10 Surefire Ways To Make Sure You Land Your Dream Job

We all know that job hunting is taxing, and competition is high, but that doesn’t mean getting your dream job is impossible.

It’s hiring season, and we’ve rounded up some advice from the best of the best in the industry to help you stand out amongst all the competition in the job market!

1. Customize Your CV

Tailoring your resume to every new role is the single best way to stand out. When you customize your application it shows that you have researched both the company and the role. Executives at Topshop had this advice:

“Read through the job spec you’re applying for and tailor your CV to demonstrate the skill sets you have that cater to the role. This will help in keeping your CV concise and to the point.”

The biggest advantage of customizing your resume is outsmarting the bots. In the initial phases of recruitment major organizations often use bots to tackle the large volumes of applications, which is not great if you are trying to make an impression. However, if you use the same keywords that are used in the job listing, especially the keywords related to education, experience, and skill, you can avoid being filtered out.

Customization can also extend to the design of your resume. Companies are more open to creative designs, colours, and visualizations. When you are designing your CV, it’s always great to check out the company’s colour scheme, website design, and observe how they choose to market themselves. For example, Lee Carter, the Marketing Acquisition Manager at PrettyLittleThing, had this to say on CV design:

“One candidate made her CV look like our website and we offered her an interview before we’d finished reading it. Don’t be afraid to break the boring two column CV structure that everyone else follows.”

2. Build Your LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn is a job seeker's secret weapon, especially after graduation. Firstly, LinkedIn has the most comprehensive job board, companies from all over the world post their vacant job listings on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn also allows you to build your own professional brand so finish that profile! A professional photo and a well-written summary can help recruiters, co-workers, and managers to get a better insight into who you are even before they have had the opportunity to meet you. So make it count.

It’s common practice to add professional contacts to LinkedIn, exactly how you would add your friends on Instagram or TikTok. Whenever you meet someone, whether it is a business professional at a networking event or a guest lecturer you interacted with at college, add them on LinkedIn, trust me it will be so handy in the future.

3. Dress To Impress

It’s a classic piece of advice, but it’s timeless for a reason.

First impressions matter and the reality is that what you wear is the first thing someone else can see - so it must represent who you are and what you are bringing to the table. The guys over at Topshop had this advice when it comes to interview attire:

“Yes, as cliché as it sounds, dress for success. Wear an outfit that you’re comfortable in, shows your unique sense of style and is appropriate to the role you’ve applied for.  At Topshop/Topman, all style aesthetics are welcome and encouraged, so there’s really no wrong answer.”

4. Ensure The Job Is Right For You

You are going to be spending almost 25% of your week working at this company, so to stay happy and satisfied you need to ensure that the role and the organization are a good fit for you.

The job is only the tip of the iceberg; the organization's workplace culture, approach to leadership, career growth support, and work-life balance will affect your everyday life. It should be carefully considered before you accept a job offer.

It can be easy to accept the first job offer you get, but it’s more sensible to set aside some non-negotiables that you think would make or break your professional life. For example, if a less formal work environment is important to you, then accepting an offer from an organization that has a formal dress code, and archaic working methods will only lead you to have low productivity, and possibly even burning out, and you don’t want that for yourself.

5. Research The Organization And The Role

It’s important that you learn about a company’s values, their history, and the current trends of the industry they are participating in. It may seem trivial, but the more you read about the company, the more you will understand what they are looking for when you reach the interview stage.

The executives at Topshop reiterate this advice:

“Learn about the brand history of Topshop, Topman and read the job description, so you’re fully prepared for the interview.”

Additionally, you should research the role you are applying for. Lee Carter from PrettyLittleThing recommends to always identify what transferable skills you offer to the role:

“Experience is key for some more technical roles but for graduate jobs, transferable skills are the most important thing.

“You may not have worked in fashion before but has your uni experience taught the skills you would need to do it. Are you good with numbers? Are you super creative? Do you love building relationships with people? These are the things to highlight to potential employers!“

6. Upskill And Stay Relevant

Education does play a major role in securing a job, that’s why most candidates who apply have a degree. However, when you make an effort to go the extra mile, companies definitely notice.

The team of executives at GlossyBox agreed:

“Do you write a blog in your spare time? Add it to your CV. Have you got a qualification such as Google Digital Garage to show that you know more about PPC than a normal grad? Tell us about it. Is there a side hustle you’ve got that’s earning you a bit of money? What is it, how are you doing it and how is that transferable. That type of stuff shows an entrepreneurial spirit and what all employers want.”

7. Network, Network, Network

The hard truth is, when you apply for a job online the odds are not in your favour. The average corporate job opening receives 250 resumes, of which only 4-6 will even get to the interview stage. However, networking can really help increase your odds, employee referrals always result in the highest number of new hires, so you need to jump on this bandwagon ASAP.

The best place to start is LinkedIn, it allows you to direct message like-minded professionals, recruiters, and even employees in leadership positions from organizations you aspire to be a part of. Use the platform to ask questions regarding your career path, as well as ask for advice that could be industry-specific. If you play your cards right, these professionals will be willing to give you feedback on your resume and mentor you through the job application process.

Additionally, if you made connections via conferences and networking events, it’s time to dig out those business cards and start emailing those contacts with a brief summary and your resume.

8. Be Yourself

Organizations are not looking for employees that fit a set mould anymore. They appreciate and specifically seek out individuality, passion, and creativity.

We asked Lee Carter from PrettyLittleThing how important it is to be yourself and he had this advice:

“Personality is so important at PLT so if you can show us what you’re about you’re already halfway there! PLT is a fast-paced business and we always need new ideas and ways of working. Even something small, like a change to a report, can have a real impact on a business like ours. Never stop striving for better.”

So whether it’s your organizational skills, your upbeat personality, your in-depth knowledge, or anything that you believe is unique to you, don’t be afraid to showcase it on your CV and during an interview.

9. Ask Questions

All your preparations, research, and practising in front of the mirror have led you to the interview. You have nailed all the questions and presented yourself with confidence. You’ve reached the part of the interview where the panel gives you the floor and asks you if you have any questions.

This is your moment, this is your chance to understand if the organization fits your needs, it's your chance to show them your interest in growth opportunities, and inquire about their culture. When you leave an interview without asking questions, you can appear disengaged or uninterested which is always a red flag for employers during an interview.

10. Treat Virtual Interviews Just Like Face-To-Face Interviews

The workforce is slowly adapting to more virtual interactions and working from home, so chances are you will have a virtual interview either before or even as a replacement for your face-to-face interview.

Keep in mind that you must treat your virtual interview just as important as you would a face-to-face interview. The Topshop team recommend being prepared:

“Ahead of the virtual interview, make sure you’ve tested the platform to be used, so when it’s time, you’re all set and there are no technical difficulties. Also, find a quiet space, to limit potential distractions. Speak slowly, clearly and with confidence.”

If you use these 10 tips, stay resilient and patient, this job hunting journey will reward you with your dream job and launch your professional career sooner than you think!