Tips for Landing the "Perfect Job"

One of the necessary evils of adult life is job hunting. It’s always stressful, but it doesn't have to be terrible. There are all kinds of websites where you can post your resume, and search for available positions, all in the comfort of your own home. While websites can be a good place to start, once it’s time to get serious, attend those interviews, and land your ideal position; you may need a little more intel. And here it is:

Dress to Impress

When deciding what the best outfit is for a job interview, first and foremost, it is important to research the company's dress code or style guide. Some companies have a more casual atmosphere and you can actually be judged for being "too formal". However, in no dress code is available, it is better to air on the side of caution, and dress more conservatively. For men, this can be as simple as a suit, tie, and dress shoes (never wear a t-shirt). For women, a pantsuit or skirt with a jacket, a blouse that displays little to no cleavage, and a nice pair of shoes (avoid going too high on heel length). Both genders should avoid jewelry (especially body piercings) and excessive colognes/perfumes. Ladies should wear makeup, but avoid going overboard, and opt for a clean, simple hairstyle. Fellas should be clean shaven and keep hair trimmed and tidy. Keep in mind the basics, all clothing should be spotlessly clean and fit appropriately. 

If a casual dress code is encouraged, you should still dress better than you would on a normal day. Males can stick to dress pants and a sweater or collared shirt, and females can skip the fancy jacket and wear a simple skirt and blouse. Regardless of your specific attire, choose clothing that makes you look and feel confident and professional.

Negotiating Salary, Remaining Appealing, and Other Communication Tips

When speaking at a job interview try to communicate genuine enthusiasm for the job and display a good attitude regarding work ethic. Be confident, but don’t be arrogant and recognize what is realistic. Imagine you are the best version of yourself. Stay positive, but avoid sarcasm or profanities. Before negotiating a salary, it’s important to look at your options as a whole. Note that you should never negotiate salary at a job interview. Take all of your job offers and compare them in regards to pay, benefits and personal appeal. It’s important to do a lot of research so you can decide what is reasonable to ask for. You need to prove that your requested amount is fair based on other, similar jobs and your level of education and experience. Explain how paying you better could benefit the company. Negotiating a salary can be tricky, so be sure your requests are reasonable and practical.

Finding the "Perfect" Job

Everybody’s definition of the "perfect job" is going to be slightly different. You will want to consider several aspects of what makes a job ideal for you. Namely, in the areas of salary, work environment, responsibilities, and growth opportunities. It might seem obvious to pick the job that pays the highest (as long as it’s a job you actually want to do), but there are other areas to be considered. If the work environment isn’t welcoming, you could end up unhappy very quickly. Make sure that you like your boss and the people that you’ll be working with respect you. It’s also important to make sure that the tasks involved in your "responsibilities" list are achievable with relative ease. Whether or not a job has growth opportunities is very personal. If you love your job, you may not want to advance and that’s perfectly okay. However, if you can’t see yourself doing a job for more than 5 years or so, you should be looking for opportunities that allow advancement.

Balancing Personal Happiness and Profitability

After accurately and positively representing yourself in a professional capacity, the most important thing is to prioritize your happiness and needs. You have to be sure that you’ll be happy working the job you take, but you also have to make sure you’ll be making enough money to take care of yourself and your responsibilities. Life is all about balance, and by considering all of the above-mentioned elements, you’re on the right track to find success.  

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