Here’s how you can get hired at your dream company
No matter the industry you work in, there are always companies that are seen as the Holy Grail. The ultimate in prestige and excellence, these are the sort of firms that are killer at what they do, and getting hired there will add a polish to your CV that will carry you through the rest of your career.
In finance, you might aspire to work at HSBC, Barclays or Citi. In fintech, you might consider companies such as Adyen, Monzo or Revolut to be your ultimates. In the tech sector, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google (Alphabet), Microsoft, and Meta are just some of the top Big Tech companies that workers gravitate towards.
Whether it is for the company name alone, or the much-lauded perks and benefits, high salaries and collegial working environments, the industry abounds with dream companies. Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work in the UK 2024 also highlights companies that are top rated by their employees.
This year, management consultancy Bain & Company and Mastercard came in at numbers one and two. Also in the top 10 are IT consultancy Netcompany, aerospace company Airbus, and SAP.
Awareness and reputation are part of what leads talented workers to want to work at big-name companies. That in turn means that competition can be fierce for jobs, and so if one of your career bucket list line items is to get a job at a global leader, then you’re going to have to put in a bit more legwork to get there.
Here’s how.
Research the company and its culture
Make sure you really understand the company and what it is about. Spend time researching its values, mission, and culture. What makes this company unique among its competitors? Does it align with your own values and goals? Being able to express how you align with the company will show that you’re genuinely interested and invested in working there.
Make your application stand out
Tailor your application collateral by making sure you send in a custom CV and cover letter. You’ll want to make sure that you include the skills and experience that are called out in the job ad – show clearly how good a fit you will be.
Aside from skills, aim to show that your work experience and achievements to date are specifically aligned with the job and the company you’re applying to. You want to show how your background makes you a perfect fit for their needs.
Once you get an interview, make sure that you use specific examples from your past work experiences and projects that are germane to the job you’re applying for. This helps to illustrate how you’ve successfully tackled challenges or contributed to similar tasks.
Network and make connections
Networking is not as intimidating as it may seem. You don’t have to play 18 holes of golf to get ahead, but do look at how you can utilise your on and offline networks.
This could be a connection you already have at the company: do they get a referral bonus if you are hired? If so, they may be keen to help. Additionally, personal referrals or recommendations from employees can help to increase your chances of getting noticed by the hiring team.
Or, use your professional social network to connect with current or former employees, and attend industry events or networking meetups.
Prepare thoughtful questions
It can often be hard at the end of a conversation to think of any relevant questions, so come prepared. This shows that you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested in learning more about the company, the team, and the role.
Asking insightful questions also gives you an opportunity to further demonstrate your knowledge and engage in meaningful conversations with the interviewer.
While it may take time to get an interview at your dream company, patience and persistence will help. Keep refining your approach, learning from each experience.
Ready to go ahead now and apply to that company you’d love to work at? The Alternative Credit Investor Job Board is your starting point, containing thousands of jobs all across the UK, like the three below.
Mastercard is looking for a Director, Procurement cards Product Management, also in London. In this role you’ll be responsible for delivering best-in-class B2B card strategy, narrative, and value proposition to meet the needs of employees and corporation buyers, as well as B2B partners and fintech partners.
In London, Guardian Professional Corporate Services is looking for a talented Sales Specialist to work for an award-winning client in the fintech and payment industry. Here, you’ll present, promote and sell products/services using solid arguments to existing and prospective businesses, and use consultative selling techniques and provide product expertise and market insights to help customers navigate through their own technology or process hurdles.
Or, consider this Engineering Manager (Mobile) – Global Bank role at SumUp. You will lead a squad of mobile engineers building and supporting the mobile banking features in the SumUp Super App. You’ll focus on delivering the most impactful user-facing features, both global and market-specific, which require a deep understanding of the mobile banking domain, and will help to shape the technical vision and strategy for both iOS and Android apps.
Article written by Kirstie McDermott at Amply
