THE SECRET OF YOUR SUCCESS
Degrees north brings you the definitive guide of landing that dream job

DON'T wait for your ideal job to be advertised, hunt it down and avoid the rush.
Advertise yourself for that top dot.com job with a spot of creative job-hunting. As well as the run-of-the-mill job seeking activities you'll follow, like trawling through the classified ads in the press and online or visiting the Careers Advisory Service, you'll increase your chances of bagging your ideal job and stand out from the crowd if you take this creative job-hunting technique.

Identify the companies you'd like to work for and approach them 'on spec' even if there's no job advertised. Most companies like this as it saves them time and money advertising the post then wading through hundreds of unsuitable applications.

A carefully researched speculative letter coupled with a fantastic resume tailored to fit a particular role at the company will bowl them over.

Resist sending speculative letters out by the truckload. For this method to succeed, you've got to do your homework and make them relevant. It's pointless sending an application form to a company to work in their new media department if they haven't got one!

Your goal should be to get an interview with the person in the company who can recruit you. Find out who this person is by ringing the switchboard or the department concerned. Do your research and find out everything you can about the company. Check out libraries, the internet and ring them to obtain literature, reports or to speak to someone who can give you the lowdown. This will avoid making embarrassing mistakes and give you a clear idea of what you want to know. Now you can ensure your skills can match the position you're aiming for. Once you've done this you're ready to tailor your resume and covering letter to the company, make an excellent impression and hopefully land that job of your dreams!

Go to the next page for advice on firing off that application form!