Tips for a successful (and happy) career

The first thing that my Grandma told me about being in the working world is that a job should make you, above all else, happy. I've always believed her of course, but a job should also pay well, offer career development, have good managers, give you the chance to socialise outside of work and let you have a reasonable amount of holidays. And speaking as someone who has probably had more jobs than you've had hot dinners (I did charity door knocking for 1 day, a job in Burton-on-Trent for 1 day, and a magazine job for a week, as well as my more long-term positions), I thought I'd give a few tips and tricks of the job-getting trade. After all, I'm now in a job that I honestly love, that gives me all of the aforementioned things, (as well as a whole load more benefits) and is a place that I genuinely look forward to going to. So if you're job-hunting, or just thinking about it, then keep reading...

Choose something you'll be passionate about

Obviously some people struggle to work out what this actually is (which makes things a little harder) but if you have something you're truly passionate about then find a way to turn it into a job. This isn't always the obvious answer either; my love of fashion is what lead me in to marketing and my love of marketing is what's lead me everywhere since then. 

Make a one size fits all CV, then a tailored cover letter

I see people saying that you should tailor your CV to the role but realistically, ain't nobody got time for that. Let's get real - job hunting is a drain on your time and you'll likely be applying for multiple jobs at once. So make sure your CV is pretty generic. Include every single skill, characteristic and scrap of experience that may be even slightly relevant to an employer and then write a cover letter highlighting anything key for that specific job. It will save you time and give you chance to go in to things in more depth.

When applying for jobs, open them in a new tab

This is a small-but-simple one. When you click 'apply' on a job website, this usually takes you through to fill out your info, but takes you away from the page where the job listing is. So how are you supposed to write a tailored application without the requirements right in front of you? Duplicate the tab before clicking 'apply' and it means you can refer back to the listing as you apply.

Always go for more money than you expect

If you only look at jobs that are your current wage or very slightly higher then that's the absolute maximum you can expect to be offered. But if you look at jobs a little above that then yes they might offer you less, but there's always the chance that they'll offer you the high end of the salary bracket.

The interview starts when you leave the house

I've heard tips where they say things like be nice to the receptionist and smile at everyone you see while waiting for your interview (which, by the way, is common decency anyway). But your interview doesn't start when you get to the building; it starts when you leave the house. Imagine you scowl at a stranger on your way and it turns out to the CEO or something (I've heard stories about this happening). On interview day, your interview starts the second you leave the house so act accordingly.

Revise the advert before the interview

When you're applying for a lot of jobs in one go, it's easy to get mixed up between them and what skills each one focused on more. Have a quick re-read of the advert before your interview to make sure you big up the right things when you get there.

See if you can picture yourself there

When you arrive at your interview, remember to take in your surroundings. See how everyone there interacts with eachother, what the dress code is, what the offices are like. Being happy at a job is so much more than the role itself and you have to think about whether you can actually picture yourself working there.

Pay attention to red flags

On that same train of thought, don't ignore anything that makes you feel like you perhaps wouldn't want to work there. I've taken jobs while ignoring red flags and it's only ended up making me unhappy in the long run. Save yourself the headache and give them the proper consideration before accepting a job.

Always prepare questions for them

The two dreaded questions in interviews are; "weaknesses" and "questions for them". The biggest weakness question can really only ever sound clichéd (we're all hopeless perfectionists when that question comes up). But the questions for them is something you can prepare in advance. I always go with the failsafe option of asking about career progression, opportunities to learn more and other aspects of the company I could get involved in. Either way, try and get some prepared before you go so that you're not thinking on the spot (and for god sake, don't ask anything about money or days off - those questions come when you've actually been offered the job).

Update your Linkedin

This one may not really be relevant for all sectors but if Linkedin is something you (or your future employers) use then make sure you update it regularly and get everything on there. Sometimes when people are hiring these days, they look at Linkedin before they actually start reading through CV's so be sure to make a good impression.

Don't take any or every job

So you've successfully applied, been interviewed and been offered the job - well done. But that shouldn't translate that you automatically accept. The job seeking process is as much about you finding the company that's right for you, as it is about them finding the candidate that's right for them. If you decide that the former isn't true (even though they've decided that the latter is) then that's your choice. Don't be afraid to turn down something that doesn't feel right.

Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire

Possibly one of my favourite cheesy Pinterest quotes (and one that has spent a large portion of time as my laptop screensaver), I really believe this with my whole heart. You're at work more than you're not at work so you need to find a career that makes you feel content, driven and appreciated. And once you find that, don't ever stop working hard or taking risks to make it even better.

Once you've got the job...

These are obviously just my tips on how to get the job in the first place; if and when you get the job, it's up to you to continuously prove why they hired you in the first place. Work hard, bring new ideas to the table and pay attention to what you need to do to progress. If it gets to the point where you've been doing the same thing for a long time then ask for the pay rise or promotion that you deserve. Most of the time, companies won't give them out unprompted so it's up to you to remind them what you're worth. And if they won't pay it? Go elsewhere. It's much easier to get more from a company who are on the search for someone just like you than it is to convince your current company to stop taking you for granted. I should know; I added £12k to my salary in a year by doing just that. But more importantly, as my Grandma would remind you, I'm now somewhere that makes me happy. And that certainly makes the hours between 9 and 5 a whole lot better.