Landing your #dreamjob

Thanks to those who contacted me about my practical tips blog a while back.  I was asked to share a few more practical tips from the front line.

I reached out to my colleague and friend Joanne Gedge, who designs skills building programs and had extensive experience in HR and recruitment to suggest a few tips for people wanting to land their dream job.  One of the first pieces of advice she gives people is to get organized. ‘Make a list to help keep track of your job search efforts’ she told me.  She went on to say that preparing a list also helps people to organize their priorities and keeps people focused on their goal. ‘I think it’s also important to really know your stuff’ Joanne said. Her advice continued ‘read newspapers, industry magazines and blogs to keep up with developments in peoples field of interest. Knowing the latest trends will help set you apart from other candidates in an interview’.

Joanne went on to say ‘I would also rehearse how you will introduce yourself and answer the question: So tell me about yourself?’ Practice makes perfect. Preparation is the key to a successful interview. Know your skills and be ready to illustrate how they relate to the job in question. Practice with a family member or a friend to get comfortable with your responses.’

Her final piece of advice is for people to follow up. ‘Keep in regular contact with potential employers, recruitment agents and mentors. Follow up on all leads as soon as possible, it will make you look professional, and if you don’t, you might miss out on a chance’ Thanks Joanne, sounds like good advice to me.