This Job Action Day: Check out this successful serial entrepreneur’s tips on landing your dream job

Landing a job and landing a job that you love are two completely different things. Most people can get a job that allows them to pay rent but they’ll wake up dreading having to go in every morning. Then there’s the job that you love, because you know that what you’re doing is making a difference in the lives of others. So, how do we get a job that we love?

Rebecca Finell, Founder & CEO of Zip Top, has some advice to help people land their dream job.

Here are Rebecca’s top 5 tips for landing a job that you’ll love!

Tip #1: Do your research on the company
Before the job interview, get to know the job description inside and out and do your research on the company itself. What are people saying about the company? What are the employee reviews like? Can you get a feeling of the culture from what people are saying? Use all of this knowledge to create a customized cover letter for the job and to ask targeted questions during the interview itself. If you don’t know how to do something, just say you’re excited to learn that as well. No employer expects you to know everything. We just want to know that you want to learn it.

Tip #2: Do whatever it takes to go into the fields that you think you are interested in 
If there is a job you think you might want, pursue it! Shadow someone for a day that’s in the role you want, or even interview people in that role and see what they have to say about their experience with it. Ask them about their favorite parts of their job and their least favorite parts of their job. Ask targeted questions to go deep and learn as much as you can. Do this for every job you could possibly want, because you won’t really know if you don’t dive in and really go for it!

Tip #3: Ask lots of questions
Have a list of questions ready before you go into an interview, based on the research you’ve done about the company and based on the job description. This is the perfect time to ask the interviewer what they like most about the company, and what they feel could be improved on. Ask about company culture. Ask about what it takes to succeed at that company! Anything that can help you do your job better is good to ask. Bring up their mission, values, ask about their culture and where the company sees itself in 5 or 10 years. Interviews are for you as much as they are for the employer, so take the time to make sure the company and role are a great fit for you.

Tip #4: Use LinkedIn to network
You will be surprised how many people are willing to talk with you or introduce you to a new connection if you just take the time to ask! Create a thoughtful, personalized message and start connecting. Being one of the largest social media networks made specifically for professionals, LinkedIn is the place to be regardless of your career field. Plus, they have a feature that you can set showing companies and recruiters that you are open to new job opportunities.

Tip #5: Front door locked? Try another door!
If you can’t get the job you want right away because you need experience first, apply for another role in the same company. You can learn more about your dream job and work your way up to the position you really want. Most companies hire from within first, so once you have proven your value to a company and they know your character, you’ll likely be first in line for the job you really want to have.