Landing your dream job has never been easier, with a wide-open marketplace full of opportunities and so many routes to a new career, the only thing stopping you is yourself. 

If you’re in the doldrums in your current job, or you just want to step up the ladder. Whatever the motivation for wanting a change, the opportunities are out there for you to score a new job. 

Getting Out There

If you have itchy feet, there is no better way to find a job than by getting out there and applying. You have nothing to lose by putting yourself out there, and if you don’t sell yourself in the way that you deserve;  you will never know if you could get that dream job.

Update your CV and start researching potential avenues. If you don’t see the job you are looking for, contact companies who interest you and ask if they have any openings, or accept speculative applications. 

Networking

Using LinkedIn, you can network in a similar manner to other social media sites, but with the focus around jobs and careers. Your profile page is essentially your CV, so keep it fresh and up to date. It is a marketing tool, with yourself being your product. 

Passive candidates are not actively looking for a job. They may be very happy in their role, and as such, be very productive. Often these people can be tempted away if offered the right incentives. Recruitment consultants can be very persuasive to these types of people- so you never know if you’re using the right sites, and putting yourself across in the proper manner, sometimes the jobs just come to you!

Interviewing 

Before your interview, do some research. The company website is an obvious place to start. Really get to know the products and services and try and understand as much about the way the company runs as possible. Find out who the key players in the business are, and learn about their history. If you’re willing to do your homework, it shows that you may be a diligent employee.

Check out sites such as Glassdoor and read employee reviews. You may also get an idea of what to expect from the interview process, and the types of questions asked, as this information is often shared.

Use the STAR technique when replying to interview questions. That stands for ‘situation, task, action and result’. Give concise answers and avoid waffling; make sure everything relevant. Plan your answers ahead of time, and if possible practice delivering them to a friend. 

Ask questions, but don’t make it all about what you will get out of the job financially. Find out things about the job that you don’t know and ask about the training and progression within the organization. Going in without any questions is often a red flag to employers. 

Remember, if you are the person that a company are looking for, the interview is as much about them selling themselves to you, as it is about you to them.