Let’s face it, job hunting in these times is very challenging in so many ways. Let alone adding the fact that almost everything has to happen online. We all want to find our dream job but for some people, it can be a little tougher because of the circumstances and some shifts and pivots of industries. It takes time and patience to find the perfect job opportunity in the Philippines, so don’t get discouraged if you haven’t found your dream job yet!

In this blog post, we have put together a list of helpful ways to find your perfect job. These are the things you have to put in mind as you go through your job hunting journey. 

Define your dream job

You don’t want just any job but you want to land your dream job. For starters, begin to understand what you want out of a career and then find jobs with descriptions that match up to those criteria. Research industries and companies in your area. Find out whether they are hiring or not and ask yourself if this industry is something that interests you.

3 important questions to answer to define your dream job:

• What do you want?

Sometimes people tend to draw a thin line between work and hobbies. Find out what your hobbies are and see if they can equate to a job that you would want. If you are into baking, perhaps you can consider a job at a bakery. If you are good at speaking, you can search for jobs that require public speaking.  Find a job that will let you use your talents and hobbies. 

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Think of your strengths and find a job that will let you work with them. Make a research on what skills employers are looking for in candidates so that you can play upon those things during interviews. Be honest about your limitations as well. No one is perfect after all.  Recognize the areas where you are lacking and see if you can gain the necessary skills to boost your chances of getting hired. Find a job that will allow you to be yourself!

• What does the market need?

This should be your top priority. Look out for what the market needs by knowing what employers are looking for in a candidate and how they can benefit from you joining their team. Find a job that will allow you to be in demand and where your services are needed. If they are trying to expand to a foreign market, you can highlight your language skills. Look for something that will benefit both of you and the company and see if there are ways to develop or build those necessary things within yourself so it matches the requirements of companies in this field.

Take a look at the company culture

The workplace environment and office structure are important to consider as it determines not only how you find your dream job, but also what kind of work-life balance you will have. Make sure to review online reviews or talk with current employees about their experiences working for the company before accepting an offer. 

Let’ discover more of what really indicates a good company culture:

• Long-term employees

Companies that have a lot of long-term employees are generally a good sign. This means that they treat their employees right and they value the quality of work from them. Find out how long these people have been with the company to understand if it is what you want in your career path.

• Transparency and open communication

It’s important to know if employees are encouraged to speak up and share their thoughts. How often decisions get made, what information is shared with the public or customers,  and how the company responds to changes and challenges are all indicators of a workplace’s culture. 

• Small wins are celebrated

A good company culture shows that a company celebrates even small wins and employees are recognized for their efforts. 

• Leaders are visible and accessible

Know what level of leadership they have within the company and who there are employees reporting to. Find out how often they visit their teams, if they have an open-door policy, or attend social events that include team building.

• Having a mentor and not just a boss

Mentors are like coaches who help employees achieve their career goals by providing guidance on decision-making processes as well as personal development opportunities. It’s best if you find a job that has this culture. 

Do a research on benefits

While people often think they can deal with this later on down the line, don’t underestimate how much time researching salary structures could save you. For example, if one position pays 50,000 pesos while another offers 60,000 pesos and benefits including healthcare coverage – then clearly this higher paying job would be a better option. 

It’s also important to take some time researching what the company offers in terms of benefits. Find out if they offer things like supplemental insurance, retirement plans, paid vacation days, and even their policies in giving 13th-month pay.  All these components will help you decide which job opportunity in the Philippines is best for your personal situation.  Find a dream job that gives you the best of both worlds!

Use social media as a resource

Social Media has become an incredible tool when searching for jobs. There are numerous platforms that allow people to post their skills and experiences freely so it makes finding your dream job much easier than before. Invest in your digital presence by utilizing job searching sites and creating a profile with updated information.  It’s best if you share an online portfolio to give potential employers a good idea of your ability that can be easily accessed by anyone. Make sure to put along with your updated CV, a well-written Curriculum Vitae can boost the possibility of finding your dream job. 

Updating and optimizing your LinkedIn profile is also a hotspot for job seekers and hiring managers. Recruiters are going to look at your profile whether you apply for their jobs on LinkedIn or anywhere else. Mention other jobs that you are interested in if they aren’t already on the list.

Find out if you have any connections with people in the industry and ask them to put in a good word for you. Make your profile as accurate, up-to-date, and appealing to the eye as possible. Be creative in how you write about yourself so employers can see that you are a good fit for their company!

Boost your confidence

Job seekers sometimes feel discouraged when they hear negative feedback or worst is when they hear nothing at all from the recruitment. Rejections can build self-doubt and low self-esteem.  It is important to remember that there are people out there who will like you and think of you as a valuable asset to them. Find ways to boost your confidence with job seekers events or workshops. Checking out local colleges, career centers, and even private companies which offer resources on how best to find your dream job.  Here are some for your references:

• SGS MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT TRAINING – They offer courses that aim at enhancing personal and managerial effectiveness, enabling participants to gain the skills needed for career enhancement
• Hearts Over Habits – They empower women to become leaders within their respective communities and the community at large by providing access to evidence-based coaching and life skills development
• Philippine Society for Talent Development – PSTD provides an avenue for dialogue and exchange of information related to learning and development improvement through events and conferences that tackle the latest trends and best practices in their  profession
• The Family Centre – They offer classes/workshops that will help you develop your self-esteem, confidence, practice self progression, and improve your mental health to work towards a better future

Invest in additional knowledge

To be able to find your dream job and experience career growth, you need to keep learning and developing your skills. This is what you call self-investment. Yes, saving what you earn is practical and good but investing in yourself pays off in the long run and will reap even better rewards in the future. Find out what kind of skills you need to succeed and set a plan to learn them online, at school, or through workshops near you. Try out these learning platforms:

• Coursera – Learn free from their online courses and get certification to be ready for your dream job.
• Udemy –  Have access to cheap and affordable courses that will help you gain the necessary skills to succeed.
• Skillshare – Look out for relevant online courses taught by experts in their fields via this social learning platform.
• LinkedIn Learning  – They offer affordable video courses from top industry experts.
• Simplilearn –  This platform will help you learn how to be relevant, knowledgeable, and in-demand for their practical courses.

Trying something new is a good way to find out and discover new skills and potentials you might actually have. Find ways to get involved in your industry by doing some volunteer work or attending workshops like the list above. Discover what value you can contribute and make sure that these skills are marketable, relevant, and up-to-date with demand!  

Allot extra time preparing for Virtual Interviews

Virtual career fairs are a new trend in the job market and will likely continue to be utilized by employers. They are a great way for you to interview the company as well. Find out if they offer it and give yourself plenty of time to prepare, this will help you feel more confident in your abilities when going through one!

Always be prepared with questions that pertain specifically to the position or company– don’t just bring any old question because there’s a chance you’ll be asked to elaborate on why this is something that interests you.

Subscribe to Job Alerts

A job alert is a service that notifies you when there are new job openings related to your interests. Find a list of job alert companies and sign up to get alerts daily or weekly that will let you know about the latest opportunities near you.

If you have decided which career path you want to take and have found which companies you are interested in working for, you might want to closely follow their job openings by signing up for their emails. Subscribing to their Job Alerts will help you stay up to date on any openings and opportunities you might be interested in. Find out where they are posting their jobs– some companies post it under a particular department, or job category while others allow you to search for positions that fit your criteria. Find something which works best for you!

Don’t get discouraged

If none of these steps work, don’t forget that it’s ok. It takes time and patience to find your dream job so don’t lose hope just yet, there are still plenty more resources available to help you out on this journey! Find things like free career counseling or workshops hosted by organizations that can give you some insight into what jobs may be best suited for you and how to improve your future prospects after graduation. You’ll soon realize that finding your perfect job is not impossible at all.