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When it comes to the ‘How to land your dream job’ list, bagging relevant experience is usually pretty close to the top. That said, the notion and importance of experience has gone through a bit of a makeover in recent years. More than ticking the boxes of a rock solid list of skills and previous roles, it’s now about culture matching and how creatively you can transfer your talents. This newfound flexibility is obviously fantastic but it doesn’t vanquish the need for you to have some experience under your belt.
With graduates clawing to get into the top roles and the rise of the midlife career change, the need to gain valuable and valid experience remains a top priority. What’s comforting for these modern seekers to understand is that there’s less conventional, yet equally as successful, ways to gather that experience. So if you’re diving into the job market for the first time or if you’re in the midst of a big career change, don’t fret over your seemingly lacking CV. Get unconventional, reframe and be loyal to what makes you, well, you.
Get your mitts on that dream job winning experience - Tips & Tricks.
Years in the biz and qualifications galore are no longer the be all and end all. There’s a tonne of other ways to gain that job winning experience and help you stand out from the candidate crowd.
- Pin down what your dream is.
Don’t let your present skills and experiences dictate your dream job, it happens all too often and can drive the real talent to despair. Gaining experience should be a full-time, life-long adventure. What skills, talent and experience you have today doesn’t need to limit the job you want tomorrow. Make that leap and get specific about what your dream job is, when you know this you can set out a plan to gather more relevant experience and rework your current credentials.
- Volunteer.
Volunteering is the gift that keeps giving. More than just getting some relevant skills and resources under your belt, it shows potential employers that you invested some actual hours and time to something you have a passion for. That’ll take you far indeed. Taking active steps to learn and be relevant is something an employer will love instantly, team that with the life skills you’ll develop and you stand in very good stead.
- Get strategic.
If you’re worried about facing your dream employers, earn your stripes at a smaller company. Whether as an intern, volunteer or shadowing enthusiast, get that hands-on industry experience on a smaller scale. Approach a small company in your desired industry and take your experience hunt into your own hands. Be honest, tell them you’re looking for some real experience in this field and bargain a way in. Chances are you’ll learn more than you ever dreamed here.
- Embrace the unconventional.
Chances are the traditional methods of job hunting will be the things that trip up an experience-light candidate. Application forms are designed to make your suitability for a role easy to spot, if this is a bit tricky for you to showcase, change the medium. Avoid the usual methods and get unconventional. Why not go straight to the hiring decision makers and skip the HR step? Do you research and find out how your influencers tick. Don’t wait for your dream job to be advertised, create it! Get together a creative case for your value and push that door open. Take your dream job hunt into your own hands.
- The Art of Networking.
In today’s job seeking market, it’s all about who you know and who is prepared to stand in your corner. Utilise your connections, ask for help and recommendations. Most people are happy to share their knowledge and advice with you, just ask. Tap into industry-related talent, what experience do they have? Would they hire you? What skills and values are important to them? Honesty is key, be upfront and bold.
- Don’t get lazy with your skillset.
It kinda goes without saying that you need to keep watering and growing your skillset. Go beyond qualifications and roles duties, what day-to-day skills are missing from your industry? If tech is a big priority, go above and beyond to get clued up. If you think collaboration is a winning technique, champion it by creating a strategy for improving it. It’s all about applying skills, not just collecting them. Same goes for education, whether it’s night classes or an online course from the likes of Future Learn, put time aside to keep your love for learning topped up.
- Become a Transfer Titan.
It’s not all about the new, replenish your current skills and learn to reframe them for your new opp. Your current skills don’t go out the window the second you change industry, in fact they can be more valuable than you realise. All it takes is some artful context shifting and shining a spotlight on the good old fashioned classics. Multi-tasking, working as part of a team and leadership might be golden oldies but they are key. Position them in a relevant way to the industry rather than just listing attributes, how can these skills really impact your success in this industry? Put every skill you have under the microscope.
- Pitch your uniqueness.
On paper it might seem like your dream job and you aren’t a dream match. Who cares about paper?! What makes you unique is what makes you valuable so commit to communicating this to your potential employers. Every industry can grown from fresh blood and new perspectives, be that innovative and ‘out the box’-er. Don’t worry about fitting into the mould, study the company culture and align your worth with their values.
- Recommendations (with a twist).
Regardless of which industry you’re in, a recommendation goes a long way. Ask your connections to create a recommendation that touches on how your current experience would work in this new industry. This new approach could win over once doubtful employees-to-be. It does require a little more work but offer these recommendation writers a small list of ideal comparisons and references, most professional pals are more than happy to help.
Having little to no industry know-how doesn’t need to dent your chances of recruitment success. There’s always a plethora of other ways to gain that experience and bring value to the dream job table. Whatever route you take, be honest and personal. Today’s biggest companies and employers are forward-thinking folks who understand the value of culture fits and off the wall thinking. Give them, and yourself, some credit.
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