorstep every day until someone listens to you explain exactly why you’re amazing and you’d be an incredible asset to them, then that’s what you’ve got to do!
Get the skills you need to succeed
However – you’ve got to be realistic. It’s no good thinking you’re going to land your dream job as head of sales at Coca-Cola if you’ve never sold a thing in your life, or you spend your days dreaming about becoming a professional tennis player because you once beat your nan at Wii Sports! Prioritise equipping yourself with the skills that will be essential in your dream job.
You’ve got to be smart about how you use your time. You might be the world’s best computer programmer, but if your dream employer already has all the positions filled and they’re flying without you, you’re going to be wasting your time.
Where are you going to make the most difference?
How will you deliver them the most income?
Maybe what you can bring are different ideas and perspectives.
Maybe you have an idea for a whole new income stream or know a way to open up a new market.
Ultimately, if you think as everyone else does, you’ll end up stuck behind a queue of people that you can’t stand out from and you will go unnoticed. So chuck out your CV, forget about applying for boring, depressing and ultimately sh*t roles at faceless ‘businesses’ and start connecting your ideas with the people that matter.
If you think you should be working with me then get in touch! I am always on the lookout for the entrepreneurs of tomorrow with great ideas and the work ethic to make it big!
For videos where I chat to celebrities, business gurus and social media influencers about business, their inspiration, investment opportunities, hopes and dreams – a bit of everything! – visit my YouTube channel and for more topical, fun and above all educational business blogs follow me on LinkedIn.
