If you have a target and a way to get there, your dream job could become a reality!

Read on and learn how.

1. Know what you want

The most important step is knowing what you’re interested in, the second step is to research and lastly, go for it.

If the first step feels like a struggle, start by creating a list of your passions and your skills. According to Donald Trump, “without passion you don’t have energy, without energy you have nothing”.  A possible option to find out your strengths is to ask those who are close to you, such as your partner, family, friends or colleagues.   With this list you should be able to start seeing things a little more clearly and a career path should start to become obvious.

Another worthwhile list to create is of the professional people you admire. If someone has a profession that you’re interested in, research and email them to ask how they got to where they are today. Many will be flattered you contacted them.

2. More research

Clarity in your interests and skills makes the second step a lot easier. The best part of finding the job you want with today’s technology is that you can be both active and passive about it.

Online job boards and recruiters are examples where once you register as a user you can be passive about using them. You can create Job feeds, so when appropriate jobs are listed with the site you can get them delivered to your inbox, rather than having to search the site numerous times a day.

“Looking for jobs online has moved away from simply looking for a job ad and responding to it” says Andrew Mcleod, CEO of JOBX New Zealand, a new online career network and job website. “The nature of internet has changed to being a place of more interaction especially with multimedia tools and it is the same for job hunting online”.

With a recruiter it is a matter of going in for an interview, providing them with as much information about yourself and the work which interests you and wait to hear from them.

The newspaper requires a bit of an effort when using, but there are employers who still advertise here so at least once a week, it might be worthwhile scanning the newspapers.

However, if you really want to stand out from the crowd you could make yourself known to desired companies – Google them, look at their website, meet their employees at various industry events, or find them online and network. This way you are one of the first candidates a company would think of when a position opens up.

Be vocal about what employment you want and the career path you are currently on. The old adage of the world being a small one is probably true as you cannot predict who knows who and, the six degrees of separation is often plausible.

3. Presenting yourself well in your resume

One key step that many people forget to do is to tailor their resume to suit the job they are applying for. The purpose of this is to highlight your strengths, experience and skills, and how they match up with the job that you are after. It is imperative to be brief in your resume as no one wants to read the next instalment of War and Peace. The text itself is important in it conciseness but also the layout of the resume as a whole is important, the information which you want to highlight the most being at the very start of the document. This document should be lean and streamlined so that there is no information like how Facebook is a skill or hobby of yours.

4. Tidy up your online reputation

Once you have your resume all ready to go, a necessary step which is increasingly important with the internet is Googling yourself. Employers may Google candidates to see what kind of information is out there, and anything they have left off their resume. It may not be done often but it is worth the extra effort to ensure success in the search for your dream job. Paul Jacobs from the Wellington-based recruitment strategy firm Engage, highlights that a battery of sophisticated tools are becoming available that allow recruiters to run deep searches across social networking platforms (including YouTube) using a candidate’s name and/or email address.  Jacobs suggests that as a pre-emptive strike ensure that anything unsavoury about you online is removed or amended or, be prepared to answer any questions to do with it that the employer may bring up. While you are online, another step to take is to ensure that your social network memberships are private. The reason being is that employers may have access to this also and have a look to get a better understanding of what kind of person you are.

5. Preparation for an interview

If you have made it this far, firstly congratulate yourself. Getting an interview is no mean feat. There are a few things to note about mental and physical preparation for an interview. Let’s start with the presentation, the basics really – it is better to be over dressed than under dressed. If in doubt wear a suit and nicely polished shoes. However if it is a technology or more creative company the work place dress code will more likely be smart casual. When you dress the part you feel the part and this may add to the necessary confidence boost you need in your interview. Make sure that you are clean shaven, showered with no body odour, bad breath or smell of tobacco. This kind of preparation seems elementary but is often overlooked and can mark the good connection in an interview. There is a saying that you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Again, research the company to get an idea of their beliefs and any key words or phrases often used by them, take note of your experience which could aid the company’s goals. Research the interviewers, if you know in advance who they are going to be. Ensure that you are able to highlight any commonalities you have with them. However, honesty is really important. Also review your resume and cover letter to be able to reinforce in person, any strengths or qualities you have highlighted on paper. Good practice for all interviews is stock answers for generic and yet common questions such as “what are your strengths”, “what are your weaknesses” and “do you have any questions for us”. Check the location of the interview and be sure to know how to get there in advance.

6. How to conduct yourself during an interview

With your planned travel route to the interview venue, leave early allowing for traffic problems or any other delays. Arriving early demonstrates that as an employee you would be organised and punctual.

When meeting your interviewer for the first time make sure you shake their hand – be firm and confident. Have the correct posture and smile. If you are feeling uncomfortable and nervous, this can give the interviewer the wrong impression. So remember to breathe deeply to relax and be positive, courteous and friendly. More often than not a light sense of humour helps and small talk can go a long way.

It is important to show passion for the company and enthusiasm for the job. As an interviewer key attributes looked for in candidates include seeing how much a candidate wants a job.

Paul Jacobs highlights that some people are uncomfortable talking about their past achievements and successes.  He recommends that though one shouldn’t come across as boasting, it is important to mention specific situations where you have made a positive difference.  This could be at work, on the sports field as a captain or coach, and in a team at school, university, or a club.  For example, the interviewer may ask about your ability to work within a team.  In this specific example you should mention a real situation where you were part of a team (maybe one that was struggling initially), and what your role was, or where you added value to the team, to achieve a positive result.

Jacobs also suggests asking the interviewer questions about the role and organisation.   You might learn more about the role by asking what a typical day, week, or month may look like.  Or you may want to ask about the career prospects and development opportunities if you are hired.  It is important to find out if the role is really a right fit for you.  The interviewer will also enjoy talking through their perceptions and you will come across as intently interested.

7. Follow up email or hand written note after the interview

Few people do it, but a follow up email or hand written note can be a very effective way to make you distinguishable.

8. Handling rejection if you do not get the job

If you are not successful in your endeavours this time around it is still a good idea to maintain a good rapport with the interviewer and company. Few candidates actually contact the interviewer and ask in what areas they were lacking or how they could improve themselves. This is also a chance for you to remind them that if any future opportunities arise or they know of a position at another company that they should be in touch.

9. Resigning from your current job

The best thing to do when resigning from your job is to speak to your superior directly before you tell your colleagues. The worst thing you can do is tell your colleagues first and let the news filter through to the boss.

Pick the best time to speak to your boss. Work out a sound explanation for your departure and be brief.

Stay positive, mention the opportunities you were given and review the good experiences you have had with the company.

Prepare for unexpected reactions from your boss. It is important to remain cool and communicate in an even toned manner.

Avoid getting into any personal details about anybody in the organisation, to reiterate it is a small world and you may be relying on your boss or former colleagues to give you a good reference.

End on an optimistic note, perhaps wishing them well for the future or reminding them of your willingness to ensure a smooth transition. This way you make your last impression a good one.  Always confirm your verbal resignation in writing.

10.   Welcome to your dream job

Congratulations on securing your new position!

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