Unconventional Ways To Land Your Dream Job

There is a difference between a job that pays the bills and a fulfilling career. We wondered why the distance between our job and our dreams is often so wide.

The world has changed, technology has been revolutionized several times over, and yet our hiring process still resembles the way it was back in the 1970s. Little has changed in how we post, apply, and interview for jobs on or offline.

Perhaps the first step in creating extraordinary work places is to rewrite the rules of engagement for gaining meaningful employment.
You might be surprised by our suggestions for landing the job of your dreams. But since transforming the hiring process and the creating extraordinary work places will require a few years to catch up, here are a few of our team’s ideas that may open up a few new possibilities for you.

1. Apply for jobs that are never listed…by connecting with extraordinary people from all walks of life.
Most of the really great jobs are filled before companies even think to post them on Craigslist or other job sites. Overall, the interviewing process is tedious and if 50 people interview, 49 are going to be deflated and only one elated. How many times have we interviewed for a job we knew was not right for us and yet we were still devastated when we weren’t called back for the next round? It’s like a beauty pageant gone terribly wrong.
Become friends with people who work in companies you’re interested in. Enjoy learning about them and supporting them. Don’t be surprised when they call you up and ask you to join them when a new position opens up or refer you to an open position at another great company. Networking opens new doors all the time.

2. Skills always win…yes, even over likability, charisma, and charm.
Develop mastery in your chosen profession so you will continue to create job opportunities throughout your entire life. Companies will always need people who can deliver strong results. Great companies hire good people who are willing to learn and who are not afraid to educate themselves. There is a wealth of learning available to you – on and off the Internet.

3. Don’t rely on your resume…too much.
A resume is a good first step to get your foot in the door and describe what you’ve accomplished in your career. But showing is better than telling. Create a portfolio that represents who you are and what you stand for, which you can add to LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. Those are the places where hiring professionals will go to check you out, anyway.

4. Don’t focus primarily on money…if you’re really good, it will find you.
Discover the work that calls out to you and start doing it. If you’re just in “the game of work” for the money, title, and illusion of power, you’ll never feel completely satisfied or fulfilled.
Here’s a great example of someone who keeps money in a healthy perspective: We know a young man who loved building websites. He loved it so much he quit school and built them from dawn until late in the evening just about every day. Each project led to another. He had so much work that he started hiring “helpers.” Today, he operates a successful Web development firm and he still builds websites. He hired “a suit,” as he calls her, to take care of the “biz” so he can continue to do what he was born to do.