Are you happy with your current job?
Chances are that you aren't. For reference, less than half of Australian workers are happy with theirs. And we don't blame them. Job searching is tough.
The recipe goes something like this:
You browse jobs. You perfect your cover letter and resume. Then you send them out, praying to the Gods of Happy Careers for a job interview (and eventually, a job).
The problem?
By limiting your job search to advertised positions, you end up competing with dozens (if not hundreds) of other people. At the same time, you're missing out on an estimated 80 % of jobs that are filled through the hidden job market. Not to mention that you may apply for jobs that are a bad fit for you.
But if you want to improve your odds of finding your dream job, you shouldn't do what everyone else is doing. The modern-day job seeker does not wait for opportunities to present themselves. She creates her own reality by knowing herself and what she wants.
This is your guide for doing just that.
#1 - Dig deep to understand your desires
Knowing yourself is the foundation of creating a radiant career. Yet, most people skip this first, crucial step and end up working in unfulfilling jobs.
Before you can find a job that you love, you have to know what that dream job looks like. Start by asking yourself the following questions:
- What kind of tasks do I love doing so much that time flies by?
- Which tasks do I dislike and would want to avoid doing?
- What stresses me out the most?
- What do I suck at but enjoy doing?
- Could I learn new skills to get better at those things?
- Who is my career hero? Why?
- What are my strengths and know-how (hard and soft skills)?
- What values do I have and wish that my future employer would share?
Be honest with yourself and don't let your education or past job experience restrict you. This is not the time to be overly critical, so dream away!
We also recommend that you reach out to your network to research interesting career paths. Talk to people you know and ask them about their day-to-day work.
The goal is to brainstorm your favourite strengths, skills and interests that you can use to find your next job. Think of this as your personal career cocktail - a mix of what makes you unique and valuable.
Bonus tip: take a career quiz or two or turn to a career expert to get some career coaching.
The outcome: A list of qualities that you want your next job to have. If you have a rough idea of a potential role, great. However, you don't have to have a specific job in mind yet.
#2 - Go treasure-hunting
Get ready for some action, because you will spend the next few days researching potential companies to work for.
You are not looking for open positions, but gathering insights about companies. This way, you can better determine which of them could be a good fit for you.
Go through the following questions to get started:
- What type of company do I want to work for (eg. early startup, established startup, scaleup, agency...)
- Is there a particular industry that I'd enjoy working in?
- What's my ideal work environment?
- What are my non-negotiables for my role? Which companies could provide them? (eg. independent tasks, leadership position, great salary, opportunity to partake in industry meetups...)
- What are my non-negotiables for my employer? (eg. financially stable, located close to me, offers nice perks...)
Once you have a good understanding of what you want from your job, it's time to start your hunt. Start with browsing jobs on LinkedIn to discover interesting companies. Do a Google search based on your preferences.
To get a sense of what's hot, check out Financial Times fastest growing companies in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. For those of you based in the Nordics, the Hub is a great resource to browse interesting startups.
Every time you encounter an intriguing company, find out as much as you can about them. Research their website and social media presence. Seek to understand what they do and why they do it. Sometimes, this means seeing past their glamorous employer-branding facade.
This is also a great time to work on your LinkedIn network. While doing your research, connect with interesting people from different industries and roles. Who knows - they might be your future colleagues! Just make sure you have a polished LinkedIn profile in place.
The outcome: A list of companies that you can see yourself working for and a solid understanding of them.
#3 - Craft your pitch
Congratulations! You've successfully laid the groundwork now. But before you can start dating your future loved-one, you must have your personal pitch ready.
This is your punchline (think Chanel No. 5) that will have the right employer-candidate fall in love with you in no time. Why? Because it will showcase your unique value without coming off as sleazy.
A good pitch consists of a compelling background story and a skill (or two) that could benefit the company. These are based on the research you've made above. Our best tip? Tell a story. After all, human beings are wired to love a good story.
Prepare your pitch in advance but leave room for improvisation, too. Don't be afraid to show your badass personality - that's exactly what people will love about you!
For more help, check out our comprehensive article on creating a killer elevator pitch.
The outcome: A short, 1-2 minute pitch to present to your potential future employer.
#4 - Schedule your dates
Here's where it gets exciting: you're going to contact your dream companies to find out whether there could be something more to it.
We know that you might be freaking out now, but don't worry - you won't be asking for a job interview. You're simply going to schedule an informal rendez-vous with them. Think of it like dating potential companies rather than hunting for a job.
Take out your list of potential companies and check if you already know people who work there. If you do - easy peasy! Just ask them to meet up with you to discuss how they like to working there.
If you don't know anyone, reach out to a suitable person who will likely influence the hiring decision. Depending on the size of the company, this could be the founder, CEO or team leader. If you have a common acquaintance who can act as a referral, even better.
When contacting people, be creative and generous. Tell them that you'd love to meet up and get to know them and their company better. If you're aiming for a live meeting, offer to buy them lunch or a few beers in exchange for a short meetup.
The outcome: Schedule at least a few meetups for the upcoming weeks.
#5 - Put your favourite outfit on and hustle away!
So you're ready for your steamy dates?
Just remember that you are not asking anyone to hire you straight away. You're talking to people to find out if there could be something more to it than friendship. You wouldn't ask for a diamond ring on the first date either, right? 😉
When the time is right, present your pitch. Explain why you've contacted them and how your background, experience and traits could benefit the right company.
Aim for a relaxed, two-way discussion. Ask a lot of questions and show interest. Try to figure out which pain points the company is currently facing. Present your thoughts and ideas on how you could help. If you've done your homework and researched the company, this should be pretty easy.
When it's time to leave, thank the person for their time and if it feels right, agree on the next steps.
Lastly - be likeable, be proactive and be yourself! Companies are usually looking for a cultural match above everything else. If they like you, who knows - they may even be willing to craft a position for you!
The outcome: Dating candidates until you find The One.
Bonus step #6 - Don't be a 'Yes Woman'
So you got a job offer? Great work, gorgeous! However, the search ain't over 'til it's over.
Too many people accept whatever job they can get. But you're not like most people. You don't want to find any job - you want to find a job that you love. That's why you're going to carefully evaluate the offer.
Does it tick most boxes (as discussed above)? Have you covered every nitty-gritty detail? Is there something that doesn't feel right? Also, don't be afraid to ask for additional steps to make up your mind. For instance, if you're unsure, it might be good idea to meet the team again.
It's better to address any issues or concern you may have than to accept an offer that doesn't feel right. Otherwise, you'll probably be back to square one in a few months.
Naturally, a little stage fright is only healthy. An offer may scare this sh*t out of you, but as long as it genuinely intrigues you, it may still be worth a try.
Bonus step #7 - Ditch the myth of "The One True Love"
There are many career paths that you could pursue and several jobs that could be a good fit. Understanding this is the key to success as it will remove the pressure of finding the "perfect job".
Finding a job that you love is not only a matter of thinking - it's a matter of doing. In the end, you won't know what works until you've tried it.
Luckily, it's the 2020's and it's perfectly okay to switch jobs as often as you'd like. Your work-life is a playground - test different options until you find something to hold on to in the long run.
Now, over to you! What will you do today to find your dream job this year?
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