How to Get Hired By Your Dream Company

How to Get Hired By Your Dream Company How to Get Hired By Your Dream Company At some point in their career,  almost everyone has a dream company they’d love to work for and a job they would be thrilled to have. Whether it’s for a high salary, terrific  benefits and perks, a fun or challenging  company culture, a short commute (or the  opportunity to work from home  and not commute at all), or even something as basic as hours that match your schedule, there’s a job out there that is a match for you. If you have a few companies that youd really like to work for, make a point of keeping them on your radar - and getting on theirs - even before you start the job application process. If you dont have a list of companies that would be a perfect fit, take some time to create one. The more focused your job search, the easier it will be to get hired. How to Find Companies You Would Love to Work For If you dont have a list of employers yet that youd be thrilled to work for, take some time to  determine what characteristics  your ideal employer would  have,  were  you choosing which company to work for. Then  create a list of target employers  by researching companies to find those that match for your interests, skills, and where you are positioned on the career ladder. Also check lists of top-rated employers like  the  Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For  and Glassdoors  Best Places to Work.   Once youve generated a list of top employers that match the  work environment, compensation,  benefits, perks and opportunities for advancement that youre seeking, its time to get on their radar as a prospective employee. Tips for Getting Hired By Your Dream Company There are several benefits to tracking a company for a period of time before you apply. For example, depending on the size of the company, if you follow it  on LinkedIn, Instagram or Twitter, like their Facebook page, or join their newsletter, they might already recognize your name when its time to apply. Learn as Much as You Can About the Employer Researching companies  in advance is a good way to learn about the organization, so that  when it comes time to interview, you wont have to scramble to do background research. Also take time to be sure this is a  company that would be ideal for you. If you’re genuinely interested in an employer for more reasons than  that you just need a job, it will show. You’ll be able to speak with interest and enthusiasm.  Youll  also likely have a well-formed opinion and several compelling  anecdotes  to share when youre asked something like, What do you know about this company? or What do you see yourself doing in the first 30 days on the job?   With a wide scope of knowledge about the companys background, youll also be able to impress your interviewer if they ask for your perspective on incidents  related to the organizations past, like a new product or project it may have rolled out, or a high-profile issue it may have been involved in. Showing that youve been active and engaged  - even as an outsider  - bodes well for how youll perform within the organization. And of course, theres the obvious benefit of knowing about open positions before the competition. By staying updated with a  companys job listings page, not only will you be among the first to know about new opportunities, but youll be able to monitor what kind of workers the company is looking for and what type of job  you have a good chance of getting. Once you get a sense of the companys  hiring process, youll be better able to make thoughtful decisions, like when you should apply or what level of position you should apply for.   Take the time to review your professional brand, and rebrand yourself if necessary, to make sure your credentials are a match for what the company is seeking when it hires candidates. Track the Companies Youd Love to Work For Here are some tips for tracking your dream company to help yourself get hired: Follow the company on social media.  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest - there are so many social media channels and the  chances are  that the company or companies youre after probably have accounts on at least a few of them. Connect with them all  and pay attention to their updates. Heres more on  how to use social media in your job search. Connect with the company  on LinkedIn.  Follow the company on LinkedIn, view who youre connected with at  the company and who you can connect with, and check the company LinkedIn page for the latest job postings. Here are  guidelines for sending LinkedIn messages  and  invitations  to connect. Look for specific hiring-related accounts.  Some larger companies have individual accounts for hiring purposes; for example, UPS tweets job openings from upsjobs. If you scroll down the feed, youll see a lot of current job openings. Twitter can be a good way to get in touch with a companys  human resources department that might otherwise  be hard to reach. Read more on  job searching with Twitter. Clean up your act.  If youre going to be interacting with a company on  social media, you need to make sure your online presence is professional. Review your social media profiles to make sure theres nothing inappropriate or unbecoming, and check your  privacy settings  to see who can see what on your page. Bookmark the job openings page.  Most companies have a careers  section of their websites set aside for posting job openings. Bookmark these pages and make a habit of checking them periodically. Make a schedule of deadlines and set calendar notifications for yourself.  If your goal is to  apply  for an annual program like a fellowship,  or for a companys summer job openings, keep an Excel document listing all of the important dates and deadlines, and set notifications using an online calendar on your smartphone or computer. Look for an opportunity to meet a recruiter.  Many companies participate in  job fairs  and  career networking events. Check the employers website to see if there are any youre able to attend. If so, youll have an opportunity to share your resume and connect in-person. Be sure to take the time to  follow up directly after each event  with all the recruiters you meet. Dont be afraid to reach out to the company.  If you have a question - like whether a job youve been eyeing  has been filled, whether the company is looking to fill a certain type of position, or how soon you can apply  for a seasonal job  - make  sure to get in touch with the company. Just send a polite and  professional email  asking your question. Not only will it make the organizations  human resources department  familiar with your name, but its a good illustration of your enthusiasm and interest. More Ways to Get Noticed By Your Dream Company Here are even more ways to  get noticed by a company you’d love to work for, including a checklist of six ways you can stand out from the crowd of job seekers and make the best impression.