How to get your dream job

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With so many people applying for the same job these days, you really have to stand out from the crowd to have a chance of getting that dream job. Anastasia Baker is MD of the Intern Partnership which provides young people with comprehensive guidance and training for their first steps into the workplace, as well as access to a database of outstanding internship opportunities. The Intern Partnership provides one-to-one guidance, delivering invaluable information on interview technique, presentation and confidence building, as well as insight into the psychology of the workplace. At a recent Investment 2020 Industry Insight event, Anastasia provided some guidance on how you can shine above your competition to get your dream job.
As founder of the Intern Partnership, I’m intimately involved with the local job market. Over the past few years, I’ve seen hundreds of resumes, met hundreds of people and talked with dozens of employers. Based on those interactions, I’ve discovered a few simple secrets to getting a dream job (or any job for that matter). So, let’s take a look at the key areas that you should focus on to help you realise your career goals.

A winning CV

This is clearly one of the most important things in applying for a job. Without a winning CV, you aren’t even going to get an interview. Your CV is your first opportunity to sell yourself to your potential employer. As a result, the format and layout of your CV and of course the content is crucial to success. According to many research surveys, most employers will take an average of just 6 seconds to read your CV, so you need to grab attention and stand out from the crowd. It may seem obvious but make sure there are no spelling or grammatical errors. Also, tailor-make your CV for every job you are applying for. Make sure that your relevant skills are clearly outlined and where possible align them to the job description – as this is what employers will look for. Include lots of work experience relevant to your chosen field and ensure you include the top 2 or 3 accomplishments: something that makes you stand out from the crowd.

First impressions are everything

So, you’ve got the winning CV and now you’ve been invited for an interview. Firstly, it’s crucial to get inside the mind of your potential future employer. Employers are thinking: How are you going to help me achieve my goals? And how will your qualities make my company more successful? With this in mind, it’s important that you make a good first impression in the interview. Dress to impress but appropriate for a job interview. When asked questions in the interview, make sure you provide evidence and examples that demonstrates your skills and experience throughout.

Make it personal

A good personal statement will encourage a prospective employer to read the rest of your CV and is almost an executive summary of why they should choose you over someone else. It should be a paragraph long and it can evolve as you progress in your chosen career. The personal statement can be included on social media sites and used when engaging with future business partners. The paragraph should encapsulate your interests and achievements and what drives you to succeed. It must differentiate you from the pack – what makes you unique? Always give examples – why are you so special?

Network, network, network

In the era of social media, we are increasingly collaborating and networking with each other. It is important to build networks both online via professional social networks such as Linkedin or offline. If you get a job, work experience or even an internship in your chosen field, make the most of the opportunity by networking as much as you possibly can. Many companies host internal lunch and learn meetings to allow people across the organisation to understand more about different departments. Look out for these opportunities and others. Network as much as possible with senior stakeholders as well as peers as it could lead to further opportunities.

Overall, the most important thing in looking for your dream job is to make sure your passion and enthusiasm for the job comes across in everything that you do. Nowadays many employers hire for attitude and train for skill, so make sure your passion and commitment comes across in every interaction. If you follow these simple steps, you have a good chance of securing that dream job.

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