10 Expert Job Search Tips to Land Your Dream Job in 2021

If you are looking for a new opportunity in 2021, make sure you aren’t stuck with an outdated job search plan. The recruitment process has transformed, employers use different criteria to hire, and savvy candidates have aligned their job search accordingly to stand out. If you aren’t informed about the latest job seeker trends, this article is for you. Here are my top 10 job search tips based on my experience as a career strategist and recruiter.

1. Define your goal 

Failing to plan is planning to fail. Even if you are looking to change roles urgently, resist the urge to start looking for your next challenge before developing a strategic career plan. Without a plan tailored to your needs and desires, you may get hired for a role you won’t enjoy.

Instead, start by considering what you enjoy (and what you don’t) at work based on previous experience. This will reveal the elements of your best job. Then, consider your strengths based on past achievements. This will help you identify your options and do a feasibility assessment.

Also, keep in mind your long-term goals, as your target job should enable you to live your best life. Consider salary, location, and any other requirements you may have. Lastly, future-proof your career plan by taking into consideration upcoming trends, such as automation and AI.

A combination of the above will enable you to identify your best job: a role that you will enjoy, you will be able to excel at, and will help you build your desired career and life. If you feel comfortable, you can go through the above process on your own. Otherwise, you can explore working with a career coach for some professional support. Either way, don’t forget to evaluate potential employers through real employee reviews on Glassdoor.

2. Refine your message

Generic is average. After selecting your target jobs, you want to tailor your job search around them. Here is my best-practice process on how to craft your message to maximise your application success rate. Glassdoor’s Company Explorer tool is a great way to find the best companies in different industries and locations, plus their Company Compare tool allows you to compare the pros and cons of working at different companies.

First, analyse your target jobs focusing on the Requirements and the Duties & Responsibilities sections. What is your employer of choice looking for in a candidate? Then, take it a step further by understanding what keywords, tone of voice, and language you need to use based on your target job, company, and industry.

After you have completed the above exercise, you are ready to craft a relevant, specific, and polished message. Identify the relevant parts of your experience and expertise. Detail them using the right language. Exclude everything else. 

3. Optimise your CV

I know you don’t have time. Also, I know you find CV writing boring. However, it doesn’t matter. I’ve seen extraordinary applicants not being selected because they didn’t articulate their key skills, experience, and expertise the right way. Please, don’t become one of them.

Instead, use your refined message to create the foundations of your CV based on your target audience. Then, take it a step further by optimising your document further for each vacancy. It sounds onerous, but it’s not. All it takes is being organised, working smart, and making minor changes each time, such as including the required keywords.

Related: How to Write a CV

4. Develop your LinkedIn profile

If you are not using LinkedIn, you are missing out. This is where recruiters look for talent. This is where professionals network.

The first thing to do to start leveraging the power of LinkedIn is to optimise your profile based on your goals. Luckily, your refined message can be a solid basis on which you can create your profile copy. Start by building in the right keywords to increase relevant traffic. Then, include content relevant to your target audience to maximise conversion.

5. Don’t neglect cover letters

 Even if some decision-makers don’t consider cover letters, many others do. Remember, always take advantage of opportunities to go above and beyond – it’s the best way to stand out. Here’s how to win interviews with your cover letter.

Since your CV outlines your abilities, use your cover letter to talk about your motivation. Explain to the employer why and how you are ready to put in the effort and deliver value if given the chance. Don’t just show the employer you can do the job, show them that you will do it, too! Enthusiasm and passion are always appreciated.

6. Network, network, network

No person is an island. To build an extraordinary career, you need an extraordinary network. It’s not about asking for a job, it’s about building trust-based, mutually beneficial, long-term relationships.

Once you’ve built your career plan, don’t lose time. From online platforms to offline events, network relentlessly. Expand your network, enhance existing relationships, and build your army of supporters – not when you need a job, today. 

7. Validate your value

Value validation is the key to job search success. Anyone can claim to be the perfect candidate, but very few can prove it. Start by communicating objective statements backed with data.

Then, take it a step further by showcasing your value practically. Find a problem the employer is facing and share with them how you can solve it for them. No need for free work – in fact, this is always a bad idea. Sharing your thought process is enough to do the trick.

8. Prepare for your interview

You’ve landed an interview for your dream job. Congrats! Now, time to get to work. I am baffled by the volume of candidates who neglect interview preparation. Of course, they all regret it after the interview, but then it’s too late. Don’t be one of these applicants, please.

To prepare like a winner, go beyond the job description. Dig deeper into the employer’s website, business publications, and industry magazines. Then, link with current or ex-employees and other experts who have experience in similar roles to get more information.

Understand what the job, the employer, and the industry are all about. Then, identify common interview questions using Glassdoor and craft relevant answers. Don’t forget to rehearse your answers, ideally with a friend or career strategist. Practice makes perfect. 

9. Follow up to win

Some say that thank-you notes are not required. Time to bust this myth once and for all. Everyone appreciates a thank-you note, especially if it is combined with valuable advice. Recruiters and hiring managers are no different, you can take my word for it.

Here is how to write the perfect thank-you email. Firstly, thank the interviewers for their time. Then, reiterate your passion for the opportunity. Lastly, close off by sharing some valuable, relevant, and specific advice with them – preferably related to your interview. Send it out on the same day, as timing is paramount. Also, keep it to 5-6 lines, as people’s time is valuable. 

10. Always negotiate your package

Not negotiating your salary and broader package is a no-no. Use the power of negotiation, leverage your compound earning potential, and maximise your income. However, always negotiate with tact.

Start by understanding the salary range the employer is willing to offer for the role – this information is available for free on Glassdoor. Secondly, evaluate your value and the package you deserve. Then, communicate your range, which should be overlapping with the employer’s range to some degree. Leave room for negotiations. Most importantly, be professional, polite, and flexible, making sure you come across as someone genuinely interested in the job.