If you’re lucky enough to know what you want to do with your life, you’re probably looking to start working towards it. Getting your dream job takes work. You won’t just wake up one day and get that phone call or email telling you good news. As good as that would be, it won’t happen. Whether you want to be a vet, work for yourself, or be an actor there are things you can do to start preparing to get the job.
Working Towards Your Dream Job
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Define Exactly What You Want To Do
In many cases, people say they want to work in an industry, but don’t specify which job in that industry. Or they want to do many different things. Write down exactly which job you want to work towards. If you can’t choose between industries, make a mind map and figure out which industry is best for you. This will make it easier to make a plan towards getting your dream job.
Do Your Research
Learn. Not just about the job, but the industries that the job can be in. If your dream is in HR or Admin etc. those skills are transferrable to many different industries. If you have a particular interest in one of those industries, study up. Know where the jobs are, how to find them, and who to talk to. Find out what experience or education you need to get that job and go for it. It may take you a few goes, but if you work for it and keep your focus you’ll get there soon enough.
Practice Your Interview Skills
Besides your CV an interview is how they will pick the right person for the job. If you have an amazing CV with experience to back you up, but you’re rubbish at interviews someone may take the edge over you. It’s vital that you learn how to impress in an interview. The worst feeling is going for an interview for your dream job, but falling short because you just don’t come across the way you expected.
I’ve written a couple of posts about interview skills in the past. How to cope with job interview anxiety and how to prepare for a zoom job interview. If you’re struggling to hone your interview skills, use those guides as a reference and practice with your friends.
Tailor Your CV For Your Dream Job
It’s important to tailor your CV for each job that you apply for. You can do this by reading individual job descriptions and the company values and adding the parts of you that fit in with those to your CV. I have general CV templates for each industry so I don’t need to type out my experience each time and update them each time I apply for a new job. If you’re struggling with CVs there are so many resources online that can help you, including CV templates and experts who will look over your CV and help you make it perfect. Utilize the resources you have to be taken to the interview stage.
Talk To Someone In The Industry
If you can talk to someone who either has your dream job or had your dream job and got promoted, you’ll have a much better idea of the different paths you can take to get there yourself. They will have valuable advice on things you can do to make yourself employable in that sector and job. There is a chance they may also have contacts for you to get work experience from which is always good to pursue. If nothing else, you’re showing that you’re motivated for the job and if a position comes up in their establishment that you apply for, they’ll recognize your name and that goes a long way.
Go Back To Education
This may not be an option for you, but it’s always beneficial. If you’re a school leaver still trying to figure out what your dream job is, college or university is a great place to start. Pick a course that truly interests you and read the jobs that graduates go on to have. This will help you whittle down what your dream job is. If you already know your dream job, research what people in that job have as qualifications and do them if you can. Even attending one-off workshops will show your enthusiasm for the role and industry.
Gain Experience
Employers will often have a requirement of “x years experience” in something like customer service or administration. This can be so frustrating, especially if you’re just starting out. In some cases, employers will make exceptions for the right candidate, but this doesn’t always happen. Gain experience, even if it’s in a job that isn’t related to your dream job. You’ll find that the skills you pick up in any workplace are transferrable. You’re also more likely to land a job relevant to your dream one if you’re already in employment.
Don’t Get Disheartened
It’s a tough market. Even if it takes you 10 years to get to where you want to be, it’s worth it in the end. Never give up the dream, even when you’ve been rejected by several different positions, it just means you weren’t right for that role in that company at that time. I’m a true believer in the phrase “what’s meant for you won’t pass you by”. Your time will come when it’s right for you, but only if you keep trying.
Know Your Strengths…And Your Weaknesses
This will come up in job interviews and the workplace. It’s important to learn the things you excel at and help others with them, but also important to admit where you can learn more. If you’re lucky, your company may send you on training for the areas you feel you need to improve on, if not you can work on them yourself. Once you know your strengths, you can also impress by offering help in other areas of the workplace, such as IT skills.
Learn How To Network
Networking is so intimidating. You have to learn how to talk to people, and in many cases describe what you do in a short, quick description. It can be the difference between you being put forward for a job or not, though, so it’s vital to make contacts. In certain industries, it’s also important that you can call on people to help you with certain aspects of your work. By networking, you can develop “go-to” reliable people to help you with a job.
Work Hard For Your Dream Job
To be blunt, you aren’t going to get your dream job if you don’t work hard for it. Some people are happy working away in jobs that aren’t necessarily their dream jobs and that’s fine, but if you want to get to where you need to be for your career, it won’t happen overnight. Others are lucky when someone takes a chance on them, but once again that only happens after hard work and genuine enthusiasm. By working on yourself, your career, and your networking you can find roles that suit your dream job and eventually find yourself working there.
Your Dream Job May Not Be What You Expect
Even with years’ worth of research on a job, the actual job and experience will be different. That’s why work experience is important. It allows you to gain experience that can transfer into another career just in case your dream job doesn’t work out. Don’t be disappointed if this happens, jobs often look different on the outside than they are on the inside. It’s also worth trying to gain your dream job in a different company as well, because it may be that the company doesn’t align with your way of working.
This is such a helpful post! I definitely need to find what I want to and like you say define it instead of it being so broad, I can imagine that would really help in the long run xx
Thank you! I’m still in that stage, but definitely a lot closer to defining it that I was 3 or 4 years ago
I love this post! I think it’s so true that in order to reach your goals, you need to first outline what you want to achieve 🙂 I love this plan, very helpful thank you for sharing x
Thank you. Yes, I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t done that.
I loved reading this, it was so helpful! Learning how to network is such an important skill that can make such a difference! Thanks for sharing!
Networking is the one I struggle with the most! Definitely an important skill. Thanks for dropping by
Great post! You’re so right in saying there are so many routes to figure out what your dream job is – thank you for sharing so many helpful tips xx
Thank you! There definitely is many routes to figure out what your dream job is
Great post! Research and knowing your skills is key, I think. Also backing yourself is so important!
Rosie
Thank you! Yes, those are so important
Good tips. Just what I need right now. I’m now working on my dreams to be a writer & novelist. Thank you for sharing.
I hope it all works out as planned for you! Thank you for stopping by
This is such a helpful post! I have been asking myself for far too long what I want to truly do, so I am hoping that what i am working on might be it! Thanks for shairng x
Finger crossed for you! It can be so hard to find the right thing
I wish I had this post when I was looking for a job 😉 I don’t have a dream job but I work for the organization I wanted to work, let’s call it a dream organization, and I love it. Thanks for sharing these tips.
A dream organisation is just as good! Glad you made it there. Thank you for commenting
Such a helpful post! I also find that building connections on LinkedIn and engaging with people can help!
Katy | http://www.katystephenson.com
LinkedIn is a great tool! Thank you for commenting
Great tips, especially to keep your options open for what your dream job will actually be. I never expected to like where I am this much, but I love it!
I always get surprised when I enjoy things I never expected. Thanks for commenting
Changing directions or discovering a new focus on life can definitely happen at any moment or stage of life, I’m kinda in the midst of this myself. This was really useful — thank you for sharing!
I’m in the midst of it too! Just figuring it all out. Thank you for commenting
This is such a helpful post Jodie, I want to work towards my dream career and talking to someone who is already working in that field is key! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Thanks for stopping by and commenting
I knew from a young age what I wanted to and it took a lot of the things you list for me to get there (and quite a long time) … but I did and it eventually led me to something else I would never have thought I could do but absolutely loved.
I’ve heard similar stories from a fair few people since posting this. I’m glad you found something you enjoy. Thank you for commenting
These are helpful tips! I fall into the category of not knowing what my dream job is. I graduated in one thing and found myself unhappy in the 9-5 life. I feel like I’d be happier working on my own terms, but still learning on what I would like to be doing. Thank you for sharing!
I was the same! Left uni, got a 9-5 job and found myself miserable! I’m starting to figure it all out now though. Hope you manage to soon!
I love that, after your powerful list of all the ways a person can work for their dream job, you include a healthy reminder that your dream job may not be what you expect. I am still defining what my dream job is before I set off down the joyous road of working hard. 🙂
I’ve only recently found what I want to do and it definitely wasn’t what I expected so I think it’s important to list that too. Thank you for commenting
Great tips that can be applied to any job search, dream job or not. I thought I knew what I wanted to do when I was younger, but that changed over time. The good news, as you mentioned, is that you can frame your experience in a way that it is applicable to any job. There are many transferable skills and I have always customized my resume and cover letters to match the jobs I applied for.
Thank you! Skills are so often transferable.
These are all such great tips! Thank you so much!
https://www.emilyclareskinner.com
Thank you for commenting!
I’m still trying to figure out exactly what my dream job might be, but if I have one in my sights, this will be really helpful advice in focussing my energy towards it, thanks for sharing!
Thank you for commenting! Hopefully you figure it all out soon
Excellent! These are all tips I 100% agree with and I wouldn’t have added anything else. I was a go getter in post secondary and landed a few of my dream jobs, groups, and projects! Thanks for sharing x
http://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
Thank you! I’m happy you managed to make it to some dream jobs.
This is such a helpful post! I’m definitely guilty of not being specific enough with my dream job – which honestly makes it quite difficult to set practical steps towards it. You’ve inspired me to sit down and create a mind map/vision board and get some goals going! xx
I’m sitting making a mindmap now! Hope you manage to get some goals going.
Great post – especially at the moment, when it’s a great time to have a rethink about your career! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for commenting! Definitely a good time to have a rethink