Barrington Coaching
  • Meet Lisa
  • Solutions
    • Workplace >
      • Empowered Leaders
      • Aligned Teams
      • Engaged + Performing Organizations
    • Speaking
    • Individuals
    • PeopleTek Journeys
  • Resources
    • Reading
    • Partners
  • Impact
    • Praise
    • Press
    • Presentations
    • Payoff
    • Case Studies
  • Wisdom
    • Blog
    • LinkedIn
  • Contact
  • Meet Lisa
  • Solutions
    • Workplace >
      • Empowered Leaders
      • Aligned Teams
      • Engaged + Performing Organizations
    • Speaking
    • Individuals
    • PeopleTek Journeys
  • Resources
    • Reading
    • Partners
  • Impact
    • Praise
    • Press
    • Presentations
    • Payoff
    • Case Studies
  • Wisdom
    • Blog
    • LinkedIn
  • Contact

Wisdom for a
​Winning Workplace

Five Steps to Make Your Dream Job a Reality

2/3/2016

2 Comments

 
Picture
You’ve identified your dream job and taken steps to explore it. You’ve used assessments to ensure it’s a good fit. Now it’s time to make your dream a reality! Overwhelmed? No worries! Here's a five-step approach that will keep you focused + on track to achieving your goal. 


Remember: Looking for a job is a job.


1. COMMIT
Commit
  • Set aside time every day (or several days a week) that is "protected time" to conduct your job search. Put it on your calendar. Adhere to it.
  • Invest in the "tools" for a job search: working technology (cell phone, computer with video capability, printer) and business apparel.
  • Connect with an accountability partner. This person will help you stay motivated and on track. Good options are mentors, career counselors, and coaches.

2. ORGANIZE
Organize
  • Update your resume. Look online for high-quality examples. Use a tool like Live Career Resume Builder, or work with a resume writer. Highlight accomplishments with quantifiable results. Avoid personal information. Keep it clean, but thorough. Most important: use key words found in your dream job postings so the applicant tracking system (ATS) will put you in the "yes" pile.
  • Enhance your LinkedIn profile. Make sure it is accurate + portrays your best self. Ask former colleagues to recommend you. Write your own recommendations to support others even as you are asking for their support.
  • Prepare outlines for cover letters. You'll want to customize your cover letter for each application, but you can have a format that becomes your template.
  • Have at least four professional references (keep this list separate from your resume and supply them only upon request). Call those references to 1) confirm that they’re willing to be references; 2) remind them of your accomplishments; and 3) get their current e-mail addresses and phone numbers.

3. RESEARCH
Research
  • Identify organizations where you’d like to work. Consider how you will “fit” with each culture, and where the features match your desires (e.g., industry, location, benefits). Start with 8-10 companies. Research them online (websites, career sites, Glassdoor reviews, news articles). From there, narrow your focus to 2-3 companies that are the best fit for you.
  • ​Monitor these companies' websites for new job opportunities 2-3 times a week. If they have online career centers where you can receive notifications for new openings, sign up! 

4. NETWORK
Network
  • Join a professional association. If you're currently a member, join a committee or your local chapter board. Go to every meeting. Get to know the people in your field in the local market. Yes, they're your competition, but they also know when colleagues are retiring or leaving. You might get advance notice before a job ever gets posted!
  • Use the power of LinkedIn. Leverage InMail to connect with others or ask for informational interviews. Join groups in your area of interest. Be active. Offer thoughtful comments. Post your own articles + blogs, or share other articles that will be attractive to those in your field.
  • Remember to follow up. This is a top priority in networking and all phases of the job search. Send a LinkedIn invitation to the person who gave you their business card. Always send a written thank you – through e-mail or snail mail – to anyone who helps you.

5. EXECUTE
Execute
  • Apply for jobs! Stay organized by keeping a log of jobs + contacts (this Job Tracking Form can help). Keep copies of cover letters with original job posts + descriptions. Why? Because it's embarrassing during an interview to be unable to recall the job you applied for months ago!
  • Be patient + persistent. It is a numbers game. The more you apply and follow through, the better your chances of achieving your goal. It takes time, effort, and many applications to get to an interview.
  • Prepare for interviews. Read up on the company, review the job posting + your cover letter, learn what you can about the people interviewing you, and refresh your knowledge of any technical terms used in the job.
  • Follow-up with written thank-yous, highlighting what you can do to help each company reach their goals.

Which job search techniques work best for you? I'd love to hear from you. Need additional perspective? Let me know if I can help you achieve more. Best wishes for landing the job of your dreams!

This article is the last in a series of three articles where I share tips on how to get your dream job. Be sure to read Part 1 - You CAN Get Your DREAM Job, and Part 2 - Make Sure Your Dream Job Isn't a Nightmare, to get the full range of tips that can help you succeed in landing your dream job.

​Image source: Pixabay
2 Comments
Heidi link
2/3/2016 05:04:02 pm

I *love* seeing the emphasis on written thank yous! It is a dying art, and one that still pays huge dividends if only for the "surprise" factor ("She actually sent a written thank you? Frame this!") The detail in this post is unparalleled. Every job seeker should bookmark this page or print it. Truly a treasure trove of sage advice.

Reply
Lisa link
2/3/2016 06:09:42 pm

I agree Heidi, there is something special, and in these times unique, about the handwritten thank you.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Lisa Barrington
    Lisa Barrington | Coach • Speaker • Consultant

    About Lisa

    My greatest joy is helping people make bold transitions in their professional and personal lives!

    Archives

    December 2020
    July 2019
    May 2019
    December 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    April 2017
    October 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015

    Categories

    All
    Assessment
    Careers
    Change
    Coaching
    Education
    Employee Engagement
    Goals
    Growing Businesses
    Human Resources
    Innovation
    Job Search
    Leadership
    Performance Evaluation
    Performance Ratings
    Psychology
    Research
    Resolution
    Self Appraisal
    Self Help
    Training
    Veterans
    Volunteer

    RSS Feed

Contact Lisa

Picture
Picture
 lisa@barringtoncoaching.com

602-689-2385

Professional Credentials

Professional Certified Coach Credential
BCC Badge
MBTI Certified Logo
Picture
Picture
The Center for Appreciative Inquiry
SHRM-SCP Badge
SPHR Badge

Proudly Affiliated With:

PeopleTek Logo

MBTI and the MBTI and MBTI Certified Practitioner logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of The Myers & Briggs Foundation in the United States and other countries.
© 2011-2022 Barrington Coaching, LLC. Phoenix, AZ. All Rights Reserved. | Design by A Wise Choice Communications | Photography by Lori Krenzen
Privacy Policy