How to make your dream career a reality (06)
Let's talk about how to land your dream job! Over the past few months, we've gotten clear on what is important to you, what you're good at, what you're meant to do and exactly what you want to do next. Now it is time to make that a reality.
I'm excited for this one! I often say that job searching is the ultimate self-discovery exercise. You have to do so much introspection to figure out what you want to do and why. And then you have to go out into the world and talk about it!
You have to share your accomplishments, own your value and ask your network for support. Essentially, you're stepping out of your comfort zone every single day.
Before we jump-in, check out the full series here if you're just joining or would like a refresher:
The is a lot written on the internet about how to job search. Understanding and executing the brass tacks of a job search (i.e,. updating your resume, sending thank you notes) well is important. In fact, I have a 20-page playbook to equip my clients for the search.
But nailing your application is not going to be the thing that gets you a job.
The key differentiator that will get you the job you want is the energy and mindset you bring to the search. It is knowing your purpose, communicating with calm confidence and leaning into the growth.
With that in mind, here are a few of my favorite best practices for your search (click each link to read more):
Remember that job searching is dating. Truly. You and your future team are getting to know each other better and better with each interaction. Eventually they will propose and you have the option to say Yes. It may feel like hiring teams hold all the power, but you should be evaluating them too. Ask questions, get to know your teammates and pay attention to red flags.
Focus on quality connections, not networking. Most of my clients cringe and avoid networking at all costs. There's good news - you don't have to network (not in the old school way). Instead, focus on engaging with people you're genuinely interested in getting to know and building a personal connection. This will allow you to build authentic, lasting relationships and they'll be motivated to help in your search.
Share your memoir, not your biography. Your narrative and resume should paint a compelling picture of how your experiences, strengths and passion make you right for the role you want. Often, we feel obligated to include all of our experience, almost like a report out. You don't have to. Highlight what's relevant, and deemphasize or remove what's not.
Start building your personal brand now. I know this feels cringy and impossible given how busy you are, but investing in this now will make every job search for the rest of your life easier as people bring opportunities to you. Make sure you're doing enough outside the immediate confines of your company so that folks in your industry know who you are. This can include posting on LinkedIn (tips here), speaking on panels or podcasts, writing articles (or being quoted) or attending conferences. Bonus: stay tuned as we'll have a guest editor sharing tips on personal branding and LinkedIn in a few weeks.
If it feels like a red flag, it is a red flag. I didn't include this in my initial list, but one last reminder to listen to your intuition. Once you get an offer, you'll be evaluating it against your Operating Principles, compensation + benefits, advancement and exit opportunities, etc. If it looks great on paper, but doesn't feel great, trust that. The right answer will live somewhere in between your evaluation criteria and your gut.
Oh, and always, always send a thoughtful thank you note, focus on applying to jobs where you have or can create warm connections and make sure you're approaching this sustainably. I could do on and on…
If you're looking for more tactical tips on executing a search, check-out these coaches on LinkedIn and Instagram: Anna, Eliana +Tiffany or the BossedUp or Happen to Your Career podcasts.
So there you have it! A career exploration and job search how to distilled into six editions.
I hope you enjoyed it, and regardless of where you are in your career, have some new ideas and inspiration.
