7 practical steps to making your dream job a reality

Most people tend to stay at jobs they don’t enjoy because they don’t know what else they could do. But if you have a specific dream job you’d like to pursue, we can get you started on your action plan to make it a reality.

It’s important to remember that changing career paths and pursuing something new will take time, hard work and perseverance. But if you believe strongly enough in it, you will find a way to make it happen. Meanwhile, we’re here to give you a headstart in your journey. We’ve distilled the process into 7 practical steps which will hopefully help you navigate the process more smoothly.

1. Figure out how best you can contribute and what sets you apart from the rest

Talk to professionals in the industry you’re targeting. Get as much insight as you can about the problems and trends in the industry, including staffing issues. This will help you figure out how best to utilise your skills and contribute to your future employer. The point of this is to determine what value you can bring to the job that differentiates you from the competition.

2. Apply for your specific dream job title

This might sound rather unconventional, but bear with us. Apart from applying for advertised positions on online job sites, you could take a bolder approach. You can create your dream job title and send in a speculative application to employers of your choice stating your desired position.

If nothing else, it will definitely get their attention. The advantage of doing this is that you won’t be one of hundreds applying for the same position. If you don’t ask, you definitely won’t get. And you won’t lose anything by trying.

3. Identify your top 10 employers based on the values that matter most to you

An increasing number of employers have started hiring based on personality over experience. They are prioritising team spirit and flexibility rather than qualifications and experience. The way we do business is changing, which means the way we work is changing too.

By identifying your dream employers based on the values that matter most to you, you are effectively ensuring that you apply to companies that will value your personality and values too. Your chances of success will be much higher, compared to the “throw spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks” strategy.

4. Ask friends and colleagues for referrals for your top 10 employers

Get personal referrals for your top 10 employers. It’s human nature to trust someone you know over someone you’ve never met, particularly in the case of HR Managers who spend hours sifting through stacks of resumes and applications all day long. Ask around - you would be surprised how far your social circle extends!

5. Attend training courses or workshops to enhance your skills

Increase your odds of landing your dream job by honing your skills or taking them to the next level. Apart from showing initiative in self-improvement, having the latest knowledge of the skills pertinent to the job ensures higher odds for you.

6. Prepare thoroughly for the interview

When you finally get interviews set up, make sure you go well prepared. Besides doing research on the company, make sure you go with a list of questions for the interviewer. You’re there to sell your personality and skills for the job, but you’re also there to evaluate the company as a potential employer. This is your chance to find out as much as you can about the job and the work culture. Make sure you make the most of it.

7. Go for it

Don’t overthink it. Most of us talk ourselves out of change because we’re afraid we’ll fail. That’s what holds us back from trying new things, more than anything else. If we don’t try, we’ll never know. If you don’t pursue your dream job now, you’ll look back 20 years from now and wonder what your life would be like if you had taken that leap of faith when you could have. And you will always wonder and never know.

So stop worrying and go for it.

Time to start making your dream job a reality. Try our 7 practical steps above and let us know how you get on. We look forward to your thoughts on the above. 

Source by JobsDB

https://hk.jobsdb.com/en-hk/articles/7-practical-steps-to-making-your-dream-job-a-reality?icmpid=resources_1808%3Aresources_26742%3A20180814