How can you stand out from the crowd and land your dream job?

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1. Headline Story?

The secret to a high salary? Emotional intelligence.

2. Featured Article

How to land your dream job in 10 steps provides a comprehensive roadmap for professionals to pursue their dream careers. It emphasises the importance of strategic planning, skills development, networking, and effective communication throughout the job search process. Following these steps can increase your chances of landing your desired job.

4 Actionable Takeaways

1. Set Clear Goals: Articulate your career goals and create a plan to achieve them, considering both short-term and long-term objectives. Why do you want this job and how does it fit into your long-term career plan?
2. Skill Enhancement: Find out the top 5 skills needed for the role, then assess your skills and invest in relevant courses or certifications to make yourself a stronger candidate.
3. Customise Your CV: This cannot be emphasised enough. Tailor your CV for each job application even for different roles with the same employer. Incorporate relevant keywords and experiences to pass the applicant tracking systems.
4. Network Effectively: The hidden job market makes up to 60% of all jobs. Read that again. These jobs are rarely publicised and are filled through networking, referrals, and other means. Build and utilise your network, to increase your chances of discovering hidden jobs.

3. Expert Advice?

In this issue, our expert advice is from Chris Paterson , an executive business coach and founder of a charity.

My purpose in life is to grow resilient leaders and teams. I spent 20 years working as a senior leader in large multinationals in Finance and Commercial roles in 3 different countries, leading large teams (50 people) to bring about sustainable change and deliver results and growth by enabling and empowering others. I founded Smile Be Curious Ltd and am an accredited Master Executive Coach as well as the founder of GivingTime, a charity which offers coaching to young people to support their transition from education into the workplace.

1. Which single skill would you suggest everyone prioritise for development?

The ability to listen. It is said “You never learn anything while you are talking” and given the complexity and level of change in the workplace, we need to be exceptional learners to get ahead. Cultivating curiosity and the ability to listen beyond just words, gives us deeper insights into situations and people to find new ways forward. As former US president Calvin Coolidge said, “No man ever listened himself out of a job”.

1. What significant challenge have you faced in your journey and how did you overcome it?

Leading without knowing. I was part of a new team where we had to recruit project teams and identify best practices across the European business. The challenge was how to lead when the way forward was unclear and I had more experienced team members looking to me for direction. I was able to overcome this by focussing on what we did know rather than what we didn’t know and by getting a wide range of inputs so we could decide together how to move forward. The project teams were a great success and unlocked millions of pounds of extra revenue for the business.

1. Do you have a valuable piece of advice to share?

Take the time get to know yourself better. One of the definitions of leadership is “being all of yourself with skill”. This means connecting to what really matters to you, and spending time to reflect on how you show up in different situations and the effect that has on others.? With practice, we can dial up or dial down certain behaviours to bring the best out in ourselves and others.

4. Diversity Matters?

The pay and career progression gap among diverse employees in the UK is a problem. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) , most of the minority groups analysed continue to earn less than White British employees, and the pay gap is larger for men than women.?There is a lack of representation and advancement opportunities for minority employees at levels of seniority and leadership, especially in sectors such as finance and law. These gaps reflect the structural and systemic barriers and biases in the workplace, such as discrimination, stereotyping, exclusion, and lack of support.

It is important to be aware of the pay and career progression gap and how you can counter them:

• Negotiate your salary. Research the salary ranges and benchmarks and prepare a strong case for why you should be paid fairly and competitively. Be confident but also respectful and realistic. Seek advice from someone more knowledgeable if you can. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
• Seek regular feedback and development opportunities. Your strengths and weaknesses should be highlighted to you. Use the feedback to identify your learning needs and to develop your skills and knowledge. Take courses, attend workshops, or volunteer for assignments that challenge you.
• Build your network and visibility: Seek out mentors, sponsors, allies, and role models who can offer you guidance, advice, advocacy, and opportunities. Participate in events, activities, or initiatives that showcase your talents and contributes to the organisation and wider society.
• Speak up and stand up for yourself: Much easier said than done. Do not let microaggressions, discrimination, or harassment go unnoticed or unchallenged. Seek support from trusted colleagues if you need help or advice on how to deal with the situation.

5. Key Strategies

Skills Gap Analysis . Fundamentally, one of the most game-changing strategic career tools you will ever employ. Properly used, it will kill off all competition. It offers a structured approach to assess, develop, and enhance your abilities to succeed in today's globally competitive job market.

1. Skills Assessment: The analysis begins with a thorough assessment of your current skills, including technical, soft, and industry-specific skills. This assessment can be done through self-assessment, supervisor evaluations, or standardised tests. Using a SWOT analysis is helpful. This is then compared with the skills required for the role or career you aspire to.
2. Career Goals: Professionals often have evolving career goals. This analysis considers your aspirations and aligns skill development with these objectives, ensuring that you are on the right path to achieving your long-term goals.
3. Balancing Work and Learning: Managing work responsibilities and skill development can be daunting. The analysis can help you create realistic schedules and recommends time management techniques to balance both.
4. Staying Current: In today’s fast-paced world, staying updated is vital. The analysis emphasises the importance of continuous learning and using tools and resources to stay current with industry developments.

6. Book Club

Book 1 “Outliers: The Story of Success” by Malcolm Gladwell

This book explores the factors that contribute to high levels of success. Gladwell argues that while individual talent and hard work are important, other factors such as culture, family background, and opportunities also play a significant role. The book provides insights into how young professionals can leverage their unique circumstances and opportunities to achieve success.

Book 2 “The Career Playbook: Essential Advice for Today’s Aspiring Young Professional”?by James M.?Citrin?

This book is based on an in-depth survey of thousands of young professionals, and hundreds of interviews with the world’s top business and non-profit leaders. The author, is a senior partner at the premier executive search firm Spencer Stuart, and has decades of experience in helping people land, launch, and thrive in their careers.

7. And so... How can you beat the competition and land your dream job?

Knowledge is power. In your pursuit of success, remember being knowledgeable doesn't always mean having all the answers; it means knowing where to find them. Embrace the resources at your disposal, from mentors and colleagues to online courses and industry publications. Your ability to seek and apply knowledge will set you apart on your professional journey.

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