Here is a question for all soon-to-be and newly graduated: what is more important to you? The perfect graduate job, or working for the perfect company? While it might be an obvious choice to go for the job over the company, there are good and bad sides to both arguments.
Why should you choose the dream company?
For: One reason to choose the dream company over a job role is that you share the same values with the company you are applying to. Some people flourish in an environment that is closely matched to their own values and goals such as charities or NGOs. By choosing a company over a role you’re more likely to understand what’s important, how are things done, where the boundaries are. It goes without saying that if this is your preferred route make sure that you do your research before applying. And don’t limit yourself to looking at a company’s website – their social media channels will probably say more about what they stand for than any other form of communication.
Against : It’s great to target your job search towards a particular group of companies but you still need to consider if your ideal company is the right environment to showcase your unique set of skills and talent. Choosing a very specific company over what the role actually offers may limit your chances of progressing through the ranks.
Why should you choose the dream job?
For: Some may argue that accepting a job for the experience you will gain, is the best method of moving up the career ladder more quickly.
Against: Even though you possess the perfect skills for a certain role, consider if your personality is the right fit for the company. You spend a lot of time with people at work so it’s vital that you enjoy being around them.
The dream scenario
Everyone will have a dream company that they would like to work for, but if there aren’t any current roles that match your skill set, don’t worry, monitor them closely – follow them on Twitter and Facebook, or set up job alerts – and wait for the right opportunity to come along.
Some people are fortunate enough to work in their dream job. If you’re not one of the lucky ones, try to get extra experience in your spare time during university holidays. Joining a summer or year-long internship programme is a great way to get extra experience, experiment with an industry or professional area you might want to pursue after your graduate, or to stay in touch with what you feel passionate about.
When it really comes down to it, you need to look for opportunities that keep you motivated throughout the day. This will vary depending on the person: for some it may be career progression, learning opportunities or salary.