How Marketers Can Land Their Dream Job in 2020

As 2018 comes to a close, it’s time to gear up and look forward to the upcoming year. For many marketers, the New Year is a time to start setting resolution ideas and initiate a career transformation.

If you’ve been contemplating a job change, the final few months of 2018 is the perfect time to put your foot forward and actively go after the job you’ve always wanted. Consider this the time for new beginnings and the opportunity to progress your career and life forward.

As marketing recruiters, we continuously work with marketing professionals to ensure they stand out from the crowd and engage in opportunities that are a great fit for their long-term career objectives. As you set your New Year’s career resolution and goals, take advantage of this time to make a fresh start toward pursuing a fulfilling career.

Let’s take a look at the steps you can take to land the job you have always wanted and make 2019 the best year ever:

Reflect on Your True Aspirations and Career Goals

You can’t go after your “dream job” if you don’t know what it is. Blindly going after something with a lack of a clear plan will hold you back from growing and have you staying in an unfulfilling job.

The New Year presents the perfect time to reflect on your aspirations and which direction you want to take your career. Take time to reflect on what your ultimate goals are and what your dream job would look like in order to create a tailored job search strategy.

Do you want to become a CMO of a Fortune 500 company or do you want to lead digital innovation at a startup? Be aware of your passions and aspirations. Reflecting on your career objectives will help set a clearer career path and motivate you toward reaching your goals.

As an experienced marketing talent agency, we realize many people don’t have a clear-cut vision of where they ultimately want to go. However, having a general career path in mind ensures you seek opportunities that align with it. It will furthermore help you operate methodically in how you choose to pursue a rewarding career.

Related Video: Interview Tips to Get Your Dream Job | Brian Tracy

Video by Brian Tracy

Continuously Update EVERYTHING

When was the last time you took a look at your resume and cover letter? How does your LinkedIn profile hold up? If you have one – does your portfolio have all of the latest projects you’ve worked on? A new job likely won’t fall into your lap without you getting all of these things together.

You should be updating your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, and any other assets that represent your skills and expertise periodically so you don’t lose track of key information; especially when you’re seeking a new opportunity.

Make it a goal to review and edit all of these things before your set out to pursue your dream job. Check out people’s LinkedIn profiles who are in roles similar to the one you want to go after and see if they’re doing anything that catches your eye. Adjust and update your profile to embody a similar effect.

Do Your Research and Take the Time to Apply

The job application process is certainly tedious and time-consuming. However, taking the time to do your research on the job and the company you’re applying to pays off. Therefore, look at job descriptions carefully and ensure they align with what you’re looking for in your career.

If you’re still trying to figure out an idea of what your dream job exactly is, research and explore different functions in marketing that peak your interest.

The more you learn about the marketing landscape, the career path you need to take, and the skills you need, the easier it will be to set goals for yourself.

Beef Up on Necessary Skills

Staying abreast of the skills needed in marketing involves action from you. Are you willing to push yourself?

As an experienced marketing talent agency, we emphasize the importance of lifelong learning as a key to progressing your career, no matter where you currently are.

Take this time to read up on emerging marketing skills, educate yourself, and expand your skill set. Understanding the skill sets you need to attain your dream job is pivotal in progressing in the right direction.

For instance, if you’re pursuing a job in content marketing, take a strategic writing class or enroll in an online analytics course if you plan on getting into marketing analytics. Follow industry thought leaders and read up on business books. And best of all – most of these resources are free of cost and incredibly valuable! Even if certain certifications or courses cost money, think of it as an investment in your career.

Marketing isn’t easy and doesn’t slow down for anyone. Use the motivation you have for landing your dream job to self-educate yourself and position yourself to be more competitive in the job market. There are hundreds of new skills that can catapult your career.

Nurture Your Network

As marketing recruiters, we can’t emphasize how important networking is when seeking new opportunities. Nurturing your network will only become more meaningful to landing your dream job in the upcoming new year.

If you have your eye on a specific job, see if you have any connections within the organization and reach out to them. Leveraging the right connections can lead you to get referrals for the position you’re going after, which will make you stand out as a candidate.

As you’re job searching, let new and old connections know that you’re seeking new opportunities and see who’s open to talking. Enlist the support of former colleagues, friends, and networking groups to give you advice and feedback. Most people are happy to help others with finding a new job and love to offer job search tips and recommendations.

The more connections you build, the greater opportunities you’ll have available. Take the time to expand your network and establish genuine connections, and watch your network blossom!

Stay Organized

When you’re applying to numerous jobs, it’s easy to feel cluttered and overwhelmed. The best way to keep a clear head and effectively track your job search is to keep up with the jobs you’ve applied for. This will help keep you organized and help you properly follow up on the positions you truly want in a timely manner.

Consider making a spreadsheet with jobs, organizations, and dates you reached out to key contacts. This way, you can keep in mind the jobs that you want to pursue and ones that don’t seem of interest to you.

Conclusion

These tips will guide you toward finding your next job and pursuing a career you’re passionate about. However, it’s entirely up to you to take full control.

If you want to land your dream job in 2019, don’t wait. Now is the time to prepare and get yourself going in the right direction to hit the ground running in the new year. Do all you can now, so your future self will thank you!