Tired 2 Hired: 75 Practical Hacks to Get Your Dream Job

By Manik Rege

Tired 2 Hired: 75 Practical Hacks to Get Your Dream Job is a no-frills, hands-on career guidebook that helps readers navigate the job-hunting process from start to end and secure a coveted job. Through practical "lifehack" tips and real-life examples, the book empowers young job seekers and fresh graduates to enter the job market with confidence and stand out from the competition.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dialogy Books
• Release date: Jan 1, 2024
• ISBN: 9786297646053

Book preview

Introduction

Searching for a job can be a nightmare. The last thing you want to hear is the same old obvious advice peddled by distant relatives or self-proclaimed online gurus. These people may seldom understand what it is like to be you.

You: A fresh graduate who has spent several months browsing job portals and running around the city for interviews, only to return to square one with no feedback on what went wrong and what can be improved.

Oh yes, I have been at rock bottom too. I have felt the frustration and confusion that haunt every youngster trying to enter the industry or climb the steep corporate ladder. All along, I wished there was one practical cheat sheet with straightforward answers on what I must do to land my dream job. I could not find any such hands-on guide in the library—so I made one for myself. Now, I am sharing this personal career diary to help you navigate the market with me.

There are 75 crystal-clear tips spread over eight chapters. We will look at the entire process so that by the time we are done, you will be an expert on:

Targeting the right job openings and companies.

Crafting an effective CV, cover letter and portfolio.

Building your digital presence or personal brand.

Acing the interview and negotiating the salary you want.

Exiting your current workplace with no hiccups.

Surviving career disasters during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The tips I will share are universal, so you can apply them no matter which country you live in (or want to migrate to). I focus on helping fresh graduates, because there is very little literature that is relevant for this class of jobseekers. That said, job application procedures will mostly stay the same as you mature, so you can carry forward this wisdom until the end of what I hope will be a long and fruitful career.

The best way to use this book is to go from start to finish, so that you cover every step in chronological order. However, if you are in the middle of a job hunt and need a quick crash course on a particular topic (e.g. interview questions), you may go directly to that chapter or tip. I take great care to explain each point in enough detail so that the point can stand on its own. You can hop and skip between pages any way you like. I suggest opening a live document on the side to save points you might need for later.

Ultimately, you know yourself best. So, use my templates as per your personal goals and situation. I do not have a single solution to all problems, because that does not exist. So, explore options that work for you and share your feedback with me on any of the channels listed at the end of this section.

Although the inspiration for this book is my personal experience (and experiments), I have done years of exhaustive research to test and refine my theories. All said and done, not all my formulae will work perfectly because the game is different for every player. So, treat what I tell you as mere guidelines, not rules set in stone. I set realistic expectations here to empower you with a solid base to make your own decisions. It is much better than being clueless, right? The result will depend on how much effort you are willing to put in—and that begins with a solid plan, which this book provides.

This book is also packed with valuable freebies— free tools, blogs, case studies, templates and tutorials. So, to keep us both on the same page (pun intended) at all times, I have compiled all the crucial online resources in a supplementary microsite. I have placed an online link symbol ( URL link image ) at every major point referencing a link, so you will know when to use that resource.

Scan the following QR code or go to the microsite tiredtohired.org to enhance the Tired 2 Hired experience. So buckle up, we are going for a ride!

Tired 2 Hired microsite

For discussions, debates, queries and comments, come say hello to me via the following:

Twitter: @manik_rege

Email: [e-mail]

Chapter 1 Create a Battleplan

Imagine I invite you to a race, but I do not tell you where it ends or which way to run. Would you sign up? Funnily enough, this is how most of us approach job hunting: No goals, no direction and no parameters. Whether job hunting takes two weeks or six months, we all end up burnt out [1].

If we knew what we were doing, job hunting would not be so overwhelming. That is why your first goal is to get everything organised. As your job application process becomes well planned, you will feel more productive and less anxious about the results.

Roadmap

We will compile the documents you need at different stages of the job-hunting journey.

We will create a step-by-step checklist to make the hunt feel less intimidating. Soon, it will just be like starting a normal, achievable project in a classroom or at the workplace.

We will discuss the three most common ways of finding openings: Job portals, targeted emails and references. I will highlight the advantages and challenges of each method so you can decide when and how to use them effectively.

We will examine three case studies of creative job applications that stand out from the crowd and grab attention. You may take some cues from these examples when you sit down to create your pitch to potential employers.

We will see why the timing of your application is crucial and how to nail it.

We will discuss special pointers for fresh graduates, interns, trainees—anyone embarking on their first job ever. You will learn how to compensate for the lack of work experience by demonstrating other qualities such as company knowledge and active community participation (e.g. volunteering at NGOs).

We will finish the chapter with a concrete understanding on how to stop gambling and plan your career move more systematically.

Tip 1 Gather your documents

Let us warm up with simple things before discussing bigger ideas. We will start by compiling all the crucial documents in one folder on your laptop or PC [2]. I have attached my personal checklist in Table 1 below:

Table 1 Checklist of documents for job hunting

Before you run off to find the documents, note a couple of points.

First, make a backup folder in a cloud storage system such as Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive. Such a precaution protects your data in case your laptop or PC malfunctions and erases everything. You can also use the folder to share a quick link with any prospects or referees online. Check out Figure 1 to see a screenshot of what my career docket looks like.

Second, remember to take all these documents to all your face-to-face interviews. At the very least, have three physical copies of your CV on hand (one for you, one for the interviewer, and one for the HR representative). In fact, you may also carry a few passport-sized photographs in case they ask you to attach a copy to any form.

All the documents listed in Table 1 should be in PDF format. Only your photo can be in PNG or JPEG. We will shortly discuss why PDF is the best format for your documents.

Figure 1 My career docket

Tip 2 Follow a timetable

Setting healthy routines can contribute to increased productivity. So, let us start by committing a few hours every day to job hunting. Following a set plan will enable you to track your speed and make necessary adjustments to your routine [3]. The idea is to self-apply a healthy amount of pressure.

Here are a few interconnected timetables to help you stay on track:

A broad roadmap with target deadlines for big milestones. Start with researching prospective employers, followed by crafting your application emails, attending interviews, signing the offer letter and finally resigning from your current job.

An expanded roadmap. This is a checklist that clearly outlines all the tasks you must complete before moving to the next stage.

A daily timetable. This has dedicated slots for each of the three hunting methods explored in this book.

2.1 Broad roadmap: Main stages in job hunting

You will find a template for the broad roadmap in Table 2. Beside each major milestone, you may jot down a completion date. As a rough guideline, I have included in the table the ideal timespan to complete that milestone, based on my personal experience and online research.

For example, you may need over a month to finish all your interviews and receive or finalise an offer. As for the total time required, experts agree that the entire process lasts for 12–16 weeks, or about 3–4 months [4]. Of course, completing everything in a month is possible (if you are lucky!). On the flip side, you may take 6–8 months in certain scenarios, especially if your industry is affected by crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In such cases, you may also have to shift your focus to personal commitments or family emergencies.

Do not treat my deadlines as death sentences! It is fine if you miss a few by a week or two. As I mentioned, the real purpose of the deadlines is to give you a sense of structure and stability. So, take it easy.

Table 2 Stages of job search

2.2 Expanded roadmap: Breaking down the stages

As you look at the different milestones in Table 2, you may ask: How do I know when I have completed a particular stage? Do not fret. I have zoomed into these milestones in Table 3 and listed all the tasks you should aim to complete before moving on to the next one. All phases taken together, there are at least 25 hurdles between you and the finish line. I have sandwiched some additional side missions between our main phases, so consider them minor connecting bridges. Do not worry if you cannot understand what a particular task requires you to do, because everything will clear up as we move along.

Table 3 Checklist of tasks

2.3 Daily timetable: Setting a daily ritual

Once you assemble your application docket (CV, cover letter, portfolio), you are ready to apply for a job. For the job application phase, set aside a fixed number of hours every day.

If you are unemployed and hunting full-time from home, aim to dedicate an hour each for the three core strategies for finding a job.

These strategies are applying via job portals, targeting companies through research and emails, and getting referrals (see the Bonus section below and Tip 3 to Tip 5). This will bring the daily workload to at least three hours.

However, if you are working somewhere and looking for a change, you may devote only 30 minutes per strategy, bringing the daily workload to about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Use the weekly timetable in Table 4 to enjoy the pleasure of ticking each box as you complete the schedule for that day. It is so satisfying, trust me!

Table 4 Daily timetable

BONUS

Strategies for finding jobs

Now that we are clear on setting a routine, let us discuss how we will find that dream job and get the interview call. Before we go into the details, I will summarise the next few sections to help you understand the logic behind each strategy.

Strategy A: Use job portals effectively

Some people will say that applying for jobs is a game of probability. The more positions you apply for, the higher your chances of getting an interview call. Much like how an investor diversifies their portfolio to balance risk, our plan will be to shoot in all directions to land at least one offer—which is all we will need to survive in the worst-case scenario. The result boils down to sheer luck, so we will maximise our chances by applying for every opportunity we spot online [5].

As unscientific as this strategy may sound, I know friends who have grabbed substantial offers by following these steps: They persistently contacted company founders/recruiters on social media, signed up on all job posting boards, and sent standardised emails to every company in their city. Sometimes, going a little crazy is the most logical solution!

Strategy B: Target companies through research and emails

I understand if you are not entirely comfortable with the first strategy. Most career experts encourage clients to do exhaustive research before applying anywhere [6]. When you study the market well, you will gain insights into which companies are most suitable for you, and if you target these places, you will have a higher chance of getting in.

If you take the research route, you will have to read each job description carefully, shortlist approximately 100 companies from a raw database of a thousand prospects, and personalise your applications to suit each employer’s requirements. So, be ready for all that effort.

Strategy C: Go big via referrals

Besides the two strategies mentioned, getting a referral is another pathway that is becoming increasingly popular among Gen-Zs, partially because of the connectivity that social media offers today.

Why referrals? Because there are far too many applicants using Strategy A and Strategy B. It is just quicker to take a shortcut and ask for a bit of help from someone who is:

• A current/ex-employee of your target company.

• Involved in decision-making (e.g. CEO, family member of the Director).

• Socially active (so your profile can be circulated among the network).

The element of trust is present when you work with people you know, either through your own association or through a friend. Companies are also more comfortable bringing in people their employees can vouch for. Such candidates feel less risky than complete strangers who only have their own words to support their claims.

Due to the in-group bias factor, going through a referral may be the most effective route. However, is that really true for everybody?

Why not try everything?

If you ask me, all three strategies are equally valid. There is no telling which will work for you. Is it not just wiser to try a bit of everything on the menu? That is precisely what our game plan will be.

Tip 3 Strategy A: Use job portals effectively

Job portals aggregate postings from all around the world, and you will find various companies advertising on these platforms, ranging from giant MNCs to newly launched garage start-ups. There will always be opportunities here. However, you will also compete for a job with an enormous crowd of applicants, since everyone flocks to such websites for the convenience they offer.

3.1 List of top job portals

I have listed the top job portals in Table 5, starting with the popular ones worldwide based on web traffic data. Then, you can find niche sites that cater to a local subset or demographic based on countries and regions.

Create accounts on at least 25–30 websites to increase your chances of getting noticed by headhunters. You can actually go beyond your residence country and try your luck internationally. Who knows, someone in Singapore, Canada or Australia might stumble upon your profile and make you a life-changing offer.

This is one type of SEO, whereby having a presence on multiple platforms will get you maximum visibility in the market. Nowadays, almost all of these sites have a Google/LinkedIn social login option. The sites also automatically fill up your profile by scanning your CV, so signing up is quite effortless.

Table 5 List of top job portals

3.2 Create mobile alerts

If you apply within 10–12 hours after a job is posted, you may enjoy a first movers’ advantage. Enable job alerts based on your preferences and get them delivered via email, SMS or mobile push notifications. If you wish to keep your personal inbox free of spam, use an alternate email address just for this purpose—creating a free email account takes less than a minute.

3.3 Prepare pitch templates

Before you submit a job application, the system may ask you to share an elevator pitch explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the company. Other iterations of this question are Why should we choose you? and Tell us a bit about yourself.

Coming up with a unique response from scratch for every post is inefficient. So, create a basic template that sells your core strengths, skills and achievements. You may leave some room to personalise the response with the company’s name and explain why you are suitable to handle that specific position. Use this template:

I’m a _____ specialist with _____ years of experience in ______ sectors. ____ is my dream company because ______. I’m confident my _____ skills will help us in ______.

Be warned—different platforms have different word limits. Some give you only 300 words to make your case, meaning you will have to get to the point right away; others have space for 1,000 words, so you can elaborate comfortably. Check for these nuances in advance so that you can frame your response accordingly.

If you need help writing a pitch, I will teach you how to