How to...
Get your dream job
September 2007
Our expert: Rob Yeung (BSc 1992), business psychologist
If you can’t honestly say that you don’t just like, but love your job, then maybe it’s not the one for you. Go get that dream job instead.
Get networking
Even in the toughest of times, organisations continue to hire. But when it comes to finding them, it has never been truer that it’s not what you know but who you know. At middle and senior levels, countless positions are never advertised but filled by word of mouth. Even at junior levels, many organisations ranging from advertising and consulting firms to big television production companies fill vacancies by referral. So get networking. Get talking to ex-colleagues, clients, contacts, even friends and family and ask if they know people who might know people who need someone like you.
Show them that you’re a STAR
At the interview, make sure you stand out from the crowd. Don’t just tell the interviewers how good you are; give concrete examples as to why you are a STAR. Tell the interviewers about a tough Situation, the Task you had to accomplish, the Actions you took, and the Result you achieved. Use the STAR acronym to bring your experience to life and make yourself memorable.
Be enthusiastic
Don’t forget that it’s not just what you say but also how you say it. Short listed candidates often have broadly similar skills and levels of experience. So interviewers are often heavily influenced by the enthusiasm and passion you display – and that often comes out as much in your voice and body language as the words you choose.
First impressions count
Finally, be aware of what psychologists call the primacy effect. In plain English, first impressions really do count. Interviewers often make up their minds within the first few minutes. So focus on presenting a strong handshake and making unwavering eye contact. Have two or three positive comments to make about the company, their offices, whatever. And don’t forget to smile.
We spend a third of our adult lives at work. Don’t settle for an OK job; go for your dream job.
Dr Rob Yeung is a psychologist specialising in management assessment and executive coaching at business consultancy Talentspace. He presents the BBC television series How To Get Your Dream Job and is the author of over a dozen books including The Rules of Networking and The Rules of Job Hunting.