Tips on landing your dream job - from the person who’s hiring.

Gen-Y are always told that we’re too ambitious, that we want to move up the ranks too quickly and that we’re not willing to put in the time to get where we want to be.

We’re an impatient generation – I agree with that, but we’re also damn hard workers and do everything we can to achieve in our career.

We love learning, we love having mentors to look up to, and as much as we’d like to be at the top of our field one day we know we still have a long way to go.

Instead of sulking about the fact that we can’t get ten promotions in a year (because Gen-Yers don’t actually want that) we got some advice from the leaders in some popular fields of work to tell us what they look for in potential employees.

Here’s their advice.

Media.

Jamila Rizvi – Editor in Chief – Mamamia Women’s Network.

We couldn’t go past our very own boss lady Jamila Rizvi.

She says, “Skills and experience are obviously key to hiring any role. But for me, enthusiasm is the single most important quality I am looking for in an employee.

People who are enthusiastic, not just for the job itself but for being part of the team and making a contribution.”

Nursing.

Janita Keating – Day Surgery Coordinator at Laser Sight Brisbane

Janita Keating has worked as a nurse in private and public hospitals in the city and the country, from midwifery, accident and emergency, critical care and operating theatre.

“Nursing can be exceptionally confronting – people are completely different to their usual selves when they are ill and so are their loved ones. Death and dying, trauma, lots of blood and faeces – nursing is not a glamorous job, but an extremely rewarding one, one which can take you all over the world, and one which can take you right into the most intimate moments with others – sharing their pain and joy.

It’s important to 1. Be able to stay calm under extreme pressure, 2. To be able to treat everybody with respect and care for them as if they were your own family and 3. To be able to know your limits and ask for help if needed – don’t ever pretend that you know something when you don’t (you could kill someone!).

Of course there are a lot of other attributes that you need – a thick skin, being able to delegate, being able to function well after extremely long hours, to be able to deviate from the plan and think on your feet, have extreme attention to detail, and be a patient advocate.

I can’t cope with people in the interviewing process who come across as evasive, or who are extremely assured – they worry me.

Research the position and company that you want to work for, know what their mission statement and core values are. The more knowledge you have the better you will present.”

Marketing.

Jacqui Solly – Direct Marketing Manager – Suncorp:

“The big thing I look for in a junior marketer is attitude – a good attitude towards customers, peers, senior leaders and their own learning. Marketing is a tricky industry often filled with egos and people who think they’re better than they are (we all know those people). But I see success from those with a good attitude towards soaking up as much as they can.

From a technical point of view I’d also look for qualifications to show they’ve got a basic interest in the field and that they understand the technical and psychological side of marketing. I also want to know that they can commit to a task or project.

A successful junior marketer is someone with initiative who is willing to put their hand up and get stuck into anything and take accountability for what they are doing well and what they may fail at. We all fail!”

Education.

Susan – School Principal:

Whether you’re wanting to get into early childhood education, primary or high school teaching – Sue Norton’s extensive experience has led to a wealth of advice that you should pay attention to.

“To make it in education, the quality I look for in a candidate is a love of children. They will help develop every child, socially, emotionally, physically and academically and we want to help all children be the best learners they can be. They need to love schools too – I have never been out of school – primary school, high school, university and back to primary school again. I love it.

They need to want to be part of a greater community that includes teachers, students, parents and carers.  You need to be flexible as no two days are ever the same. Schools and children are unpredictable so you need to be able to think on your feet and not get overwhelmed easily. You need to be ready to be a leader in your classroom firstly and then, more broadly, across the entire school.

You need to have good people skills because you will work with parents/carers to ensure the best outcome with their kids. You must be able to build positive relationships so students know you believe in them. It’s all about being positive, having the right attitude and working well with people and the greater community.”

It doesn’t matter what stage of life you’re in, there are many amazing career opportunities out there and many ways to get them.

The main thing is knowing which one you are most passionate about, it’s about the attitude you take in to that industry, arming yourself with real life skills and it’s about chasing the dream.

Your dream.

What’s your dream job?