Job Search Guide Video Series: How to get your dream job

Finding a job, writing a CV and cover letter, asking the right questions at an interview and negotiating your salary. These are some of the skills that are now more useful than ever. Maybe you are considering a career switch, are seeking a new job or want to change industries. Whatever the motivation, watch our Job Search Guide to get you ready for the next career move. Here are the main highlights from the series.

1. Finding a job

According to the Femme Palette mentor, Kristina Shershun, who oversees recruitment, people operations and wellbeing at Merlon.ai, seeking job is an opportunity, not a threat.

• Stay positive: Don’t despair if you are looking for a new job, perceive it as a great opportunity. Now you have a unique chance to transition your career, explore a new industry, start freelancing, become self-employed or start your own business.

• Where to look? There are plenty of different channels where to look for work.
• Personal network: Kristina recommends reaching out to former colleagues and utilising your personal contacts when you are looking for a new work opportunity.
• Professional community: The proportion of workforce on LinkedIn in Czechia is 23.4%, therefore ensure you maximise the use of the platform.

TIP: Learn how to network on LinkedIn.

• Online groups: If you are contacting people via Facebook groups, avoid spamming and make sure your message is relevant or contact people directly.
• Recruitment agencies: Prepare you for an interview and provide insighters info, which can be useful especially in the case of large companies.
• Job boards: A few suggestions where to look: Jobs.cz, Fiverr, Upwork, Toptal, We Work Remotely, Behance, Stack Overflow and Techloop.

• Should I apply? The perfect fit does not exist, so don’t be afraid to apply for a position that does not match your profile completely, but make sure you possess the core skills. If there are no open positions at the moment, go through referral and contact someone who works there and could give you tips and recommendations about the company.

• What to prepare? Do your research, together with the company’s website, check out also Glassdoor and some social media profiles to get an idea of the company’s culture.

• Main takeaway: Know why you want to work for the company and why you are a good match for the job. Knowing what you want also makes your job search much easier.

2. Writing a CV and Cover letter

Evin Shamma is a Recruitment Business Partner at Cielo Talent and also a Femme Palette mentor. She gives advice on how to craft the perfect resume to help you get you hired.

• What to check: Make sure your CV is well structured, preferably has a summary at the top and gives a brief and relevant overview of your work experience. Think critically about what you put in there - that applies also to hobbies and education.  

• What to avoid: Lengthy sentences. Give specific examples of your accomplishments but do not brag. The ideal length of a CV is 1-3 pages to be able to keep it relevant.

TIP: A photo on CV is not advised - it helps recruiters stay objective and avoids discrimination.

• What goes into the cover letter: A cover letter is a small intro of the candidate. It gives a chance to explain any career breaks and can be written in a less formal tone. It should say why you are the ideal candidate and be addressed to the hiring manager.

• How to design a CV: There are plenty of free CV builders on the market, e.g. canva.com or resume.io. Choose wisely and ensure the style reflects your personality.

• How about social media: LinkedIn can be used as a point of reference, any other profiles are irrelevant, but be aware of what you share about yourself on the internet.  

3. Acing an interview

Lucia Patoprsta is an HR Director at Bonami and a personal coach. Her biggest piece of advice is to be prepared and ask questions. What else should a candidate do at an interview?

• Prep is key: Know who is interviewing you and be ready to sell yourself - prepare examples of your accomplishments (i.e. situations, teamwork, improvements, ...).

• Getting information: Search the company on social media, read the news, utilise your network and reach out to specific people via LinkedIn or email to learn more.

• Dress well: But don’t over do it. Try to look casual and smart to help you feel relaxed and be yourself. If interviewing online, look into the camera to make ‘eye contact’.

• Ask questions: Prepare questions about the details of the job, ask about the team, processes, challenges that are likely to arise etc. This will prove you are interested.

• ’Tell me something about yourself’: Start with the motivation - why you want the job and what you can bring to the company - prove it through your experience and skills.

• Follow up: Agree with the recruiter when you or s/he will follow up and send a thank you note within a week after the interview.

• Favourite question: ‘If money were no object, what would you do?’ This helps show the authenticity and openness of a candidate which can be a big plus at an interview.  

4. Mastering Salary Negotiation

Tereza Machackova is the Head of Talent at productboard and a Femme Palette mentor. She believes that ‘the sooner you start negotiating, the sooner you can expect a pay rise.’

• Be proactive and give evidence: Show figures, data and research to justify the amount you are asking for and why you should get it.  

• Be specific: Have a clear amount in your head before you start negotiating.
• Be transparent: Use evidence to prove your value and why you deserve a pay rise.
• Be positive: If you want to fight gender bias, use the word ‘we’ as opposed to ‘I’, also focus on positive emotions and body language that will help you stand your ground.
• Be postponing: Don’t rush accepting an offer, take your time to think about the proposal, discuss it with friends and professionals, then make a decision.

If there was one key takeaway, then it would be to do your research. All female professionals agree that the key is to know why you want to work for the company and what you can bring to the role. If you want to learn more about how to apply for your dream job, watch the Femme Palette series and get ready for your next big career move!