January 9, 2015 - Written by: Shiraz Engineer

7 Savvy Steps to Getting Your Dream Job

Over the last year, whilst battling with months of unemployment, little money, low self-esteem and a few low moments of deep depression, I discovered that I was not the only one who had set out to find her dream job. So many of my friends and family were unhappy in their place of work but did not know how to get themselves out of that rut.

Bad jobs and stale working environments can have a hugely negative impact on your life, so it’s important to find job satisfaction. After all, we spend at least 35 hours a week, on average, in full-time employment, not factoring in commuting time.

But after numerous job interviews and one disastrous experience, I have finally found my dream job. Hurray! It’s not permanent but I know that it will open so many doors for me in the right direction. After much uncertainty, my life feels on track.

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So I would love to share my top tips for getting out there and grabbing your dream job!

It’s a hard hill to climb, but hopefully by the end of this post, you will feel inspired to make this New Year your best ever.

Here are 7 savvy steps that I hope will help you on your way:

1. Discover what sort of job you want.

I can hear you saying: ‘No shit, Shiraz…’ But, sometimes we know we would like a new job or to make a career change but we’re not exactly sure if what we’re looking for is out there. Do some research, ask friends and family what your strengths are and whether they have any ideas about what they think you would be great at.

At the tender age of 22, my sister didn’t know that copywriting was a job until her recruitment agent suggested it based on her high-quality writing skills – years later, she is building a solid reputation for herself in the industry and loving her craft. Trust the experts and they can lead you to your dream job which you didn’t even know existed.

2. Make recruitment agencies your best friends.

I did that almost literally; in order to ensure that my agent, Karen, remembered me, I sent a Free Fun Fact to her every day and we swiftly grew to be friends!

As such, she went out of her way to find me jobs that were non-agency as well, just to help me out. Agencies are win-win – you pay absolutely nothing for their services and they will do much of the leg work trying to get you a great job. Don’t just send your CV in – pick up the phone and talk to them! Be proactive and make an impression on them so that they will want to find you employment, as well as negotiate your salary if you are successful. The bigger the salary, the more of a cut they receive, and the better off YOU are.

3. Tailor your CV every single time.

This doesn’t just mean popping the title of the role into the personal statement. Move skills up and down according to the job specification; delete any jobs that are not appropriate to mention.

Remember, there is no shame in selling yourself for a job you KNOW you would be amazing at. As for your cover letter, do not apologise for your strengths – say that you are brilliant and tell them why.

Let them smell the confidence and enthusiasm off the computer screen but without being too cocky. After reading dozens of CVs and cover letters, employers are looking for a candidate that leaps off the page. Be that person.

4. Prepare your socks off for the interview.

I cannot stress this point enough. I’m not talking about reading the homepage of their website on your phone half an hour before. Spend hours researching!

Read the job specification as if your life depended on it; scour the net for news stories on the organisation; delve deep into their website. If it’s a finance role, pull their accounts off the Companies House website and study their latest figures. Do EVERYTHING in your power to know as much as you can about where you may potentially work.

The more prepared you are, the more confident you will feel walking into an interview and answering those tough questions. If this job could change your life for the better, why wouldn’t you make sure you were as prepared as you could be?

5. Be the most charming version of yourself.

Former Dragon James Caan’s book, Get the Job You Really Want, was my bible last year and his advice helped me ace all the interviews I’ve had since reading it. One of the most inspiring things he says is that there may be many more candidates that are more qualified than you for the role. They may have more experience, more degrees, more years behind them. But, if they are as dull as dishwater, they are not going to get the job.

97% of employers worldwide say that they will always choose mindset over skillset when hiring. So present yourself with passion, poise, a bit of humour and, most importantly, a smile!

6. Be in control of the interview.

I know this sounds arrogant but interviews are not meant to be a one-way grilling session. They are an opportunity for you to discover more about your potential workplace, so don’t be afraid to turn the spotlight on the panel. And here’s something you may be sceptical to try but it has served me well (thanks again to my pal James): ask them as many questions as they ask you.

Scary, I know, but my goodness does it look impressive when you pull out a notepad with your questions carefully written out. Most candidates will ask two at the most and then scurry away, but you will only score highly by taking such an interest in the organisation.

7. Believe in yourself.

This is my cheesy, Hallmark advice but it is very easy to feel scared, intimidated and sometimes even worthless when going for an interview or starting a new job. Will they like me? Will I fit in? Will I enjoy the work? At the end of the day, your job is what you make it and it’s all about having the right attitude.

A postcard I have stuck up in my room reads: ‘Believe you can and you are halfway there’. It is difficult, but d’you know what? Your friends and family believe in you. They are your biggest fans, so feed off their love and support and you will go far.

Go out there and land the dream job that will change your life! It’s waiting for you. All you have to do is reach out and grab it.

Good luck!

If you enjoyed this post, why not check out ‘What does it mean to be successful?’