Whether you are a recent graduate looking to land that dream job, currently employed but interested in a career change or returning to employment after redundancy, landing the job of your dreams requires some real planning.

Know what you want

Designing a career development plan will help paint a picture of what you have accomplished so far and where you want to head in your career.

Create a list of any further relevant academic training you require and follow the necessary steps to fulfilling your career dream.

If you have already gained the necessary skills for the professional field of your choice, mapping your career options will help you plan out your job-seeking strategy.

Research the field

When choosing a career in an increasingly temperamental economy, steering clear from the areas that face most budget cuts is recommended. Last thing you want is to be made redundant after a long and tiring job search.

Create a CV that would reflect your interest

A CV is the reflection of your professional persona and the primary tool you will use to generate employment opportunities.

Creating an effective CV will help you stand out from the crowd and could make the difference between immediate results and an effective job search or months of unsuccessful or unfruitful job-seeking labour. So take the time to craft that perfect CV.

Work on your applications

Dedicate a considerable effort in creating an application that stands out and gets you noticed. Last thing you want is for your hard work to fall under a big pile of unread applications that did not fulfil the required criteria.

Prepare for interviews

Interview preparations are crucial for career success and mastering the psychology behind what makes candidates successful will give you a vintage point.

Practice interview questions in advance and be prepared to answer any unexpected questions.

Best of luck!

Are you currently job searching or considering a career move? What advice would you give to job-seekers who are looking for that dream job?

Ioana Lazarov is a University of Wolverhampton Psychology graduate, who also studied Life Coaching. Her career pursuits and passions include psychology and mental health rehabilitation, automotive electric systems manufacturing and engineering and retail.

Photo credit: Alex France on Flickr