9 useful tips for finding your dream job

Finding your dream job can be a time-consuming and sometimes frustrating process, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are 9 useful tips to help you find that job you’ve always been looking for:

1. Don’t settle for something too low: You might be eager to find your next job, but you should not be settling for anything that comes along your way. Settling for a job that is not worth your qualifications and experience is not smart, because you are actually taking a step back in your career and it’s not logical if you are moving forward.

For instance: If you’ve been a restaurant manager for many years, you shouldn’t aim to become a waiter or a dishwasher.

2. Don’t set the bar too high: We’ve established that you shouldn’t be settling for something too low, but you should also be realistic and stop applying for jobs that you are not qualified for. Don’t apply for a job that requires a lot more experience and qualifications. Try to match the job you want with your skills and experience. Setting the bar too high will waste a lot of your time and energy and will leave you disappointed with every rejection you get from an employer.

3. Use your networks: Networking your way into your next job might be easier than you think. Call me old-fashioned, but word of mouth is still one of the most effective marketing techniques in the 21st Century. Talk to the people that you meet everyday. They might be more willing to help than you think. Start by talking to your friends, your parents’ friends, your relatives, etc. Spread the word that you are looking for a job in a particular industry. Use your social networks to broaden your reach.

4. Don’t be careless when you’re job hunting: Don’t be sloppy with your documents. It’s NOT professional. Make sure that your CV is in order and error free. Triple check your CV and cover letter for spelling and grammar errors. Ignoring this tip may be the reason that your CV ends up in the rubbish bin.

Be professional. Trying to be cute or funny might make you stand out from the rest, but the interviewer won’t necessarily be impressed by it. Take note of the 10 power words that you should use on your CV and familiarize yourself with these cover letter tips.

5. Customize your CV for each position: It may have worked in the past, but you should not be sending out the same CV and cover letter to every single potential employer. These days recruitment involves careful analysis and hiring someone who is the perfect fit for a position. This means you have to show each and every employer that you’re the right person for the job.

Customize your CV according to the organization and its job requirements. Leave out info that is useless / not relevant to the job at hand. If you’re applying for a job at an advertising agency, highlight your creative skills. If you are applying for a sales position, highlight your excellent communication skills or emphasize that you’re a people person.

6. Act Professionally in everything you do: Make sure you behave professionally during your interview, make sure that you use professional language in your documents and dress professionally. Try not too use “funky” e-mail addresses like “coolbabe1969@gmail.com” or “paperboy97@yahoo.com” – because it won’t impress employers.

It’s most likely that a potential employer will be going through your social media profiles, so make sure that you clean up your digital footprint. When you’re job hunting you should think twice before you post photos on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin. Having inappropriate photos on your profile might discourage a potential employer from hiring you, so be careful.

7. Make sure that you are prepared for the interview: Familiarize yourself with some of the interview tips that we’ve posted on the Job Mail Blog and take note that researching the company is important. You should also ideally be talking to previous employees and writing down the answers to possible interview questions (and rehearsing them).

8. Make sure that you have an online presence: Since potential employers will most likely be looking at your digital footprint, make sure that your Linkedin profile looks professional and is updated with the latest info. If you have a blog and / or Twitter account, spice it up a little and make it look professional. Having a blog is a great way to showcase your skills and knowledge and Twitter is one of most useful networking tools around. Take my word for it.

9. Don’t be negative: Job hunting can be stressful and discouraging at times, but having a negative attitude won’t get you anywhere. Don’t whine and complain all the time and don’t bad mouth your current boss or ex-boss during your interview.

If you’re feeling down in the dumps, take a breather, read some motivational quotes and download The Job Seeker’s Guide to find a job in South Africa. Try to see the positive in every situation that you encounter, it will change your life.

Well, there you have it, 9 useful tips for finding your dream job. I trust that you’ve found this information useful. If you have another tip that you can add, feel free to to comment on this article.

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