1. Study what you love, do well, and get involved.
2. Create a personal brand and tell your story. Share whatever makes you unique with the world. Even if nobody's listening, a falling tree most definitely makes a sound.
3. Trim down your résumé. Keep only the highest quality content.
4. Customize your cover letters, or at least parts of them, to demonstrate the unique value you'd provide to each company.
5. Network frequently. When you find yourself bored on Facebook, log out and log into LinkedIn. Focus on establishing meaningful, knowledge-sharing relationships. Invest in yourself by building your professional network one connection at a time.
6. Network effectively. On LinkedIn, connect with alumni in your industry. If you graduated from Temple and want a consulting job in Philadelphia, conduct an advanced LinkedIn search for "Temple University," "Consulting," and "Philadelphia." Now, once you've identified Temple alumni in your industry, don't blow your chances by trying to impress them. Rather, introduce yourself, tell your story, and inquire about theirs.
7. Avoid energy drink-peddling, multi-level marketing schemes at all costs. If you're dedicated to becoming a caffeine pusher, do it because you love energy drinks. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, I envy you.
8. Diversify your career options. Never put all your eggs in one basket. The job market is one big numbers game. Apply to positions early and often. You're far more likely to miss out on your dream job if you don't know that it exists. Find it before someone else does.
9. Take control of the situation. Seek out attractive companies, startups, non-profits, etc., even if they're not hiring, and inquire about future openings.
10. Practice interviewing. In preparation for behavioral interviews, learn the S.T.A.R. Method. This effective formatting technique helps structure your interview answers in terms of a Situation, Task, Action, and Result (S.T.A.R.). Reflect on a time when you overcame a challenge. What specific actions did you take? Now, articulate how those actions influenced the outcome in your or your team's favor.
11. Prepare thoroughly for interviews, but never too much. Research the company and the position. Develop a clear narrative that your résumé supports. Rehearse that narrative and incorporate the S.T.A.R. Method to validate your qualifications with specific examples.
12. Handle interviews no differently than you do conversations. Listen to understand, not to reply. You have one mouth and two ears. Consider speaking half as often as you listen. That being said, always prepare what you're going to do and say moments before actually committing.
13. Embrace failure. If you don't land your dream job initially, try to find out why. Accept that your dream job might take years to secure. In the meantime, treasure every opportunity that life brings your way.
14. Be honest. Be yourself. You shouldn't feel pressured to fake anything. You're the person who was invited to this interview. You're the person who's qualified for this job. You're capable of achieving whatever you believe you're capable of achieving. Follow your passion and perseverance to the doors that will open just for you at the perfect time. You belong where you're appreciated.
14 Ways to Land Your Dream Job From Bed
8. Diversify your career options. Never put all your eggs in one basket. The job market is one big numbers game. Apply to positions early and often. You're far more likely to miss out on your dream job if you don't know that it exists. Find it before someone else does.
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