7 Ways to Land a Dream Job at Your Dream Company
Simply Hired Staff
Were you one of those kids? You know the type. The ones that when their parents inevitably asked the big “what do you want to be when you grow up” question to at the ripe old age of 4 and ¾, they diligently replied scientist, doctor, astronaut, and lawyer…and then proceeded to grow up and actually land that gig.
No, not you? Yeah, don’t worry, we “hate” that type too. For the rest of us mere mortals, figuring out that dream career, and furthermore, dream employer, can take a bit of time, research and actual effort. Once you locate the “dream company” however, actually scoring the job is another story entirely. In an effort to help achieve your childhood dreams of career-path fulfillment, here are seven ways to help land a dream job at your dream company.
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Be a Stalker
Modern companies have a wide digital footprint. Use the corporate website, recruiting boards or recent news stories to load up on valuable insights on your ideal employer candidate. As a threshold move, this research will provide valuable insight on corporate culture, hiring and recruiting methods and any upcoming events or major changes that could lead to a hiring binge.
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Network, Network, Network
Networking is a job-seeker’s best friend. This is especially true when you’ve narrowed your sights on one specific employer. Check out your professional networking contacts ans see if anyone has connections, however remote, with the company of your dreams. Use these, or make new ones, to help get a foot in the door. Don’t forget to attend those industry events, meetings, dinners and more to facilitate the get-to-know-you operation.
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Peruse Social Media
Social media is more than just a platform for funny cat-meme’s. Checking out a company’s social media profiles can help identify potential job opportunities or individuals in charge of critical hiring decisions. Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and more are all valuable platforms for company communication so be sure to check them out.
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Job Fairs are Still a Thing
While most of us think of job fairs as an outdated mode of recruiting from som bygone era, many top employers still use these events to recruit for open positions. Set up google alerts, read articles and otherwise put that research (see 1-3 above) to good use by identifying likely events that your dream company may be attending. Since job fairs are geared especially towards hiring, these are an excellent, targetted method for getting in front of hiring managers or other career decision makers. Show up early, dress to impress and bring a copy of your most recent resume to take advantage of this potential opportunity.
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Avoid Negativity
If and when you do manage to get in front of a hiring manager, networking connection or company representative, be sure to avoid speaking negatively about your current employer. A job is a job, after all. Even if you are employed in a less than ideal position, you will want to avoid appearing unprofessional or displaying other traits that may have you coming off as a poor employment choice. Be upbeat and express interest in the company you’re interested in, stressing that the reason you’re considering switching jobs is that this is your dream position.
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Follow the Rules
While we all know the value of stepping outside the lines sometimes in life, when it comes to landing a job with your dream company it’s best to stick to structures and preferred formats, at least until you get your foot in the door. Review the company’s preferred hiring practices and any resume submission, application or other requirements. Be sure that any communication you send it is strictly in line with company expectations to avoid having your resume kicked out of consideration due to a formality.
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Use the Resources at Hand
From job boards like Simply Hired to forums, websites, news articles and more, there are a wealth of resources today to help savvy job-seekers land the job of their dreams. Set up regular Google alerts, allow those automatic notifications and keep on top of the most recent openings. Applying quickly with your dream company can often make the difference between missing an opportunity and finally landing that job offer.
Follow our advice when it comes to researching, maintaining a positive attitude, networking and more and before you know it you’ll have landed that dream job and will be well on your way to career happily ever after.
Article Updated from the Original on November 10, 2017
