Dream Job Checklist

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The Dream Job Checklist

The Complete Job Search Checklist for Indian Professionals

Whether you're looking for your next opportunity or planning a career move, this checklist will guide

you through every step of a successful job search. Follow these steps in order for the best results.

Step 1: Understand Yourself First

Before you start applying anywhere, take time to know yourself better. Do a self-assessment of your

personality and get honest feedback from your colleagues about your strengths and weaknesses.

Why this matters: Most job seekers waste months applying for wrong roles because they never

took time to understand what they're truly good at. When you know your strengths clearly, you can

target opportunities where you'll naturally excel.

Companies hire people who are confident about their abilities—and that confidence comes from

real self-knowledge, not guesswork. Your colleagues see things about you that you might miss, and

their feedback can reveal patterns you've been blind to.

This single step can cut your job search time in half by helping you focus only on roles that actually

fit you.

Step 2: Create Your Career Plan

Draft a career plan to decide which jobs are right for you.

Why this matters: Applying randomly to any job posting is like throwing darts blindfolded. A career

plan gives you direction and saves you from wasting energy on opportunities that lead nowhere.

When you know exactly what you're looking for, you can spot the right opportunities faster and

present yourself more convincingly in interviews.

Hiring managers can tell when someone has a clear career direction versus someone who's just

desperate for any job. People with clear plans get hired faster and negotiate better packages

because they know their worth and their destination.

Without a plan, you'll keep jumping between roles without building real career momentum.

Step 3: Target Companies Using Heat Signals

Identify companies to target using their heat signals—signs that they're growing and actively hiring.

Why this matters: Not all companies are hiring right now, but some are expanding rapidly and

desperately need talent. These companies show clear signals if you know what to look for. Applying

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to growing companies increases your chances of getting hired by 10x compared to randomly

applying on job portals.

When a company is in growth mode, they're more likely to create new positions, pay better, offer

faster growth, and be more flexible with candidate requirements. You could be a perfect candidate,

but if the company isn't hiring, your application goes into a black hole.

Learning to spot heat signals means you're always fishing where the fish are actually biting.

You’ll learn examples of heat signals in the Dream Job Webinar.

Step 4: Connect With Decision Makers

Identify decision makers in those companies and connect with them for exploratory meetings—not

to ask for jobs directly, but to build relationships.

Why this matters: In India, 70-80% of jobs are filled through referrals and connections before they

ever appear on job portals. By the time you see a job posting online, the company has already

spoken to internal referrals. When you connect directly with hiring managers, you bypass the

resume black hole completely.

Decision makers are the people who actually have the power to create positions, bend

requirements, and push your candidacy forward. One conversation with the right person is worth

more than 100 applications sent through portals.

But here's the key—you must approach them correctly, or you'll be ignored like everyone else who's

desperately asking for jobs.

Step 5: Build a Problem-Solver Resume

Develop a problem solver's resume that shows how you've created impact, not just lists your job

duties.

Why this matters: Hiring managers don't care about your responsibilities—they care about results.

Every company has problems they need solved, and they're looking for evidence that you can solve

them. A typical resume gets 6 seconds of attention.

A problem-solver resume gets read completely because it speaks the language of value and

impact. When your resume clearly shows "this person solved X problem and delivered Y result," you

immediately stand out from 95% of other candidates who just list what they were "responsible for."

The difference in response rate between a duties-based resume and a problem-solver resume can

be 5-10x.

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Step 6: Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

Develop a problem solver's LinkedIn profile that positions you as someone who delivers results.

Why this matters: In today's job market, your LinkedIn profile is often viewed before your resume—

sometimes instead of your resume. Recruiters and hiring managers will Google you, and your

LinkedIn profile is usually the first result. A weak profile can kill opportunities even after you've

impressed them with your resume.

On the flip side, a strong LinkedIn profile can attract opportunities without you even applying.

Recruiters search LinkedIn daily for candidates, and if your profile is optimized correctly, they'll find

you. Many professionals get interview calls just from their LinkedIn profile alone, without applying

anywhere.

Your profile works for you 24/7, even while you sleep.

Step 7: Build Your Personal Brand on LinkedIn

Build your personal brand on LinkedIn by positioning yourself as a problem solver and expert in your

niche.

Why this matters: When decision makers see your name regularly with valuable insights, you're no

longer a stranger—you're someone they recognize and respect. Personal branding makes

networking 100x easier because people already know who you are before you reach out. It also

dramatically increases your perceived value

Professionals with a visible presence can negotiate 20-30% higher packages than equally skilled

people who are invisible online. In a crowded job market, a strong personal brand is what makes

recruiters choose to contact you over thousands of other qualified candidates.

Plus, when you're known in your field, opportunities come to you instead of you chasing them.

Step 8: Network Strategically

Network with decision makers, professional alumni, and educational alumni to build relationships

that can open doors.

Why this matters: Your network is your net worth in the job market. The best opportunities rarely

get advertised publicly—they're filled through "I know someone perfect for this" conversations.

Alumni connections are especially powerful because there's automatic trust and willingness to

help.

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One introduction from the right person can get you into companies that would otherwise reject your

application. Networking isn't about collecting contacts—it's about building real relationships with

people who can either hire you, refer you, or introduce you to someone who can.

In India's relationship-driven business culture, who you know often matters more than what you

know.

Step 9: Lead With Value

Lead with value and always remember "what's in it for them" when reaching out to people during

your job search.

Why this matters: Everyone is busy, and nobody wakes up thinking "I should help random job

seekers today." If you approach networking as "I need something from you," you'll get ignored. But

when you lead with value—offering help, insights, or genuine interest in their work—people

respond.

This mindset shift is the difference between being seen as a taker versus being seen as a valuable

connection. People who understand this principle get more responses, more meetings, and more

referrals. The job market rewards givers, not beggars.

When you add value first, people naturally want to help you because reciprocity is a powerful

human instinct.

Step 10: Use the Know-Like-Trust Process

Use the know-like-trust process to warm up relationships before asking for networking calls.

Why this matters: Strangers don't take calls with strangers—that's just reality. But when someone

has seen your name multiple times, engaged with your content, and had a few friendly exchanges,

you're no longer a stranger. The know-like-trust process transforms you from "random LinkedIn

request" to "someone I recognize and respect."

This dramatically increases your response rate when you request a meeting. People who skip this

process get ignored 90% of the time. People who follow it get responses 60-70% of the time. It's the

difference between being deleted and being remembered.

This process might take a few weeks, but it's worth it because it opens doors that would otherwise

stay closed forever.

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Step 11: Prepare Thoroughly for Interviews

Prepare for job interviews properly—from researching the company and domain to planning your

appearance, body language, and virtual interview setup.

Why this matters: You get one chance to make a first impression, and interviews are high-stakes

situations where small details matter enormously. Candidates who prepare deeply can answer

confidently, ask intelligent questions, and show genuine interest—all of which dramatically

increase hiring chances.

Meanwhile, unprepared candidates get nervous, give generic answers, and fail to stand out.

Preparation isn't just about knowing the right answers—it's about walking into that room with

confidence that you belong there. Hiring managers can instantly tell who prepared and who didn't.

The person who prepares wins the job even when competing against more experienced candidates

who didn't bother.

Step 12: Handle Salary Questions Smartly

Learn how to handle questions about your current salary and expectations without limiting your

final offer.

Why this matters: How you handle salary questions can mean a difference of ₹5-10 lakhs or more

in your final package. If you reveal your current salary too early or state your expectations too low,

you've already limited what the company will offer—even if they had budget for much more.

Companies anchor their offers based on what you tell them. Most candidates lose huge amounts of

money simply because they didn't know how to navigate these conversations. Salary negotiation is

a skill that pays you for the rest of your career, not just in this one job. Every rupee you negotiate

now compounds into lakhs over your career lifetime.

Yet most professionals never learn this skill and leave massive amounts of money on the table.

Step 13: Control the Interview Flow

Dominate the interview flow using structured storytelling and presentation techniques to showcase

your value effectively.

Why this matters: Most candidates sit passively and just answer whatever they're asked. They let

the interviewer control everything, hoping they'll ask the right questions to reveal their strengths.

This is a losing strategy.

Candidates who know how to guide the conversation—subtly steering it toward their strongest

achievements and making their value crystal clear—get offers even when competing against more

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qualified people. Interviews aren't interrogations; they're conversations where both sides are

evaluating fit.

When you know how to control the flow, you ensure that your best qualities get showcased, your

key stories get told, and the interviewer leaves thinking "we need this person."

Passive candidates are forgettable. Candidates who control the narrative are memorable.

Step 14: Anchor Your Salary Negotiations

Learn to price anchor your negotiations to your advantage by understanding who should state

numbers first and how to position your expectations.

Why this matters: In any negotiation, whoever mentions the first number sets the range for the

entire discussion—this is called anchoring, and it's incredibly powerful. If you anchor too low, you'll

never recover. If the company anchors low, you're now negotiating up from their number.

Understanding anchoring psychology can literally add 20-40% to your final offer compared to

someone who doesn't know this principle. Companies have professional HR teams who negotiate

daily. You might negotiate once every few years. This knowledge gap costs candidates lakhs.

Learning proper anchoring techniques evens the playing field and ensures you're paid what you're

truly worth, not what you accidentally accepted because you didn't know better.

Step 15: Get Everything in Writing

Accept the offer in writing and don't resign from your current company until you have a formal,

signed offer letter.

Why this matters: Verbal promises mean absolutely nothing in the professional world. Companies

can and do withdraw offers, change terms, or "clarify" that you misunderstood what was promised.

Without a written offer, you have zero protection.

Every year, thousands of professionals resign based on verbal offers, only to find the written offer is

different—or worse, never comes. Then they're stuck unemployed, having burned bridges at their

old company.

Written offers protect you legally and professionally. They force companies to commit to specific

terms that can't be changed later. This isn't about distrust—it's about basic professional protection.

No legitimate company will refuse to put their offer in writing, and if they do, that's a massive red

flag.

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Step 16: Don't Fall for Counter Offers

Do not accept a counteroffer when you resign, no matter how tempting it seems.

Why this matters: Counter offers feel flattering, but they're almost always a trap. Statistics show

that 85% of people who accept counter offers leave within 6-12 months anyway—but now they've

damaged trust with both companies. Your current employer didn't value you enough to pay or

promote you until you threatened to leave. That resentment doesn't disappear.

They'll now see you as a flight risk and might start looking for your replacement while keeping you

around temporarily. Meanwhile, the new company you rejected will likely never consider you

again—you've proven you're not reliable. The reasons you wanted to leave haven't changed just

because they offered more money. Counter offers address symptoms, not root problems.

People who reject counter offers and move on almost always report it was the right decision.

Step 17: Plan Your First 90 Days

Plan your first 90 days in the new company before you even join, setting clear goals for early wins

and relationship building.

Why this matters: Your first 90 days set your reputation for years to come. During this period,

everyone is watching you, forming opinions, and deciding whether hiring you was a good decision.

Professionals who plan ahead can hit the ground running, deliver early wins, and build strong

relationships—creating momentum that accelerates their entire career at that company.

Those who just show up and figure it out as they go often struggle for months to catch up. Early wins

create a halo effect where people assume everything you do is excellent. Early struggles create

doubt that's hard to overcome.

The difference between a planned start and a reactive start can mean the difference between

getting promoted in 18 months versus being stuck at the same level for 5 years.

Step 18: Resign With Grace

Resign professionally and gracefully. Don't reveal where you're joining, don't badmouth anyone, and

complete all handover responsibilities properly.

Why this matters: India's professional world is surprisingly small. The person you insult today

might be interviewing you five years from now at a different company. The bridge you burn might be

the exact connection you need for your next opportunity. Companies talk to each other, and your

reputation follows you.

How you exit speaks volumes about your character—and future employers do check. Many

candidates have lost job offers because their previous company gave a bad reference about how

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they left. Leaving gracefully also keeps doors open—you might want to return someday, or you

might need those colleagues to vouch for you later.

Professional exits show maturity and integrity. Bitter exits reveal character flaws that will haunt your

career. The way you leave is often remembered longer than the work you did.

Your Next Steps

This checklist gives you the roadmap. Each step builds on the previous one, creating a systematic

approach that dramatically increases your chances of landing not just any job, but the right job with

the right package.

Most job seekers fail not because they lack skills, but because they lack strategy. You now have the

strategy. Execute it with patience and consistency.

Good luck with your job search!

Career Coach Vikram Anand

About Vikram Anand: Career coach Vikram Anand has over 30 years of experience in the Indian

corporate sector as a professional and career coach. An MBA from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of

Management Studies (batch of 1992) Mumbai, he’s worked at MNCs like Hindustan Unilever

Limited, Johnson & Johnson, Nokia and has been the Chief Marketing Officer at Cargill and

AkzoNobel in India.

He’s taught job search strategies at the Indian School of Business, UpGrad, Naukri and other

reputed organisations in India. He’s placed corporate professionals in well-paying jobs at Amazon,

Infosys, Allianz, JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank, 3M, Accenture, Mahindra & Mahindra and many other

MNCs.

Do you want more help with your job search? Write to our helpdesk at hello@vikramanand.com.

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