How to Find The Perfect Job For You and Prepare Like a Pro
Whether you’re just starting out in your chosen career path or you’re upping the quest to find ‘the one’ in your professional life, don’t stand in the way of escaping the 60% of employees who are reportedly unhappy at work.
Here at Team Zoella, we are proud to advocate and encourage living the most fulfilled and happiest version of your life, surrounding yourself with people that are good vibes only and spending your time in environments that help you to flourish and reach your full potential. And whilst meditation, spending time with friends and treating yourself to a Friday night takeaway all add up to creating a life you love, how you spend your 9-5 can ultimately change everything. Finding the soulmate equivalent of your dream job isn’t *quite* as easy as the other self-care activities you can happily slot into your day though, and working in a role that suits you to a tee ain’t no coincidence. So whether you’re just starting out in your chosen career path or you’re upping the quest to find ‘the one’ in your professional life, don’t stand in the way of escaping the 60% of employees who are reportedly unhappy at work.
Deciding on the career for you
Despite the understandable fear that working for 50+ years of your life (*gulp*) is destined to be a drag, this anxiety need not manifest! Ultimately paying the bills is the aim, but spoiler, your job can be something you love and are truly passionate about, too. If your true calling isn’t automatically clear, think about your values, interests and what makes your heart sing. Maybe you don’t want to monetise your main hobbies or work in a field that crosses over with your passions directly, but identifying your strengths and maximising your potential to work with numbers or in a group setting for example can help direct your big decisions. Take inspiration from those around you and make the most of your circle- be it your immediate family or the friend of a friend- and pick the brains of those who seem most fulfilled by what they do on the daily.
Your dream job might not be limited to a specific industry, but instead a lifestyle that inspires you and keeps you motivated for years to come.
Nurture the skills you have, expand on the areas you don’t feel as confident in and don’t be afraid to ask for help in the early stages of establishing what it is you want to do. And remember! Nothing is set in stone. Check out the article we shared earlier this month about those who are thriving after doing a career 180.
Get social media savvy
You’ve binged Sex Education and exhausted TikTok, it’s time to use social media for something that will serve you well for potentially years to come. You might think of Instagram as exclusively a destination for photo dumps and following the endeavours of Timothée Chalamet, but there is endless potential to further your professional opportunities and make real connections from the humble photo-sharing app. Not only can Instagram and Twitter be used to keep up with your favourite brands and companies and their current openings and updates, but it can also be a place to directly follow employees/representatives of such brands and gain a true insight into working for your dream company. Whilst avoiding requesting to follow or engaging with individuals who keep their social media separate from their work is wise, engaging with those who choose to be active in a professional capacity on these platforms can offer huge advantages and opportunities compared to those who haven’t taken the initiative to do so.
In the age of infographics and digestible graphics galore, Instagram in particular is host to a plethora of wonderful informative accounts in almost every industry imaginable
In the age of infographics and digestible graphics galore, Instagram in particular is host to a plethora of wonderful informative accounts in almost every industry imaginable, offering tips, tricks and advice on breaking down the barriers to achieve your ultimate career goals. For creative roles and internships, accounts like Find Your Intern (or FYI) have made it their mission to be a destination and tool for life for young creatives, providing tips on CV design, content, cover letter assessments and interview advice to prepare those looking to work in this industry with up to date knowledge and preparation tips that have been proven to secure dream roles!
Spend a few minutes finding social media accounts dedicated to sharing news and tips for your industry and you’re well on your way to securing opportunities that might have otherwise passed you by!
The early (and proactive) bird catches the worm
One of the most important things to know when seeking out your dream role is that the power is in your hands, even when it doesn’t feel like it (we promise!). Whilst it feels like many things are out of your control in the job application process, there are countless ways you can use your initiative to steer the process in the right direction and make your dreams come true (cue Disney music). One such way is proactively reaching out to companies, brands and individuals you aspire to work for, whether there are current job openings /advertised roles or not. Emailing companies prospectively puts you on their radar at a time when there are no other applicants, shows initiative, can put you at the front of the line when an opportunity becomes available or potentially inspires an employer to create a new job opening just for you. LinkedIn is a great resource for finding contact details of those you look to get in touch with, or again utilising social media to find the appropriate information is a method that rarely fails. An example of this might look like the following:
Hello [name],
I hope you’re well and having a great week so far!
I’m reaching out today as a newly graduated X student seeking creative opportunities in the fashion and beauty spheres. I love [brand name] and have a great affinity with all that you do- I loved your recent campaign with X (use specific examples) and felt super inspired by the social strategy you used alongside it.
I have attached my CV and a covering letter for you to get a glimpse into my existing experience within the industry and would be grateful for any feedback you have and the possibility of a role within your team in the future- I would love to be considered.
Thank you for taking the time to read this email and I hope to hear from you soon! [Your Name].
Your CV and Cover Letter: The Do’s and Don’ts
Long gone are the days of a basic Microsoft MS CV, it’s time to add a little bit of spice and elevate that sh*t to stand out amongst a crowd. Although first impressions aren’t everything, in the competitive world of job applications, how your CV and cover letter look at first glance can be pretty make or break, so it’s important to take the time in getting this right. If you’re not a creative by nature then thankfully websites such as Canva, Etsy and Creative Market offer pre-made templates from colourful to corporate that simply require you to add in your credentials and away you go. Jasmine from FYI is an advocate of creating a personal brand identity that can follow through all of your professional outreach, helping to create a smooth, confident and seamless image that is most appealing to employers. The design of your CV and cover letter can then be coordinated with your business cards, LinkedIn profile, email signature design and any online portfolio you have to convey ultimate boss bitch energy. Ultimately a personal brand is everything public-facing that an employer can see from you (even down to details such as the tone of voice of emails and your email address) so nailing this early on is guaranteed to improve your success rate during the application process.
Most employers prefer a CV limited to one page both for ease in going through potentially hundreds of applications and also to give yourself the opportunity to display your shiniest achievements and proudest moments at a glance.
So we’ve covered the aesthetics, now it’s time to get down to the meat of these documents- the beef patty of your application if you will. Most employers prefer a CV limited to one page both for ease in going through potentially hundreds of applications and also to give yourself the opportunity to display your shiniest achievements and proudest moments at a glance. It may also serve you well to tailor your CV to different industries and job roles, especially for those with experience in opposing industries such as hospitality and more corporate roles, again giving you the best possible chance of success!
Cover letters are sometimes considered optional and not all applications mark them as mandatory, but when it comes down to the nitty-gritty of deciding upon who to interview, a strong cover letter can be the difference between one applicant and another. Cover letters are also most fitting on a one-page format and can follow a basic structure that communicates all the necessary deets succinctly:
1. Salutation and hello
Always use a name where possible. LinkedIn can usually help you with this if you’re emailing about a prospective role!
2. Introduction
Indicate whether you’re applying for a specific, advertised role or are emailing speculatively to see if there are any available opportunities. If advertised, it can be useful to include where you found the ad i.e. as advertised on Indeed or if a specific person put you in touch.
3. Your strengths
It’s time to sell yourself, people! Let loose and tell the employer what an amazing/enthusiastic/dedicated/punctual and all-around badass worker you are. Emphasise your best skills and expand on impressive achievements you might not have had space to go into on your CV. Give examples of times when you’ve put your skills into practice either in previous roles or during education to give context to your claims and show how you could apply this to the role in question.
4. Express your knowledge of the job
Showcase your knowledge of the company and make this explicit to the role in question. Generic cover letters don’t serve anyone, so making this section as specific as possible to the company and role you’re applying for will not only impress the employer but show you’re genuine and keen.
5. Positive ending
Restate your interest and suitability and express that you hope to hear from them soon!
Where to start:
You’ve got the knowledge, you’re prepped, confident and ready to make your dreams come true, but where do you look first?
LinkedIn.com | Simply Hired | Career Builder | Reed.co.uk | Monster.co.uk | The Guardian Jobs | The-Dots.com | Dice.com | Idealist.org | Fashionworkie.com | Fashionunited.uk | Businessoffashion.com | Drapersjobs.com
