Top tips from a “job whisperer” to land your dream role

He’s connected to the most in-demand companies in the world from Google to Amazon and coached our MBAs on how to land those lucrative roles. Now our Director of Career Services is sharing his tips to stand out in the talent market.

You’ve finally found your dream role.

There’s just one problem.

So have hundreds, if not thousands, of other applicants who are all hungry and highly qualified for the same job.

It doesn’t make it easier that positions for MBA graduates in Australia are much more limited when compared to places like the United States.

How do you stand out and separate yourself in a competitive talent pool?

Melbourne Business School’s Director of Career Services John Gurskey has coached hundreds of MBA and Executive MBA students on how to differentiate themselves and get hired.

Now the “Job Search Whisperer” is sharing his top tips.

Do your research

One of the most common missteps job seekers make is failing to do adequate research. John said it’s crucial to go beyond the “About Us” page.

“It’s doing a deep dive into who they are, what they do, how long they've been around, some of their more recent projects and who the key competitors are,” John said.

Once you’ve identified the company and the role you want, find people who are already doing that role and figure out a way to network with them.

“They can provide market data and tell you exactly what the job requires and what the companies are looking for.”

Build your network

Online applications rarely lead to offers, especially for international students without permanent residency or citizenship.

“You need to find an advocate and somebody that’s going to overcome that hurdle and get you a foot in the door,” John said.

He said most people get hired through networking and one of the most valuable tools an MBA provides is its network with more than 10,000 alumni.

“You want to develop the list of companies you want to work for and be networking with people from those companies before the job opens up.”

He recommends also leveraging your professors who have connections in the business community and taking advantage of Career Services while you’re still a student.

Join student clubs

There are 13 different student clubs at Melbourne Business School and John recommends joining one or two clubs that you're most interested in and tied to what you want to do.

“Maybe it's financing or maybe it’s consulting, through those clubs you can start meeting alumni who also happen to be industry leaders and have the contacts,” John said.

To go a step further, he suggests putting your hand up for leadership opportunities within the club or getting the role of the person who reaches out to alumni to bring them in as speakers for the club’s various events.

“That immediately sets you apart as somebody who's sacrificing their time and is invested in the club, plus you're creating relationships that you can leverage later down the track.”

Know your value proposition

You need to know your value proposition and how it connects to the role you’re applying for.

“If you can’t figure out what your value proposition is, then you probably shouldn’t be talking to that company yet,” John said.

You might be wondering what is a value proposition?

“A value proposition is the knowledge, skills, abilities and experience you have that will enable you to help the company do what it says it needs to do in the job description,” John said.

Once you’ve honed your value proposition you can modify it in different contexts and use it on your LinkedIn page, resume and cover letter, as well as in networking and interview scenarios.

If you’re applying for a job in a different industry, a strong value proposition can be especially useful to highlight transferable skills and how they apply to that specific position.

Replicate interview scenarios beforehand

If you’ve landed an interview, congratulations!

Beforehand, John recommends practicing with somebody who’s worked for a similar company to replicate the scenario as much as possible.

“For example, if you’re going for a consulting role, practice with a consultant who’s demonstrated to the market they know how to get through a case study interview.”

He recommends analysing the job description to anticipate the kinds of questions that will come up in the interview.

“Think through what they are asking for and write out and practice your answers with specific examples of situations you’ve demonstrated those attributes throughout your career.”

Connect on a human level

Often people forget that they’re building a relationship with another human being during the interview process.

John said the interview starts as soon as you walk through the door.

If it’s a face-to-face interview you need to expect that everyone from whoever greets you at the door to the people on the interview panel will be judging you on all of your interactions.

“Did you show interest in the person at the front desk, were you happy, were you sad, were you on time, have you dressed the part?”

“You don’t want to be transactional in this. You genuinely want to be interested in these, potentially lifelong connections you’re making.”

How to answer “tell me about yourself?”

It’s one of the most dreaded interview questions that pops up at the start of an interview.

“Tell me about yourself?”

John said everyone struggles with answering this question because of how open it is.

His advice is to not just anchor your answer on professional achievements or grades but to give a quick highlight of your top professional achievements before sharing something that tells a story about who you are on a more personal level.

“I quickly pivot to ‘when I’m not work, I’m hiking in the Australian alps or fly fishing. I love being outdoors and challenging myself by backpacking and enjoy spending time with friends and family’.”

People are genuinely interested in who you are as a person, not just what you can do professionally.

Ask thoughtful questions

The questions you ask are just as important as the questions you’ll be asked.

John says it’s not the time to ask how fast you’ll be promoted or how much the company will train you.

But rather it’s an opportunity to show you’ve really thought about the business and are genuinely interested.

“This is the time to ask insightful questions about the big challenges the business is facing in the short, medium and long term,” John said.

“The last question can be ‘what are the next steps?’ to show that you’re really interested in the role.”

Send a thank you note

After the interview, John recommends following up with a thank you email to the interviewer.

“This is a chance to reinforce your interest and excitement in the role and if you didn’t answer a question correctly you can reference that and say you had thought about it and had something further to add,” John said.

He recommends sending the email on the same day as your interview, so it doesn’t get lost.

“People remember kindness and if you’re the only person who does it and someone equally qualified doesn’t, it could be the reason you get the job – because you were nice.” 

Our Career Services provides a full range of support to build your personal skills, create a professional network and elevate your career options. Find out more about our Careers services here.

To find out more about studying at Melbourne Business School, visit our Degree Programs and Short Courses pages, or learn about our range of services For Organisations.