How To Find Your Dream Job

Here's the bottom line: many people work in jobs that aren't what they want or are less than they deserve.

It's partly the pull of inertia (better the devil you know...)and partly lack of confidence, but mostly the fear their dream job doesn't exist -- or they couldn't land it if it does.

Most settle for second or third (or fourth, or fifth) best and try to get on with their lives, secretly cherishing thedream of something better.

It doesn't have to be like that. You can take practical steps toturn that dream into reality. Here are some practical steps that to send you on your way.

1. Look for "Upgrade Roles"

Upgrade Roles act as stepping stones towards your dream position, moving you forward -- maybe not all the way -- while you continue looking for that dream position. Think of them as steps on the ladder.

2. Keep up Your Enthusiasm

If the right opportunity comes up, you need to be ready. Thatmeans building your resume and polishing your track record tomake you the obvious choice It also means being on top form, whene chance hands you the golden ticket.

You can't fake enthusiasm. If your motivation sags, you won'thave the "get up and go" needed to get that dream job. Focus on the positives. No one hires depressives.

3. Tighten Your Focus

The trouble with dreams is they're fuzzy: all misty images of joyfulness and "happy ever after" endings. That's fine for day-dreaming, but it won't work to get results. You need to know exactly what you want -- in detail -- if you're going to see how to get to it.

A lot of so-called dream jobs are simply fantasies. If your dream job isn't a practical, hard-nosed possibility, set it aside and try a few others on for size. Don't fixate on a single dream until you've proved it's possible. If you're below average height, fixating on being a professional basketball player is an illusion.

4. Look for Opportunities Others Miss

There are hidden opportunities in every situation. If the fast track looks inviting, remember obvious opportunities attract the most competition. See if you can find a less obvious path where there are fewer people competing with you.

5. Keep an Open Mind

You're looking for your dream job, not whatever the media have decided to push this week. And what's a dream for you may not even be noticed by the high-profile "whiz- kids" who often go up like a rocket and come down like the stick. Focus on what's best for you whether that's fashionable or not.

6. He (and She) Who Dares, Wins

You'll never find your dream job without taking risks. The trickis to avoid risking everything. Fear of failure and its imagined consequences is probably the strongest force that holds people in jobs they don't really enjoy and that use only a little of their abilities. Be bold!

7. Be Ready For Trade-offs

Sit down and make a list of what you really want in a job. Not just the kind of work and the atmosphere around you, but also all the benefits and whatever else would make that job wonderful.Put them in order of priority, from those you really couldn't do without to those you'd love, but could manage to let go. You may never find a job that matches your list 100%. It may not even exist. But hey ... 90% (or even 80%) of your dream may be a whole lot better than you have now.

8. Learn How to Toot Your Own Horn

No one likes a braggart, but no one notices someone who neverbrings his or her accomplishments to the fore. People generally take you at your own estimation. If you present yourself as ordinary, that's how they'll see you. If you come across as confident, able and a good kind of person to know, they'll believe that's what you are.

Act the part of your dream job long before you land it. Be seen to be part of the group from whom the person for that dream job will be chosen.

9. Find a Mentor

This is probably the single most effective action you can take toland that dream job. If you can find someone who knows the ropes(and the people involved) to take you under his or herwing, you've dramatically improved your prospects.

A mentor can smooth the way for you, help you avoid the pitfallsand show you how to show yourself to the best advantage.

Best of all, a mentor can make sure the right people hear about you. It's human nature to look seriously at a recommendation that comes from a trusted source. If you go forward with the right approval and support, your path will be smoother all the way.

If you do nothing else today to start your progress towards thatdream job, get started on finding yourself a mentor. You'll neverregret it.

Adrian W. Savage writes for people who want help with the daily dilemmas they face at work. He has contributed more than 25 articles to leading British and American publications and has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and The Chicago Tribune.

Visit his blog on the ups and downs of business life.

RELATED ARTICLES

Switching Careers - 7 Key Steps
Are you thinking about switching careers? If you are, you're not alone. Most Americans switch careers three times in their lifetime. Nevertheless, switching careers is scary. And it's especially paralyzing the older you get. But making a career switch is very possible and much more common than you might think. Before you're ready to leap, realize that it's a heavyweight decision that deserves some time and solid thought. Here are seven steps to help you on your way.

The Top 10 Ways to Manage Your Career
Many people in the last decade have experienced either a layoff or termination in their lives or the lives of somebody they know. While many of these people affected have experienced outplacement-consulting services, some have not and they may be in for a rude awakening - corporations no longer "take care of you". Managing your career in these times require you to have a game plan and an understanding of yourself and human behavior. That is why outplacement consulting and career coaches have become so popular and are being sought out by individuals, not just corporations. A career coach can help you manage more than just your career, they can help you communicate better and get along with others better.

Business Experience is YOUR Security Cover
Some may want to interpret "independent" to mean WITHOUT others. None of us are truly independent or able to make it in life alone. All of us depend on family. Friends. Our church family. Schoolmates. Business associates. And others.

You Can Identify a Problem Solver
As an executive recruiter, I interview a lot of people. And while most candidates find a way to look good on paper, their resumes don't always reveal how good of a problem solver they are. Yet all of my clients want to hire problem solvers - people who can walk into their operation and make their problems go away. This is understandable. Business, of course, is all about problems. In fact, whether your business is in growth mode or decline, you will always have problems. And it's management's job to either come up with the answers, or hire people who will. This article is about the latter. How We Learned about Solving Problems

Salary, Raises, & Perks: Negotiate to Get Paid What Youre Worth!
Salary negotiation requires preparation and good timing. It's important to determine your salary needs and research the market value for the job you want. Timing is critical for negotiation. Discussing salary requirements too early in the interview process can jeopardize your chances of getting the salary you deserve. Failure to negotiate could result in losing money.

Old Hiring Foxes vs. The Hedgehogs
You are about to compete for the best people again. The recovery is happening. Labor statistics indicate over 280,000 new jobs were created in the U.S. last May. Is your company's hiring process a competitive weapon-or a ball and chain? If you're not sure, here are some places to look:

Don?t Be Too Passionate About Your Work
Of course, she then offered me a six-month process, costing thousands of dollars to get me back on track. However, I must say she was ethical in her approach and suggested I get a medical check up to rule out any physical or mental-health issues.

What is Contract Programming? An Alternative to the Conformity of Everyday Employment
What is contract programming, you ask? Well, when companies need specific computer programming expertise, for temporary periods of time, they generally hire a contract programmer or an employee of a consulting firm. Contractors almost always have a higher hourly wage than a salaried employee and are often paid for overtime. Contracts can last from one to three months to many years, depending on the situation. A contract programmer generally does one thing: program (code) for the duration of the contract. So, contract programming is just an area of computer consulting. Other areas of computer consulting include custom developers, network consultants and information technology (IT) consultants. The contract programmer can work via two forms of contracts: 1) "W-2 " contracts and 2) "1099" contracts.

Employment Law: Attendance Rewards - Legal Ramifications
If you were thinking of offering your employees special rewards as incentives for having good attendance records, then you must read on. In fact, employers that offer attendance bonuses may find themselves falling foul of the law.

Work Attitude Ethics For Progress
This "fruit for thought" article is for all human beings, who somehow find themselves in the role of breadwinner and striving to improve their living standards.

F-E-A-R in the Job Search!
Fear in starting a job search is a four letter word! Like any other four letter word, the word itself can create more fear, and some- times self-loathing!

Fun At Work Leads to More Success
Common sense at work: Such qualities as loyalty, energy, intelligence and hard work are certain to be in any consensus of what it takes to build a successful career.

Crafting A Stellar Career Summary For Your Resume
Are you a career changer?Â Or, are you satisfied with your stable career but interested in updating your resume?Â Are you aÂ professional who has tried different things but are still searching for the kind of work that best suits you?Â Whatever yourÂ career situation, what your resume most needs is a stellar career summary.

Career Change: A Glittering Invitation To The Emotional Stalkers
As much as you are yearning for career-change, and as much as the trends actually favor it, just contemplating a shift is a glittering invitation to four emotional stalkers who love nothing better than to play a nasty game of team-tag at your personal expense. When you unmask these bandits -- even a little -- they begin to lose their emotional charge ? leaving you free to more fully explore the opportunities to re-invent yourself.

3 Cover Letter Secrets Revealed
Writing a cover letter can be like cleaning your garage -- you don't know where to start ... and you just want it done.

Analysing Adverts for the Creative Response
The fundamental rule is: if you are going to apply for advertised jobs then only apply for the right ones. Don't waste time by applying for the ones you've no chance of getting; not only is your time lost but your morale will suffer if you keep getting rejections. Analysing adverts thoughtfully saves you more than just time.

Job Search: Time Management
There is an old adage that "Looking for a job is harder than working." How true! The rigors of job search are magnified by the turmoil we experience: lack of self-confidence, humiliation, financial pressure, and the undercurrent of emotions that color all we do: fear, anger, depression, anxiety, loss.

Searching for an Executive Job
A job search for executives is far less complicated today than it has been in the past. Anyone who is looking for an executive job can simply look to the Internet where there are hundreds of employment websites, with many specifically geared towards executives. These websites offer individuals the opportunity to network with other executives in order to share ideas, offer communication about opportunities and support that can be useful during a job search.

Career Change - Is Your Career A Good Fit Or Is It Causing Pain?
Do you leap out of bed in the morning looking forward to the day ahead?

Home |Site Map