7 Strategies for Landing Your Dream Job (Even If You Arent Qualified)

7 Strategies for Landing Your Dream Job (Even If You Arent Qualified)Do what you love. This is pretty common career advice, and youve probably heard it before. Theres just one catchhow do you get to that dream job, the job you really want? Especially if you dont really have the experience or qualifications you need? All is not lost. Assuming you dont want to jump from, say, retail clerk to astronaut, there are ways to help boost yourself up into your dream job. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) 1. Know What You WantIf you dont have a goal in mind, itll be awfully difficult to set your path to get there. Before you start combing job listings or working on your resume, its important to know what your goal is here. This is especially true if your dream job is a bit of a stretch, professionally. Winging it wont get you ahead here.If youre having trouble deciding what that dream job can be, there are fun tools like this interactive dream job qu iz that can help you speed up the thought process by taking your interests and offering real-world odds of getting a related job. (Sadly, it turns out my odds of becoming a TV-watching spy arent super high.)If youre still not aya about how to juggle what you want to do versus what youre qualified to do, career coach Laura Berman geschehen has some great advice about how to cut through the noise and figure out what you want to get from your career2. Know Your ValueExperience is a great attribute to have in your job hunt, but its not the only one. You also need to look at the quality of that experience the skills and knowledge you have accumulated over time. Whether youve been working for 1year or 15years, you have steadily built your skills and your professional value. When youre crafting your resume, think about using a format that showcases your skills, instead of using the traditional chronological format where you list your jobs, working backwards.3. See the Job Requirements as G uidelines, Not Set in StoneIf you think of the job description requirements as mora of a starting point than an ironclad list of requirements, it can help remove some of that mental block to applying to a job that may be a reach. While some things may be non-negotiable (such as particular skills), other things may be more flexible if you have equivalent skills or experience. For example, if a job description calls for a Bachelors degree but you have an Associates and a number of skills related to the job, dont let that scare you off. Just make sure you emphasize the qualities and skills that you do have to support the job description.4. Set Your StoryEveryone loves a good storyand hiring managers like a story that shows how great a person would be for this particular job. Your resume is the snapshot of your skills and professional experience, but your work doesnt end there. You need to help set the narrative. Are you the savvy underdog looking to trade up your skills for experience? Are you a bold career-changer looking to translate your skills and experience to a new industry? Your resume doesnt tell a reader everything about youjust the highlights. This is why a titelbild letter can be essential, even in unterstellung days of automated submissions. Not only is it a chance to add more key words (more on that in a bit), but it lets you add some color and context about who you are, and summarize why youre such a great fit for this position.If you dont have tons of experience, its also a way to start the conversation about how your skills bridge a potential experience gap. Give the reader a reason to keep reading, instead of flipping ahead to the next resume. Work on your elevator pitch, which is a quick, succinct headline that answers three questions who you are, what you do, and what youre looking for. Thats the line you can hit in your cover letter, in a summary statement/objective on your resume, and again in the einstellungsgesprch. This is your chance to s et up your brand.5. Outsmart the Resume RobotsThese days, theres a good chance that the first reader of your resume/application package isnt even human. No offense to the robots out there, but this is not ideal if youre trying to punch above your weight class, professionally. The smartest thing you can do here is know exactly what the company is looking forand you have the job description right in front of you to help you do that. Make sure your resume and cover letter are hitting the key words that jump out of the job descriptionespecially the ones related to experience, education, and skills. This is also where careful proofreading of your resume comes in handy you want to make sure that your high-priority key words are spelled correctly, and match the way theyre presented in the job description. You dont want to lie, but if youre trying to get somewhat creative with your qualifications, hitting as many of the key points from the job description as possible may get you past the fi rst round, and one step closer to an interview where you can wow them with the skills you do have.6. Network Like CrazyYour network isnt just a nice little collection of Twitter handles or LinkedIn headshots. These are people whose experience and professional kinship can help boost you from faceless applicant to contender. According to LinkedIn, a whopping 85% () of jobs are filled by network referrals. Why is this? Filling open jobs is time-consuming and expensive, and companies like to feel good about the choice and investment theyre making.Having someone else vouch for an applicant can help make that process easier, and push the applicant higher on the list than they might have made it if they just went through the usual process of 1) find job 2) apply online 3) wait for HR rep to call. Having someone talk up your skills and fitness for the job is immensely helpful. And you never know when an opening or an opportunity may pop up from your old boss, or that guy who sat next to you in Accounting class. Keeping these relationships fresh, and making an effort to attend industry events or networking events is definitely worth your time.7. Package Yourself CarefullyYou already know you need a resume, but thats merely the first step. If its been a while since you redid your resume from scratch, guess what? Nows the time to burn that sucker to the ground (not literallyno fire hazards, please) and create a new one for the opportunities you wantWhat Your Resume Should Look Like in 2017Heres the Number One Resume Mistake Youre MakingWhats the Best Format for Your Resume?Your 5-Question Resume ChecklistAnd as always, its important to make sure youre tailoring your resume to match the job you want. Customizing your resume doesnt take long, and it can mean the difference between Joe, the Generic Okay Job Applicant and Joe, the Impressive Interview Candidate Who Would Fit in At Rodeo Clown Inc.But dont neglect the other pieces herethe cover letter can be an essential part of your applicant package, especially when youre trying to level upImportant Cover Letter Trends in 2017 That Will Help Your Job Search5 Must Haves for an Effective Cover Letter4 Steps to Writing a Kick-Ass Cover LetterAnd dont skimp on interview prep, so that youre ready when the call comes. Make sure your interview outfit and lucky shoes are ready to go, and get yourself in interview fighting shape7 Real Life Interview Mistakes You Can Learn FromThe Most Important Talking Points for Your Upcoming Interview12 Easy Steps to a Successful Job InterviewIt also cant hurt to brush up on what not to do. A few cautionary tales can help your interview game when the time comes5 Reasons You Just Had a Really schwimmbad Interview10 Personal Things Not to Say in an InterviewAfter all, this is your dream job, and you dont want to feel like youre scrambling to cover weaknesses or a lack of experience. The more you practice and work on your total package, the smoother youll look when youre finall y presenting yourself as the ideal applicant.