How to land your dream job, and turn it into a career.

In today's day and age, entrepreneurship and remote jobs have become a staple well beyond the conventional nine-to-five office job, thus, the new labor force no longer has to follow a traditional career path to secure the 'job of their dreams' - instead, millennials can create the job and career they aspire, while achieving financial stability and success.

That said, not everybody aspires to become an entrepreneur or business owner, some people feel more comfortable or inspired working up the ladder at a company or brick-and-mortar. Whichever the case, with the competitive landscape and the continuous automatization of tech jobs, defining what a 'dream job' looks like has become harder and more confusing. For a recent graduate or anyone looking to reinvent their career, it is always challenging to navigate the interview process and nail their dream job. 

When facing the prospect of looking for a new job or if you are at the place where you are getting callbacks and second interviews, one thing is certain:  professional skills go beyond the rules of etiquette and good manners - it is about projecting the best of us, making others feel good and showing that you have common sense. In order to impress your potential future boss, you need to highlight your best qualities and demonstrate that you will become an integral part of the team.

Here are our five 'Buena Gente' tips to securing your dream job -- some of them are so simple, that it is possible to put into practice immediately;

Make Sure You Are A Good Match For The Role
Just because you are interested on a specific role, does not mean you are the best suited candidate for that role. Be realistic and only seek opportunities that make sense for you and the employer - avoid wasting your time and theirs by applying to roles that are either too senior or very distant from your skillset. If you are looking to make a career change, sometimes it is smarter to transition within the organization. A powerful move can be to start participating in projects of the department you are interested in working for and then be able to justify your transition. 

Send A Thank You Note
What happened to thank others for their time, a gift, information, a favor and even an interview? If we want more opportunities, we need to thank, even if we are better. We can do it by email, text, a call and the best way, a note by hand. It differentiates us and projects attention to details.
 
Securing the Lift Rule
Do not argue your opinions, impressions or problems in the elevator. Do not affect your reputation or potential opportunities to discuss private matters in public areas, especially when you do not know those around you. This week while having lunch in a lobby in Hato Rey, a young woman commented on how much she detested her boss. I wanted to tell him that his boss was my friend. I preferred to remain silent.
 
Focus on the Face, Not on the Screen
These days it's easy enough to distract us. We have a plethora of stimuli that keep us busy - emails, texts, calls, social networks. And worse, they have made us think that if we do everything at once, we are more efficient and productive. When you are in a meeting or listening to someone, do not listen to the cell phone. Pay attention.
 
Be punctual
Why do people insist on writing "De Camino" when they are late for a meeting or engagement? The lack of punctuality shows disorganization, poor management of time and little respect for oneself and for others. Let us project the best of ourselves. Punctual is 10 minutes before the time quoted, early is 20 minutes before.