How to Really Land the Dream Job

Photo via Star5112
 

This is a guest post by David Pierce, of The 2.0 Life.  David teaches his readers how to thrive in this digital world, writing on subjects ranging from computer software tips and tricks to technical productivity and effectiveness.
 

Right now marks the time for many college students when we’re trying to figure out what to do with our summers. Whether we’re looking for a job, an internship, or a career, many of us are in the process of applying, interviewing, updating resumes, dressing nicely, and generally stressing out.

Here’s the thing, though: in my experience, most people go about it the wrong way. Instead of trying to be impressive, we should be trying to be friendly. Something like 80% of jobs are filled not through applications and job fairs, but through relationships. Who you know and how you work with them is the key to getting the job or internship you really want.

Start with Who You Know

Searching for a job starts, and often ends, with the people you know. Think creatively- people you know, your parents know, your school knows, or even friends of friends, can be incredibly helpful. Find people you know, and who know you, and ask for their help. This isn’t a replacement for having good grades or experience (though it can help if those aren’t so stellar), but if you can get an insider to go to bat for you, you’re going to be in great shape.

Try sending them an email and say “I’m interested in working for your company. What can I do to help my chances?” More often than not, they’ll have great advice, helpful people for you to talk to, and the ability to drop your name all over the place. Most jobs I’ve gotten have been thanks to someone like this making sure my resume was at the top of the pile.

Get Personal

This tip doesn’t necessarily work for every position, but it does for many. Let’s say there’s a person you’re dying to work with. You love what they do, think they’re great at it, and just want to learn from them. Find out how to contact that person, and tell them that.

People want to work with students excited about working with them; if you can tell them your passion and excitement about the opportunity, you put yourself in a much better position. This is how I got my last (and current) job, with a New York Times columnist. I emailed him and told him how excited I was about potentially working with him, and why I wanted his job so badly. I got the job, based on that one email! Never forget that employers want to hire people who want to work for them.

Self-Promote

I’m terrible at telling people what I’m good at (all three things). I feel awkward, and weird, and like a bad person for gloating about myself. We all need to get over that. If you want a job or internship, you’re likely to not be the only one who wants it. Make sure your resume highlights not only what you’re good at, but what makes you uniquely qualified for the position.

Same goes for the interview- self-promotion is an uncomfortable, but necessary, part of the game. Don’t be arrogant about it, but make sure you’re willing and able to lay out what you’re good at, and why that makes you the best person for the job.

Follow Up

Let’s say you’ve gone to a job interview. You think it went well, you’re excited about the possibility of getting this job and going to work. Follow up about it. Email or call your interviewer and see what they thought. Thank them for the interview, ask for feedback, and tell them you’re excited about the possibilities.

Following up shows that you want to work there, that you’re committed to the company or person, and keeps your name fresh on their mind. Don’t abuse this, though- there’s nothing more annoying for an employer than 25 emails from you saying “did I get the job? Did I did I did I?”

Place First, Position Second

This is something I’ve learned over the course of the last few jobs I’ve had, and it’s been important for me in applying for jobs and internships. Counter-intuitive though it might sound, the position you get is not the most important part of your experience. A not-as-fun job at a great place with great people will offer you both more future opportunities and an ultimately better experience in this one.

If the job you’d get would be getting coffee and making copies, that’s okay: be willing to do those things, do them well, and do them with a smile on your face. The people around you will notice, and odds are you won’t be making coffee for long. Take opportunities as they come, and remember that being where you want to be is more important (for now) than being what you want to be. The foot in the door is critical, and it’s one of the biggest advantages you can gain from a summer internship.

Getting and succeeding at a job is about building and leveraging your relationships to make the opportunities happen. By remembering and applying these tips, you put yourself in a place to be the name everyone’s saying at the job you can’t wait to get.

Visit The 2.0 Life to see more of what David’s got cooking!