In today’s saturated job market, most job seekers seem to dismiss the idea of finding a dream job. With all the competition out there, they believe that landing a stable job is dreamy enough.
But if you’re anything like this glass-half-full “Career Nerd,” you simply won’t settle for just any ol’ job. No, you want a job that lights you up, that makes an impact and that pays you what you’re worth.
In essence, you want your dream job. And I want to help you find it, so read on to learn the three common mistakes dream job seekers make and how you can avoid them like the plague.
1. Applying for Jobs Online, Then Waiting for the Phone to Ring
The skinny:
As a career consultant, I’ve seen job seekers swear by this approach, only to end up with disappointing outcomes: no responses, no call-backs and no interview invites.
I’ll tell you why in two words: easy access.
If you spend any amount of time online, you’ll quickly notice there’s no shortage of career boards, job posts and company websites with online application platforms. This means just about anyone can simply log on and job hunt to their heart’s content. This also means it’s way more difficult for even the most qualified applicants (like you!) to stand out.
Just picture it: If 400 job seekers apply to the same dream job online, what are the chances of you standing out and getting a call-back? Pretty slim, right?
The solution: Avoid putting all your job hunting eggs in one basket
Instead of limiting yourself to dream jobs online, diversify your job search. Start by stepping away from the computer and connecting with people offline. Find a way to genuinely connect with former coworkers, bosses, classmates and friends (over lunch or coffee), and see how you can support them personally and professionally.
Yes, you read that right: see how you can help them. Why, you ask? Because when you genuinely offer to help others out, two things happen: 1) you contribute to their success, and they will likely respond with a strong desire to contribute to yours, and 2) their contribution may well be the link you need to land your dream job.
Win-win.
2. Standing Out for All the Wrong Reasons
The skinny:
You’ve finally mustered up the courage to apply for your dream job. But there’s one little problem: the stiff competition. You know you need to stand out to get the gig, but you’re not quite sure how.
Are you thinking of sending a hiring manager an unsolicited resume with flowers, cookies or a headshot? If so, you’re not alone. Nowadays, it’s so hard for job seekers to stand out that many believe they have to resort to “creative” gimmicks to garner attention. (Have you heard of the man who created a “please hire my wife” billboard in Ohio?)
The jury’s still out on whether that woman landed her dream job, but here’s my verdict: While gimmicks may get the fleeting attention of a hiring manager or the media, they may not garner the kind of attention that gets you hired. Here’s why, and what to do instead:
The solution: Show off your merit
Some job seekers think sending a hiring manager flowers or cookies is a thoughtful gesture. But what they don’t realize is how such a gesture may be perceived in the hiring process.
When a hiring manager is trying to make an unbiased decision about who to hire, a gift from an applicant may be viewed as inappropriate, aggressive and/or desperate. Is that really how you want to come across? Probably not.
So instead of creating a billboard, baking cookies or sending roses, work on standing out on merit alone. After all, a gimmick can only get you so far. Start standing out by crafting a stellar resume that highlights your impressive accomplishments and skills, such as listing industry-specific awards, certifications and advanced degrees that differentiate you from other applicants. You should also create a highly customized cover letter that sells how perfect you are for the job.
In other words, don’t simply repeat what’s on your resume. Instead, take it several steps further and explicitly tell your dream employer what inspires you about their mission and why your unique background, skill set and personality make you the perfect candidate for their position. Stop making generic, self-serving statements like, “I’m looking for a position that will utilize my experience and help me grow professionally.” Instead, make more explicit, employer-centered statements like, “As a committed educator, I’ve dedicated my entire career to helping my students excel. For this reason, I’d be honored to contribute to the work you’re doing to end educational inequality.”
Lastly, if you really want to stand out (the right way), top it all off with a consistently enthusiastic, responsive and considerate attitude. If you follow this advice, you’ll never have to use a gimmick to stand out.
3. Going After the Wrong Position
The skinny
Have you ever been excited to apply for a job, only to later find out later it was a terrible fit for you?
Many job seekers make this mistake. They spot an enticing job post online and, without doing a thorough investigation, put a generic cover letter together and hit “send.” As you can imagine, this approach doesn’t work out too well for dream job seekers or employers because it wastes precious time. A common example is when job seekers apply for positions solely based on the potential pay or perks.
While this may seem like a good idea to some, this approach significantly reduces your chances of landing your dream job. When you only focus on income and benefits, you open yourself up to positions that may not be very satisfying in the long run. (Click here to tweet this thought.)
Think about it: Do you really want to spend the next 10-20 years at a high-paying job that you loathe? Probably not.
The solution: Avoid job hunting until you know exactly what you’re hunting for
While this solution may sound simplistic, it’s not; you need to take several key steps to get there:
1. Start by doing an unbiased assessment of your unique skills, talents and abilities by taking a career assessment such as the Strong Interest Inventory. If you don’t know how to go about doing this, contact a career counseling center, college/university or a career development specialist to administer and interpret the assessment for you. Doing this will help you identify and clearly articulate what you bring to the table as a dream job candidate.
2. Once you’ve identified what you bring to the table (your professional value), explore what you value in the workplace (i.e., collaboration, creativity, salary, intellectual stimulation, location, etc.). You can do this by brainstorming and creating a list of your top five values with a trusted friend, colleague or career consultant. The key here is to be really honest about what’s important to you and what you can do without (i.e., “I must have collaboration, but I can do without my ideal location”). Doing this will help you narrow down your career options to the ones that truly match your values (which will ultimately translate into a super-satisfying dream position).
3. After you’ve identified your work values, explore your professional interests (activities, tasks and roles you find stimulating) and the types of jobs that closely match them. If you find yourself getting stuck, think back to previous roles you’ve held (at school, at work and in your community), then literally list them out and identify what you enjoyed about each one. When you’re done, use this list to explore potential jobs that seem like a good fit.
4. Finally, put the above pieces together to create your dream job profile. You can easily do this by organizing everything on a simple spreadsheet and scanning it for commonalities — by using this format, common themes should become quite apparent. But if they don’t, don’t fret; just seek out help from a trusted mentor or career development specialist. With dedicated support, you’ll have your dream job profile in no time.
5. Take a breather before you resume your focused, diverse and gimmick-free job search!
While discovering and landing your dream job may seem a bit daunting, it doesn’t have to be. If you avoid these three common mistakes and take the above recommended steps, you’ll be well on your way to landing a job that truly lights you up. Good luck!
Have you been guilty of any of these common job search mistakes?
Image: Flickr
