Dreaming of the perfect Valentine’s Day gift? How does a job you love sound?

If you think about it, searching for your dream job is not that different from looking for your soul mate. I know, I know – sounds cheesy but let me explain!

In order to successfully find your soul mate or take the next step in your career, you need to figure out what it is that you are looking for, but most importantly you need to be practical! You can’t just sit around waiting for prince charming to come riding in on a white horse with a job with a 20% increase in salary and the flexible hours you’ve always wanted without even looking. It’s true that good things come to those who wait, but great things come to those who put in the work, go out & make it happen!

Your Perfect Match

When you think about your ideal partner, you probably have a list of must-haves and deal-breakers: tall, dark & handsome? maybe it’s more specific and you want to be with someone who craves adventure or must love dogs?

When it comes to job searching, the same applies; figure out your must-haves, like-to-haves and absolute deal-breakers. Are you looking for a small company startup with lots of autonomy or a large corporation with lots of opportunity for growth? Are you willing to sacrifice a small cut in salary to meet these goals? Be honest with yourself!

Your Profile

Whether you’re looking for love or a new job, you can pretty much guarantee someone is going to look you up on social media. In both your love-life and your career, your online profile can be what stands between you and the job of your dreams and heart-wrenching rejection. Have a profile that goes against the values of a company and a hiring manager might skip over you. Too little personality on your profile and they may not care enough to contact you. We have seen this happen, so be prepared and read more about our social media do’s and don’ts !

Make sure your profile highlights at least four key things that you are passionate about and skilled in so that you attract hiring managers who have the same interests and find your skills when they search for talent. Read more about how to optimize your LinkedIn profile to do just that, here !

Love at First Sight

Once a hiring manager looks at your CV, you want the search to be over. They should read the first few lines of your resume and think “this is the one” and want to put you in their ‘yes pile’. You need to make it perfectly clear in your intro that you have what it takes to get the job done and that they need look no further.

Now you’ve got the recruiter’s attention with your personal statement and key skills, the next step is proving it! Read the job description and make sure that your qualifications, skills, and experiences on your resume match the job description perfectly in order to attract the attention of the hiring manager – you can use technologies to help you do this with ease.

The First Date

When you boil it all down, an interview really is just like a first date and the top tips are pretty much the same for both:
1. Dress to impress
2. Put your best foot forward
3. Be authentic

It’s not only about saying the right things and conveying the proper attitude though, but job seekers also need to think of job interviews as a two-way street and use this as an opportunity to interview the company as well! You wouldn’t settle down with someone without getting to know them a bit first, would you?

Don’t just rush into any job offer that comes around because it seems like the perfect opportunity on the surface. When looking for a job, it’s important to identify organizations where you will feel energized, challenged, and where you will fit into their company culture! Get as much information about the job and company you’ll be working for before you sign on the dotted line.

Dealing with Rejection

“It’s not you, it’s me” can actually apply here so don’t take rejection personally ! Maybe the company that didn’t give you an interview had 250 applications and while you ticked most of their boxes, they had applicants who ticked them all.

Even if you give a perfect interview it is important to remember that selecting a candidate is not an easy process for an employer and it may come down to very small details that cannot always be planned for. Employers spend a lot of time, effort & money in ensuring they are hiring the right fit for their teams and so if you weren’t chosen, then it probably wasn’t the right fit for you! Just because you didn’t get the job this time around doesn’t mean this is the wrong career for you, it just wasn’t the right fit this time!

The Start of Something Beautiful

After searching for a job you love – you found it & they loved you too, congrats! You’ve secured a new job, you can relax now, right? Wrong! The first six months/probation period in your new job is when you should really be shining because although you have been offered this opportunity, anything can happen! Just like in a new relationship, you need to put the effort in to make sure it keeps flourishing.

We hope this article helps you in your search, and if you need any assistance finding a job you love please reach out to the team at info@nova.ky so that we can help you #LoveYourWork.