How to land your dream job: 40 easy, actionable tips from the hiring team at GetYourGuide

If you’re actively thinking about a career change, we know how tricky it can be. But you’re in the right place, because insider insights can make all the difference. Read on for quick, bite-sized advice on how to secure your next role, direct from the dedicated Talent Acquisition team stationed at our Berlin HQ. 

Read these practical, up-to-date guides for candidates for handy hacks to make the whole process easier — from building confidence to improving communication, to getting a sense of the kinds of questions you should prepare for. Let’s get you hired.

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First, you need to win over your recruiter with a strong CV, portfolio, and online presence. Our hiring team reviews hundreds of these daily, and they’ve compiled these guides to let candidates know exactly what they (and most recruiters) look for.

Up your CV game 

1. Tailor your CV for each application

Use keywords from the job description and highlight the most relevant experience to show how your skills align with the position you want.

2.  Optimize your experience section

List jobs in reverse chronological order with clear titles, companies, and dates. Include a brief description, responsibilities, and performance metrics.

3. Use results to show impact

Demonstrate your contributions with measurable results — use numbers or percentages to make your achievements shine.

4.  Keep it clean and simple

Use bullet points for clarity and ensure consistent and professional formatting to enhance readability.

5.  Get feedback from peers

Check for typos and grammar mistakes. Then ask a friend or mentor for their honest feedback.

Make your LinkedIn profile stand out

1. Lead with your unique selling point

Your headline is your first impression. Go beyond your job title and use this space to showcase your expertise and the value you bring to the table.

2. Share your journey in your own words

Use the ‘Summary’ section to share your story. What drives you? Highlight your core strengths and career goals, ensuring they are both personal and relevant to your industry.

3. Focus on your accomplishments

Describe your roles with a focus on achievements, not just responsibilities. Use bullet points and quantify your impact wherever possible.

4. Make your top skills easy to spot

Choose skills that truly reflect your strengths and ask colleagues or clients for endorsements. This increases your profile’s visibility and credibility.

5. Let your colleagues tell your story, too

Ask for recommendations from people who know your work well: managers, clients, or peers. Genuine testimonials add social proof and give your profile a personal touch.

Get past the ATS and land an interview

1. Match the words in the job ad

Most application reviews are based on keywords. Look at the skills and tools in the job description, and work those words into your CV in a natural way.

2. Make it easy to read

Use clear headings, bullet points, and short sentences so your impact pops right away.

3. Start with the achievements you are most proud of

Don’t bury the gold. Put your biggest results at the top of each section as measurable impact. For example: “Increased sales by 32% in Q4” is short, clear, and memorable.

4. Tailor your CV to the role you are applying for

Adjust your summary and skills to match the specific job. It shows you understand the role and are genuinely interested.

5. Show why you want the job

Your motivation is important. To make yourself stand out during the application review stage, add a short opening line that connects your skills to the company’s mission.

For all the Product Designers out there, here are some helpful tips to make your portfolio stand out.

Perfect your Product Design portfolio

1. Showcase strong visuals

Balance creative imagery with clear summaries. Pay attention to typography, accessibility, and consistency. Use subheadings for easy reading and ensure navigation is simple and intuitive.

2. Tell a story

Structure your case studies to flow smoothly and keep them short to highlight your ability to simplify complex ideas. Provide context, and check for grammar and formatting.

3. Demonstrate impact

Highlight the difference your work made with user and/or business outcomes, success metrics, and evidence of progress. Showing how you measure success proves you think beyond design.

4. Explain decisions

Don’t just show what you did — explain why. Share the rationale behind your choices to help the reader understand your problem-solving approach and critical thinking.

5. Reflect and show collaboration

Showcase what you learned from each project. Highlight how you worked with others, demonstrating a collaborative mindset and a willingness to grow.
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Interviews can feel high-stakes — especially when you really want the role. The good news: confidence isn’t something you either ‘have’ or ‘don’t have.’ It’s something you build through preparation, clarity, and a few simple habits that help you stay grounded under pressure.

Stay calm during interviews 

1. Practice makes perfect

The more prepared you are, the more confident you'll feel. Ask your recruiter for guidance on the topics you’ll touch on, generate potential questions using AI, and rehearse your answers with a friend or in front of a mirror.

2. Focus on the present

Try not to worry about the outcome. Stay focused on the conversation and your responses.

3. Ask for clarification

If you don’t understand a question, calmly ask for clarification. It gives you a moment to regroup and shows you're thoughtful, not clueless.

4. Reframe it as a conversation

Take the pressure off by viewing your interview as a casual discussion between professionals about your expertise.

5. Visualize success

Before you enter, take a few minutes to visualize yourself acing the interview: walking in confidently, answering questions clearly, and leaving feeling great. Then channel it!

What you should know about the company before an interview

1. What does the company do?

Be ready to explain their product or service in your own words. It shows you’ve done your research and understand their industry, customer base, and core offering.

2.  What is their culture like?

Check out their website, careers page, and social media to get a sense of their values and how they work. Identify what resonates with you and bring it up during the interview to show alignment.

3. Have they reached any major milestones recently?

Look for recent blog posts or news updates about product launches, funding rounds, or expansions. Mentioning these shows genuine interest and awareness of the company's direction.

4. What is the strategic importance of this role?

Search for blog posts or content shared by people in your future team to better understand their focus. Knowing how the role contributes to broader goals will help you tailor your answers and demonstrate strategic thinking.

5. Who will I be meeting?

Look up your interviewers and team members on LinkedIn. Learning about their background can help you prepare more relevant questions and build a better rapport during the conversation.

Ace your interview with the STAR method

1. Set the scene (Situation)

Give just enough background for the interviewer to understand the context. 

Example: “In this project, customer complaints about delayed deliveries were increasing.”

2. Clarify your goal (Task)

 Explain your responsibility or goal in that situation. 

Example: “I was responsible for reducing delivery delays to improve customer satisfaction.”

3. Explain what you did (Action)

Describe the steps you took, focusing on your own contribution. Use action verbs where possible, and mention any tools or methodologies you used.

Example: “I used SQL and Tableau to analyze delivery data, identified bottlenecks in specific routes, and created a new dashboard to track performance, which I shared with the logistics team to guide improvements.”

4. Show the outcome (Result)

Ideally, provide metrics and data to signify clear improvements.

Example: “Delivery times improved by 25%, and customer complaints dropped by half within three months.”

5. Prep, practice, repeat

Pick 3 or 4 relevant examples from your recent experience, write them down, and rehearse explaining them using the STAR method. 

What employers look for in an interview

1. Structured communication

Keep your answers clear and concise. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to tell impactful stories that show your value and results.

2. Positive energy

Your presence sets the tone. Smile, be present, and engage genuinely. Positive interactions build rapport and show that you’re collaborative.

3. Authenticity and self-reflection

Be honest about your journey, failures included. Talk about what didn’t work (and, importantly, what you learned) to signal emotional intelligence and a willingness to grow.

4. Confidence with humility

Show that you know your strengths without overselling. Be self-assured while staying grounded to leave a strong impression of someone who is team-oriented.

5. Direction and growth mindset

Show that you have clarity about your future, whether short- or long-term. Be open to continuous learning to show that you’re proactive and growth-driven.

Questions you should always have answers for

1.  “What’s your most impactful project?”

Give a rundown of your journey so far, highlighting any strengths that align with the role’s needs. Be concise and keep your answer under three minutes.

2. “What’s your most impactful project?”

Pick something relevant! Share the project objective, what you did, and how those actions made a measurable impact.

3. “Why are you interested in this role?”

Your answer should show how your skills, experience, and interests align with this job. Let them see what genuinely motivates you.

4. “How have you helped your colleagues improve?”

Share a real example of a time you supported a colleague’s development, for example, offering mentorship. Be sure to share any positive outcomes, too!

5. “What matters most when choosing your next company?”

Discuss how this role aligns with your long-term goals. Be transparent about what matters to you beyond getting paid (growth, culture, or values) to ensure a good fit on both sides.

Wrapping up

Showcasing yourself well, interviewing, and building confidence are essential skills on your job-hunting journey. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s putting your best foot forward while remaining authentic to your personal goals, strengths, and passions. 

We hope you’ve found our get-hired hacks and interview tips useful. Revisit them whenever you need to, and we wish you the best of luck on your search. Now, go get ’em!

Interested in working with a diverse, talented, travel-obsessed community to change the way millions experience the world? Browse our open roles and apply today.