Ahh 2022… what a magnificent dumpster fire you’ve been. From Russia illegally invading Ukraine to the resulting cost-of-living crisis – not to mention the constantly calamitous goings-on at Number 10, or England’s crushing defeat to France in the World Cup – much has happened this year that is best forgotten about.
With 2022 drawing to a close, and 2023 just around the corner, now is the perfect time to move on from what has been a pretty awful 12 months. For many people, getting out of a dead-end job and into a more fulfilling and rewarding one is the perfect way to throw off the disappointment of the past. However, in their haste to say adios to what came before, job candidates often fail to consider what they need to do to stand out from the crowd and finally land their dream job in the New Year.
Tailor your applications
One of the most common mistakes that people on the lookout for their dream job will make is not tailoring their CV to the specific position that they’re applying for.
Often, this is because they have applied for a wide range of roles at once in the hopes that they will hear back from one or two. Although this might seem like a great way to speed up your job search, the reality is that recruiters can spot those candidates who have failed to tailor their applications a mile off.
Instead of submitting the same, non-specific application to dozens of companies, you must think long and hard about how you can make each application feel fresh by highlighting the things that make you right for that particular role. For example, if successful candidates are required to have certain qualifications to fill a position, it’s going to be fairly obvious that they lack the necessary credentials if they fail to mention of them. Sure, it will take time to tailor each application to the job at hand, but going to the trouble of doing so can really pay dividends – after all, the very best jobs are those that you need to fight hard for.
Work with a small, dedicated group of recruiters
Just as taking a scattergun approach to sending out generic CVs is a big no-no for candidates, so too is working with millions of recruiters at the same time.
While working with recruiters can make the difference between candidates securing their dream job and missing out on it completely, the fact of the matter is that there are some out there who are simply not worth your time. This is because they are too focused on claiming commission rather than connecting the right person to the right job.
On the other hand, there are many great, committed recruiters out there who can absolutely guide candidates in their quest for career satisfaction. These recruiters will take the time to get to know you as a person, as well as what makes you tick and what exactly it is that you’re looking for from your next role. As a result, they are far better equipped to find you a suitable job than someone who’s handing out your CV like it’s a flyer for a Chinese takeaway. This is precisely why you should never give lots of recruiters carte blanche to send out your CV in a devil-may-care manner – there are bound to be lots of opportunities coming back that have absolutely nothing to do with what you’re looking for.
As the key to good recruitment is relationship building, how can your recruiter possibly hope to get you into the job you want if they don’t know who you are? Therefore, job seekers should focus on working with a small number of trustworthy, dependable, and passionate recruiters who are going to have your best interests at heart, rather than casting the net as far and as wide as possible.
Don’t expect the earth
It is perfectly reasonable and understandable that job seekers will want to find a role that fits well into their life. However, candidates can’t go into the process expecting to make whatever demands they like.
Being clear about what you are looking for is, of course, important, but assuming that a business will bend over backwards to deliver it for you is another thing entirely. For example, if working from home is one of the main things that you want from your new job, you can hardly expect this if the role advertised requires regular travel to meet clients, or to work with colleagues in an office setting.
At this point, candidates need to consider whether their desire to have all the items on their wish list ticked off outweighs their desire to secure that particular job. If you’re not willing to compromise, it’s time to look elsewhere for a position that’s more in line with your requirements.
Go prepared for interviews
So, you’ve struck gold and managed to secure yourself an interview – that dream job is almost in your grasp! All you need to do now is get through the interview and the position is yours.
But let’s not get carried away with ourselves…yes, you’ve managed to grab the attention of the business with your application, but it’s hardly a foregone conclusion that they’re going to offer you a job at the end of all this. Interviewers will very much be scrutinising who you are as person, rather than who you claim to be on paper.
Being able to talk the talk in your CV is easy but being put on the spot with a tricky question in an interview will certainly make those who are simply winging it stick out like a sore thumb. As such, being prepared for what questions you are likely to be asked is absolutely essential and could help you to avoid making yourself look like a complete fool.
But it’s not only the questions that you might be asked that you need to think about; you should also consider what questions you can ask your interviewers. By this, I don’t mean things like: ‘how much holiday do I get?’, or ‘how long is my lunch hour?’, as these are unlikely to speak volumes about your unfaltering work ethic. Instead, it’s far better to ask questions that make it clear that you’re passionate about working in the industry, and have read about the company. For example, ‘what do you enjoy most about your work?’, or ‘how do you see the sector evolving over the next five years?’ – basically anything you can say to show that you’re not just in this for the paycheque is bound to resonate with potential employers, and make you stand out.
Think outside the box
As is always the case, January is set to be a very busy time for job seekers. With the coming of a new year, it makes sense that people want to start afresh, and begin building towards a career that makes them feel happier and more fulfilled.
Because of this, candidates really need to think about what they can do to differentiate themselves from everyone else out there who also wants to bag themselves a new job. Following the same formula as the rest simply isn’t going to cut; successful candidates must think outside the box, and put the extra time in to make their application as strong as it can be.
After all, you might want to land your dream job, but exactly how much effort are prepared to put into make that dream become a reality?
Alexander Dick, CEO of Alexander Lyons Solutions
