While I coach experienced professionals who are in a Job Search mode, I see that almost all of them do take steps like building a Resume, LinkedIn Profile, Networking, Making Cover Letters…..and so on. While these steps are required, they do not get the desired result because the approach they use is still traditional and not all avenues of reaching out to the prospective employers are fully utilised. Just imagine what would happen if the source of the light would not have evolved from a flame to a bulb? So to find your dream job, with my practical experience, I am sharing with you the following key steps and each one needs to be taken without any compromise. If you diligently do that (no pain, no gain), you are bound to get your dream job.
10 Key Steps That Can Help You Find Your Dream Job:
- List of Prospective Employers and Job Roles:
Make a list of all the target employers and the kind of job roles that you find interesting. Even when there are no active jobs available, making the list of job roles is important.
List your transferrable skills. Domain skills like sales, marketing, finance, audit, supply chain are different than transferrable sills like persuading, communication, adaptability to learn, patience, networking ability……, and so on. Write down stories of achievements and you will discover such skills. Get these to the forefront and you would be opening up many job opportunities as these are transferrable across industries and also highlighting them makes you stand out as a candidate.
Focus on your achievements and not responsibilities and develop a 2 pager Resume.
Today, employers are using this platform widely and it is important that you as a candidate are discovered by the recruiters. If you do not have a strong and clear headline describing what you can do for the employers or your LinkedIn Profile Summary is not reflecting your unique strengths or if you do have appropriate recommendations, you lose out on catching the attention of the prospective hiring managers. So have a well-written profile which brands you.
Go beyond the basic research of studying company websites. Do in-depth research. Talk to customers, vendors, ex-employees, call up call centers and ensure that you have so much information about the need of the job and organisation that you develop a story of success that immediately connects with the recruiters.
Using Linkedin to reach out to potential recruiters without coming across as desperate is important. You need to develop relationships first by adding value to the hiring managers (maybe send an article of interest to them) and then start a conversation just requesting for a meeting. This is an art and you can develop it and has to be done on an ongoing basis.
Unlike a cover letter, you need to develop a customised Pitch Letter addressing the business pain points of the employer and find a connection with your unique strengths. You need to come across as a solution to the problem which the employer is facing. Remember you are hired to solve a problem (it could be better sales, improved systems and processes….and so on).
Use the one-minute elevator pitch and call the hiring manager within 2 to 3 days of sending the application or if it is through LinkedIn, connect to request for a meeting. In one minute just focus on what you can do for 3 key result areas of the job. Ask for a meeting to demonstrate what you can do for the prospective employer.
It is important that you send a thank you mail to hiring managers who have responded (either way). That develops a relationship and you will also enjoy a top of mind recall.
- Five Fundamental Interview Questions:
Below are broadly the 5 questions that the interviewer wants to know before he/she hires a candidate:
A] Why are you interested in our company and this opportunity?
B] What can you do for us?
C] What kind of person are you?
D] Why should we hire YOU? How are you different than all the other applicants?
E] Can we afford you?
If you follow all the above 10 steps, I can assure you that you are bound to find your dream job.
In case you are facing a challenge in your job transition, please send me a DM on my LinkedIn profile (37,000 + followers), Instagram (82,000 followers), Facebook (2 lac followers).
and am happy to advise.
Happy Job Hunting!!!
Sarabjeet Sachar
Seasoned Career Coach, Founder & CEO, Aspiration