Here are 5 quick & easy tips to help land your dream job. When I got out of college, I knew exactly what I wanted to do but didn’t know how I was going to get there. I had always dreamed about working in the corporate offices at Sephora and two years after graduation, I was able to make my dream a reality.
Finding your dream job or getting to your dream company or position can feel extremely daunting and unrealistic but it’s easier than you may think. All it takes is patience, persistence and passion, and you’ll be in your new role at your dream company in no time!
1. UTILIZE AND GROW YOUR NETWORK
It’s true what they all say, it really can be all about who you know. The very first thing I did, even while I was still in school, was find people who were currently in the industry or at companies I was interested in and reach out. Trust me, I was a fish out of water for so much of this process. I really didn’t have a pre-built network to use or know anyone close who was already working in my dream industry, but everyone has to start somewhere. If you don’t have a LinkedIn, stop reading this and go set up an account! Not only is it a great to manage your professional network but also a wonderful tool to find your dream job.
If you’ve already been working and have a network of people both inside and outside of your organization, use them! You never know who may know someone else that could help you land your dream job. Write them an email, reach out on LinkedIn or social media if they have it and take them out for coffee. Let them know you’re interested about learning more about them, their position and always ask to keep you in mind for any opportunity that comes up. Don’t be discouraged if nothing comes immediately from your initial connection; follow up every once in a while (I recommend every few months/quarterly) so you stay top of mind for them and really shows your passion and interest.
2. DON’T BE AFRAID OF INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS
I know, I was scared of doing these at first too but trust me, they are SO worth it. Not only does it get your name and in some cases, your face, in front of more people, it also helps you narrow down exactly what you’re looking for. Informational interviews are such a great tool to learn about the history of the company, how teams are structured, day-to-day work, and also can help you narrow down if a position/department/company is a good fit for you.
3. KNOW THE COMPANY AND DO YOUR RESEARCH
I cannot tell you how important this is and I feel like so many people don’t understand the value a 10-15 minute Google search could really set you apart. When it comes to interviews, it’s crucial to know some history and background about the company or the brand that you’re interviewing for. I have had instances where I’ve been in an interview and been asked about how their company’s values align with my own. If I had never looked up the company’s history or what their values are as a company, I wouldn’t of made the best impression and definitely would’ve come across as not being prepared (the WORST).
If you already know who you’ll be talking to at your interview, don’t be afraid to look up the person on LinkedIn to learn about their background and see if you share anything in common. There’s been a few instances where I searched who I’d be meeting with and saw that we graduated from the same college AND happened to be in the same sorority (small world right?). Even if it’s just something small, it helps the interviewer remember you since you went out of your way to make that connection with them.
4. LET YOUR PASSION SHINE
Ok ok, this might be a little generic but it was so important for me to remember when I went through so many interviews for multiple different companies. This may seem obvious but you want to be able to both come across and show how passionate you are about what you do. Vocalize that you’re open to learning and growing in their company and share how you can be a viable asset to their team. Passionate people really do stand apart from others. After I got the job, one of the things that people told me from the first day was that they admired how passionate I was about working for their company and the position I was interviewing for. Companies and hiring managers want someone on their team who is excited to show up to work every day. Flipping roles, I’ve also been on an interview panel for my team and honestly, the people that have left a lasting impression for me were not only genuine but exuded their passion through their responses and through the questions they asked me.
5. DON’T GIVE UP AND BE PERSISTENT
You’ve done your research, networked, went through some informational and formal interviews and now it’s your time to be persistent. Don’t be afraid to follow up on any opportunity either with the hiring manager, the person/group of people who interviewed you and your network connection! Post interview, I always follow up via email with thank you notes and if I get called back into the office for another round, I’ll actually hand write thank you cards. Personalize either your emails or cards to each person you talked to; mention something that you remembered from your conversation with them. If the company doesn’t give you timing for when they’ll get back to you with next steps and you don’t hear from them, keep following up and don’t give up! Not only does this show persistence, it tells the hiring manager and team that you’re incredibly interested in the role and to join their team.
Now go land that dream job of yours!
