If you are dreaming about a job, congratulations!
This means you are in the lucky minority of people who’ve found their vocation.
Yet, knowing what you love is only half the way. You also need a proper level of skills and training, as well as determination and a specific mindset, if you are seeking a position in a software development company like MLSDev.
Here we shall brief you on simple but effective ways to negotiate your way to a dream job.
1. Be prepared to make a good first impression
Think of your looks
As Chris Westfal says, “there’s something more important than being impressive with your first impression.” And that’s how you look. By choosing clothes in the pattern of a company, you declare your serious intention to do your best.
What does this mean: to be dressed appropriately for a job interview? According to Chris Westfall, it’s simple: dress for the role you want and the person you are.
But there is a common pitfall many newbies meet. We call it: overplaying.
Many candidates, yet not all, are trying to project a persona, not a real person they are. A sincere, authentic personality with unique marks and values is always more attractive as an employee.
Prepare a resume
To prepare a good resume, some real mental effort is needed. The resume has to be strict to the point, clear, informative, readable, and competitive. Here are a couple of tips to build a good resume:
- Fit for the position – mention the skills and achievements that are most relevant to the position. For example, if you are applying for the position of web designer, list your skills in UI design services, UX experiences, design tools you know, etc.
- Structure your information correctly – it is better to start with the most relevant skills, then mention the relevant experience and some extra information in the end.
- Mention volunteer jobs – many companies value such personal input.
- Add keywords – this will help to make your resume readable. According to Forbes, “you will stand out in the applicant screening process if you have direct experience that matches the desired job’s requirements as close to word-for-word as possible.”
Gather references
This step is only for those who have positive former work experience. A good job reference is almost a forgotten art today. That is why it will help you stand out from the crowd.
Here are a couple of ways how to present a reference unusually:
- Bring a material copy – you may impress your future boss with a printed copy or a scan of a written letter about your past achievements.
- Take a video – that will be a non-standard and creative way to show what people tell you about you.
- Group references – it may be more stunning if you have a couple of people (former bosses and colleagues) speaking in your favor.
2. Do your research
Before sending an application to a recruiting department, spend a moment to evaluate your worth. Will your dream employer buy your skills and knowledge?
Most unemployed follow one route: preparing a description of their skills, showcasing all their recent achievements, and presenting them to an employer like a restaurant menu, hoping an interviewer will pick something from the proposed.
We are offering a different way.
It may be more productive to research a couple of companies that hire people with your skillset. Then define several features that value the most. Focus on those direct skills first. Then, you may mention transferable skills too.
For example, if you are looking for the job of a software engineer but also have the ambition to run a project with time, present yourself as an effective communicator. A suitable certificate of a corresponding course will be a plus.
Also, based on the market analysis, you can quickly check how much each of your separate skill costs. For example, if you are a software engineer specializing in custom software development, which requires a bunch of skills and deep knowledge, you should expect a great compensation package.
3. Have alternatives
Dream job chasing has a lot of pitfalls. The fear of losing a fitting opportunity is one of them.
You look at the first letter of offer and think, “That’s it!”
Yet, this option may offer minor chances for growth and poor salary prospects. Alternitalelly, you may start your own business, begin safetrading with cryptocurrencies, or kick off your career as a freelancer.
Consider the following facts:
- A dream job doesn’t mean a dream company. Mind the ethics and reputation of the employer as well.
- If a dream position is taken and an employer offers an alternative one, why not? It will be a step closer to your goal.
- By accepting the first fitting position, you limit your chances for other options.
- Having a couple of aces in the sleeves will cater to self-confidence and help to make balanced decisions. So, consider holding some alternative job offers active for some time.
- The latter aspect will also make you more attractive to the future employer, as you may present yourself as an asked-for, highly skilled specialist.
Although, we don’t recommend showing off with alternative positions. This bold action may rather describe you as a non-strategic thinker or a manipulator. Holding a balance between articulating your pros and screaming your excellence is a must in this situation.
4. Seek mutual benefits
When architecting your future job, concentrate on how you and your employer will mutually benefit from each other.
Thus, when asking about salary and additional perks, mention what value you can bring to the company’s growth.
Here are some examples:
- Time: you may ask for extra free days if you explain this by the need to participate in educational courses. You may agree to work extra hours in the peak load periods.
- Gadgets: you may ask for a company-sponsored laptop or cellphone to stay connected at home in case of need.
- Sabbatical leave: it is perhaps the most daring perk. You can ask for it only as you see an employer is enthusiastic about hiring you. You may explain the need for an unpaid break in work by the desire to learn foreign languages, study international markets, or for experience exchange.
5. Love what you do
Mostly the purpose of any job is to provide for a living.
Yet genuine motivation or loving what you do has a secret power inside. Firstly, it pleases you, boosts creativity, and gives energy. Secondly, it inclines your boss towards you.
When it comes to salary discussion, your devotion to your dream job may play a bad joke.
A company may offer a lower salary than expected, and sometimes it is ok. If you agree to go beyond money in the beginning, you may build long-term strategies and profitable relations in the future.
But, as Liz Ryan from Forbes says, “Some companies are just cheap. They don’t want to pay the market rate. They think that because you’ve invested so much time in the interview process, you’ll take the job.”
If you suspect that this is your case, you have to stand your ground. If the company doesn’t take your rate or at least proposes a plan to hit that point, further communication has no sense. If the relationships are not transparent in the beginning, they can’t go better with time.
6. Fit the company’s values
Understanding the fundamental rules of the company’s operations is very important.
Examples of company’s values may be different.
Coca-Cola wants to see “The courage to shape a better future” in their employees most of all. At Facebook, the value – “being open.” H&M stresses the importance of team spirit.
Note: don’t try to squeeze your inner beliefs into the mold of the company’s value set. If you cannot find a company that matches your psychology by 100%, it’s ok. Concentrate on the values you do have in common instead.
7. Deal with objectives
A typical employer seeks the most balanced skill-to-salary ratio. The chances that you are not the best fit are high. Some of your demands and expectations can be objected to during the interview.
Here’s how you can deal with objections:
- If your salary expectations are higher than the proposed rate, provide research on the resources like PayScale and Glassdoor Salaries. These websites have comparative data on different salaries in the industry. They may familiarize you with various rates.
- In case an employer thinks your skills and experience are not enough, prepare a back-up scenario where you can demonstrate your proficiency with examples, certificates, and referrals.
- If your vacation expectations exceed those of a target company can offer, show flexibility in choosing the periods of least workload when your services won’t be in high demand.
Summing everything up
If you get rejection after the job interview, remember that negotiation is about building long-term relations.
You may not be the best fit for the moment but, things may change: a company may need additional service connected to your dream job, or a position may be reopened after the trial period.
Here is a recap on how to negotiate your way to the dream job:
- conduct research to highlight top skills relevant to your position
- check the salary levels for a position on the job market
- find and keep a couple of alternative offers to be more confident at the interview
- structure your talk in a way, that any of your demands will be supported by the benefits you bring to the company
- stress that your motivation goes beyond money
- prepare the rejection scenario when you look in the best light possible
- in the end, love what you do so that you will turn up at the place you want the most
By doing so, the chances of getting the job of your dreams are very high.
This fact is definite either now or later.
