Three Tips to Finding Your Dream Job

I’ve built a thriving career development business, helping passionate, purpose-driven women feel confident and empowered to follow their passion and secure the role that means more to them.

And I want to help you do the same.

Here are three tips I use to empower my clients in the pursuit of their dream role:

TIP No. 1: STEP INTO YOUR VISION

Knowing what role you want to pursue, what you value in your next move and what motivates you about the role personally and professionally is where your effort needs to be focused first.

This process, I call Stepping Into Your Vision, focuses your energy on moving toward what you want. The positive emotions and motivation will fuel your persistence and when setbacks make you feel disheartened on your pursuit, remember your why and you will find a way to keep going. What will become a turning point is when you know how your WHY makes you feel and how achieving this role will IMPACT your current situation.

Grab yourself a pen and notebook and try this exercise:

1. What role will mean more to you than any other role?
2. Where do you want to work?
3. List your work-related values and core values that are aligned to this role?
4. How will working at XYZ change your situation?

With step 4, the power lies in how achieving this role will impact your situation.

Here is an example response for a parent returning to work as a high school teacher.

4. How will working at XYZ change your situation?

I can support my family financially. I will have the opportunity to spend time with my children during school holidays. More significantly, I can be a positive role model for my daughter and show her to never give up on her dreams.

TIP No. 2: DETERMINE YOUR GRAND ASSET

All too often, individuals sell themselves short. Your resume matters. What’s equally important is knowing yourself and being able to communicate your strengths, passion and skills to a hiring manager while aligning these to the role.

Before you begin writing your resume, you need to become self-aware and know what makes you stand out. (Your grand asset)

Try this exercise: (Be specific when sharing your response using details and facts)

1. What have you achieved professionally during the last three years that is relevant to the role you applying for?
2. What skills or knowledge have you applied consistently over the years that has contributed to results or outcomes?

TIP No. 3: GAIN CLARITY AND ALIGN YOUR PASSION, STRENGTHS AND VALUE

What I know from working with hundreds of passion-driven professionals is that they’re humble people who are not comfortable with selling themselves in the written form. But they have unique strengths and experiences they’re unaware of, hindering their chances of getting noticed.

Start with these questions to gain some clarity about your strengths and what is meaningful to you:

1. At work at the end of business/workday in your most desired role, what are you most proud of?
2. I am passionate about the role I am applying for because….
3. What skills or characteristics have others praised you on, and what do they say about you?

So how do you align your strengths and value offering and show evidence to prove it?
Answer this question: How does your strengths, value and experience align you to the role you are applying for?

An executive assistant’s experience, strength and value: I have 10 years adapting to pressure, providing high-quality support and delivering operational excellence.

In an advertisement the keywords are high functioning and an ability to perform in a deadline driven environments.

Here’s an executive assistant’s response to this question:

“With 10 years of experience adapting to the pressures of high functioning environments has a strong desire for operational excellence and driving genuine change that positively impacts on business outcomes. A true passion for people and developing a strong business culture is capable to provide high-quality support to in-demand CEO.”

See how the executive assistant connects her strengths and experience with the value she offers?

Now for the evidence. What type of proof can you include on your resume?

A personal statement from a referee, supervisor or a colleague provides evidence of your performance during employment. By asking permission to use their name and job title on your resume this can strengthen your profile, authentically and powerfully showing credibility while providing evidence of your high standard of work.

Example 1.1: Testimonial on a Graduate Naturopath resume – located underneath the profile.

“Angela has an extraordinary work ethic. Her genuine desire to help improve the patients’ physical and emotional health and support healing allows her to connect effortlessly and quickly to meet and exceed client’s expectations. Angela a walking testament to what’s possible in her chosen field.”
Judy Smith, Alternative Therapist.

I hope these tips help you on your pursuit for your next role and remind you to believe in yourself, never give up and keep going on your purposeful journey.

By Loretta Spatocco
Photo by Mike Szczepanski

Based in Australia, Loretta Spatocco is a Career Alignment Coach, Resume Writer and Owner of Skills For Your Career, plus Founder of the Bring Your Dream Career to Life movement.

P.S. Feeling moved to give back, and support the community, Skills For Your Career is hosting a Two-part training series. The first part is FREE offering support with the job search, career clarity and building self-awareness via an online Facebook Workshop. It is designed to inspire, empower and support each other through this challenging time. Learn more and sign up here.