5 Ways To Find Your Dream Developer Job

In today’s business world, landing your dream job seems to be more about savvy networking and relationship building, than ever before.

So, while it’s important to keep your LinkedIn network active and maintain contact with key connections, there's a lot more you can do to boost your dream job search…

Having worked as a Business English Coach for several years, helping Software Engineers secure fantastic jobs, I know how daunting and complicated the job search can be, as well as?what usually influences the success rate.

That's why I'm sharing 5 simple tips and insights aimed at job seekers, whether your looking actively or not.

1. Update Your CV/Resume & LinkedIn Profile

Get your CV and LinkedIn profile professionally translated and modernised by a native English speaker, ideally by someone with corporate experience and knowledge of the Software Development industry.

Why so specific?

Well, apart from the obvious, they know how to articulately use professional Business English vocabulary and how to make your CV stand out in front of potential employers, not to mention their key insights into what recruiters are looking for.

Make sure your CV is short, sharp and to the point and no more than two pages. A bit like an abstract of a scientific paper, it must clearly and professionally deliver your key achievements and why you're a good fit for the role.

2. Read The Job Description Thoroughly & Research The Company

Reading the job description before the interview may take time up front, but it's a major time-saver in the long run; you won’t be applying for jobs for which you are an unlikely candidate.

Make sure you identify the key terms and buzzwords used in the job description and mention these in your interview answers. This will demonstrate to the interviewer that you've fully prepared and are a serious candidate.

Take time before the interview to research the company, its products, services, culture, and mission.?

3. Fail To Prepare And You Prepare To Fail!

It’s an old expression, but it’s as true today as it's ever been. Don’t leave your career to chance!

In other words, even if your interview goes OK without much preparation, you’ll probably lose out to another candidate who put the time, effort and preparation in. During an interview, it really shows who's done their preparation, and who hasn’t.?And just to be clear, ‘preparation’ doesn’t mean cramming all your practice into one or two days before the interview!

Remember, for vacancies at international companies, you’re not only competing against other non-native English speakers, but also natives AND internal candidates! If they’re putting in the preparation, you should be putting in double!

Practice, practice and practice some more. And if you have time, invest in an additional course to elevate your interview skills, such as an?interview preparation course?that suits your schedule.

4. Use The STAR Method

The STAR method is what I advise you to use when answering behavioural questions in your English job interview. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result. When the interviewer asks you about your experience, they're looking for you to provide a narrative that clearly outlines these four elements.

Remember, we want to be clear and concise in the interview, so avoid going into too much detail with overly lengthy answers.

For example, if you were asked about a time when you worked on a challenging project, you should set the scene (Situation), explain what your responsibility was (Task), describe the specific action you took (Action), and then conclude with the outcome (Result).

Here is a sample answer:

"I was working in the front end development team for company (X) on a mobile app project, with a limited budget and a tight deadline. My responsibility was to ensure the app met client requirements and maintained high quality. I organised daily stand-up meetings, delegated tasks and provided regular feedback to the client. Despite the challenges, the app was delivered on time and within budget, earning praise from the client."

5. Activate Your Referral Network.

Many job openings are not advertised, which is why attending relevant industry events and conferences, career-related lectures and seminars, or training sessions can really pay off.

Let people know you’re looking, and ask about open positions.

Also, let your friends know that you’re looking and ask if you can email them your CV/resume to provide an informed idea of your experience and skills. Chances are, at least one of your friends is someone who can provide guidance or a foot-in-the-door.

While there isn’t a magic pill when it comes to finding a job, focusing your job search on quality over quantity and activating your relationships is the way to go.

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So, which of these tips resonated with you?

Hopefully they’ve come in handy for you and will add some clarity, focus and success to your job hunt.

Did you know that I offer an Interview Training Package for Developers to help you secure your dream international job?

I help Software Engineers like you to FEEL truly confident to deliver your absolute best during your interview and have the best chance of landing the job!

If you'd like to learn more about this, contact me and I'll send you all of the details.

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To Your Success,

Tom :)