6 things you need to do before applying to your dream job

6 things you need to do before applying to your dream jobAny of us who have spent time on the job hunt trail have been here before While checking out job boards and researching companies who are hiring in our industry, you come across the coveted dream joba posting thats so perfectly aligned to what youre looking for in your next career step that you can almost convince yourself that it was tailored precisely for you. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Everything about it seems just righta position with an industry-leading company who has a great reputation and culture, job responsibilities that really match what youre looking to take on, and opportunities for lasting growth and success. In sum, what appears to be the perfect job. When we stumble across the dream job, we all know what happens next. A wave of anxiety washes over you like an unavoidable tsunami, with thoughts of all the great candidates who may have beaten you to the applicat ion punch, and fears that your window for applying may be closing and that your chances of getting the job may be slipping away with each passing moment.Yeah, weve all been here before, and at this point, youre going to be struck with the urge to frantically rush to apply for the job before its too late. This is precisely the point where careless and unprepared candidates slip up and make the sort of mistakes that prevent them from being taken seriously by hiring managers. Dont be one of these people.If youre really intent on landing your dream jobor any job for that matterthen its in your best interest to slow down, take a moment, and make aya you take care of these 6 important things before applying.Review the postingMany candidates get so excited after reading a great job posting that they overlook key details, which often include specific instructions for how to apply. Rookie mistakefailing to comply with all application instructions can ruin your chances of being seriously cons idered for the position. Read the posting more than once to make absolutely sure that you have all of the details down cold.Review your application materialsSure, you want to get your resume and titelblatt letter in for consideration before its too late, but incorrect, error-laden, or incomplete application materials are almost impossible to recover from. Trust us, taking the time to slow down and confirm, several times, that your materials are perfect and error-free is time well spent.Tailor your approachHaving a canned cover letter and resume for every job posting you come across is not your best approach, and savvy hiring personnel are going to notice. Crafting your resume and cover letter for every position you apply for and highlighting why youre the ideal candidate for each specific company is a much better strategy for grabbing attention and getting your foot in the door for interviews.Answer the question Why you?The scary truth of the job world is that there are tons of qual ified candidates for every open position, and candidates who dont clearly demonstrate why they should be considered from all those among the candidate herd have little chance of standing out from the crowd. Make sure your application materials showcase your full potential value and detail why youre a candidate to be reckoned with and taken seriously.Mind your social mediaMany candidates become so laser-focused on getting their application and materials just right that they forget to mind the other detailslike making sure their public social media doesnt contain anything that may hurt their chances. Checking a candidates social media footprint is industry-standard today, so make sure that anything hiring managers and personnel can see reflects as positively on you like your cover letters and resumes do.Dont forget to re-reviewIts never a bad idea to take a little time to re-review your entire application package before sending it off to make sure its in perfect shape. If you can get a person you trust to review it with a fresh set of eyes, even better. Consider it a little extra insurance towards making sure that youre doing everything you can to land an interview.If youre hot on the job hunt trail and eager to land your dream job, make sure you take care of the 6 key things mentioned here before clicking Send for any application you submit.

The No. 1 Way to Make Yourself Irreplaceable at Work

The No. 1 Way to Make Yourself Irredistributionspolitikable at Work Congratulations, you got the job Now, heres how to make yourself indispensable in it be relentlessly you.You were chosen ahead of others for this role. Let yourself benefit from that vote of confidence. Think of being indispensable as bringing value that only you can. Be relentlessly you, and they wont want to reimagine your role as anyone elses Heres howStep 1 Looking back is the first step forward.Relish this window of time winding down at one corporate home, before starting the next. Nostalgiais inevitable this close to making changes, and you might be surprised to know that it plays an important role in making yourself indispensable in the new job. As you reminisce, let what matters about those memories pop to the surface. When you think about where youre leaving, what are you grateful for? What have you learned? What matters about ansicht things? How have you played to your strengths? What didnt work and why? Wh at were you most passionate about? And what have others valued about you?Its not always easy to be with the identity-shift triggered when we leave a role, especially if weve been in it for some time and feel like we belong. This kind of reflecting creates a neat ending, but also feeds into your new beginning as evidence about your approach to work and change is revealed.Next, work to clear this job from your mind so you can focus on optimizing your next career step. You dont want the old taking up headspace once you start your exciting new opportunity. Be considered as you tie up loose ends. Although your work here is done, the people will remain your connections. And you never know when you may cross paths again. So do thank a mentor or give advice to a colleague. But dont run hot and give anyone a piece of your mind as you exit When its time to cross the finish line, you will do so with a clear mind. Refocus your energy. Put those insights to good use as you shape the way to bec ome indispensable in your new corporate home, both now and in the future.Step 2 Get a few quick wins.Being the newbie brings vulnerability as the warm glow of being chosen translates to an unspoken pressure to perform. Its inevitable, so accept that feeling and use the energy thats here to seek out ways you can add value. Not because your new colleagues are expecting to see a return on their investment in xx days / weeks (they just want you to settle in quickly and become part of the team), but because quick wins demonstrate something extra. That extra? Your commitment to understanding the landscape, and creating your unique place in it. Heres how to identify what quick wins look like draw two circles, overlapping like a Venn diagram does. Put the strengths and passion-points revealed in your past role in one circle. Then, as you identify your new companys priorities, note them in the other circle until both are evenly populated. If thats too broad to grasp, just pay attention to yo ur immediate bosses / departments priorities.Lastly, look for where your natural competencies and interests intersect with the needs of the business. These belong in the overlapping section of your diagram and should become the focus for quick wins. It doesnt matter if these ideas feel easy or obvious to you. Your input is fresh in this new environment and thats the value you uniquely bring.Health Warning if youre drowning in on-boarding and top priorities arent becoming clear, do let your inner-leader out and ask for clarity. Just asking the question demonstrates initiative and strategic savvy. Signposting the added-value you are destined to bring. Thats a quick win itselfStep 3 Deliver value where its neededBring good value to every meeting and interaction. Think of these early meetings as sequels to your interview performance opportunities to showcase you, at your best. But when thats hard.Here are some Dos and Do-Nots for your first few days that will help you deliver valueDoMa ke connections between what matters and who to.Be present. And literally be on time. Stay actively engaged, bringing a can-do attitude.Be aware you may feel overwhelmed by asks that sound straightforward now.Do Not Align to any individual before you understand the politics. Just make connections with everyone.Defer to more established colleagues. Have an opinion and be heard (even if you do frame it as a question to be diplomatic). Raise a problem without proposing a solution. Over-invest. Demonstrating value doesnt mean sleeping under your desk. Still tempted? What glaubenszeugnis is sent if at first you work at weekends but change that boundary later?Remember, your unique contribution and being consciously can-do makes you equal indispensable.Step 4 Focus on the future.As much as you cant imagine this now, there is a dark side to being indispensable especially if you get stuck in an entry role. So, once youre settled, build towards a long-term vision.It doesnt matter if youre not sure what that looks like yet. You will evolve as your skillset develops and experience expands. Be agile. Keep learning. And demonstrating the fresh thinking that sparks. When the time is right, people wont be surprised at your appetite for growth. This brand of career agility being what makes us truly indispensable in our careers and how we thrive at being who we uniquely are in life.Its not always easy to articulate your uniqueness yourself. But expressing our core values in what we do is what makes us feel alive and our work feel aligned. If you want some support with this, just clickherefor a (free)Values Activation exerciseI use with clients - designed to guide you to your uniqueness.