Tips for landing your dream job

Searching for work can often feel like an endless, arduous struggle. Trying to get accepted into the career of your dreams is an even greater feat. By following these simple tips, you can feel more prepared and confident than ever when attempting to navigate the trials and tribulations of job-hunting, bringing you one step closer to landing your dream job.

1. Perfect your CV

Making sure your CV is appealing, eye-catching and relevant is an integral part of job hunting. Many organizations receive hundreds of applications a day, meaning the hiring manager’s initial glance at the document is incredibly brief. You must make sure you stand out for all the right reasons.

Try to fit everything onto one page. Including a photograph immediately adds a personable touch. The structure (font, letter size, ordering, neatness) is also integral. How you come across in your CV is just as important as the information it provides, with many well-suited applicants being rejected due to spelling errors, juvenile email addresses, or difficult-to-read formatting. Don’t hesitate to change the order of information in your CV based on what job you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a part-time retail job, experience in handling cash and customer service should appear near the top. If you are applying for a full-time professional role, experience in that field should take priority.

2. Practice writing cover letters

Most companies will require you to submit a cover letter alongside your CV. This is a chance to provide more specific details about why you are suited to the job than your CV can provide. Many people struggle with this document, as each application requires a different focus, but all it takes to perfect writing them is enough practice.

Where CVs normally feature bullet points, short statements and paraphrasing, cover letters are a chance to show a bit of personality in your writing. Remain formal, but introduce yourself, display your individuality and be approachable. Any experience referenced in your CV can be elaborated on here, along with a personal statement explaining why you believe you would be perfect for the job. Don’t spend too much time stressing about your first draft. Get out the basic information you want to put across to the employer, and then spend time refining it, improving vocabulary and indicating your passion for the role you have applied for.

3. Check your online presence

The 21st century offers whole new challenges in job-searching that were not present in decades before. Notably, the ability of hiring managers to search for their potential employees online and make judgements based on the content they find. It runs a lot deeper than taking down any public photographs of regrettable drunken parties. It cannot be overstated how important it is to check your Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages for content that may turn away a hiring manager.

Controversial statements, reposts of work-inappropriate material, or even just how you have portrayed yourself and your outlook on life, particularly work life, should be edited, made private or altogether removed. If you do not want to remove photographs, events or content that may be deemed as unprofessional, it may be wise to simply make your personal accounts private and create separate public social media profiles for professional business reasons. Just continue to be wary of the content you like, share and comment on, and who may be able to access that.