Expert Q&A for How to Get a Good Job

The term “dream job” must be held lightly, as it tends to put a lot of pressure on you to find “the perfect fit.” The reality is that work is just one element of what we do on a regular basis in our lives. You will find more satisfaction if you define a holistic, big picture, successful life and think about the job as a vehicle to help get you to that destination.

Think about whether you are most attracted to working with things, people, or information and look for patterns and themes in your life. What kinds of problems do you like to solve? What else is important in your life? Your job must give space for these things or you will find your job a burden.

Add information about your extracurricular activities, what you may be studying, and any societies or clubs that you belong to. You can also add a volunteer and community involvement section. Early on in your career, you may want to consider a job in customer service at a restaurant or grocery store to build up your resume.

My number one piece of advice for anyone looking for a job is to use a low volume, highly customized approach. I would recommend applying to five jobs a week, and definitely no more than 10. Make sure to tweak your resume to fit the specific requirements of each job.