When you were little, possibly people asked you "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Perhaps you answered doctor, astronaut, actor, lawyer or police officer. With great enthusiasm, you dreamed of the day that you would live in a mansion full of luxuries. Until then, racing seemed like something that would never happen, but now that the time has come, your interests may have changed. Finding the right profession can be a difficult task, but not impossible. Stay optimistic!
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Analyze Your Ambitions
Step 1. Ask yourself the key question
The respected philosopher Alan Watts says that the best way to know what a person wants to do with his life is to ask the following question: "What would you do with your life if money did not matter?" What if you won the lottery and could do whatever you wanted? You might want to relax for a while, but in the long run, you may well get bored. So what is it that would really make you happy?
For example, maybe you like working with children, creating works of art, or building things
Step 2. Break down your dream career into its most basic components
Take the activity or work that you discovered in the previous step and break it down into its most basic parts. If you had to explain your ideal career to a three-year-old, how would you describe it?
If the child asked you what is fun about this activity or how it makes others feel, what would you say? These basic elements represent what you should look for in a profession
Step 3. Think about what really makes you happy
Evaluate the basic components of the profession and decide what are the aspects that drive you the most. Identify what attracts you to the career in question. Are you happy making others happy? Are you interested in the art of acting and the creative process that a film entails?
- You can also do this exercise with your current job, not just the one you long for. If there is something related to your work that you do now, analyze it.
- If you want, you can take a personality test, such as the Briggs-Myers, to determine the jobs that best suit your personality.
Step 4. Look for jobs that provide similar feelings and experiences
Do some research to determine which jobs mimic those feelings you long for in a profession. For example, if you were a millionaire and wanted to travel, the related jobs could be a tour guide, a teacher abroad, or a flight attendant.
If you wanted to spend all your time outdoors and in contact with nature, you could be a geologist, a lumberjack, a natural space guide or a park ranger
Step 5. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of the profession in question
When evaluating the most achievable careers, be sure to do extensive research. The goal is for you to be well informed as to what your life would be like if you followed that career path. Make sure you know the downsides of such a job to make an informed decision.
- Read articles or reviews of people who have held these positions to find out what they liked and what they did not like.
- For example, if a particular job that you really enjoy requires you to travel frequently, but you have young children, this could be a disadvantage.
Step 6. Consider your financial needs
If you are satisfied and happy with your job, becoming a millionaire may not be the important thing to you. However, life is full of obligations that go beyond happiness. If your dream career isn't helping you feed your family or pay off your student loan, you may have to look at other options.
Always focus on jobs that give you feelings similar to happiness
Step 7. Assess your strengths
Are you particularly good at something special? Not just something that you do well, but that you do better than most of the people you know. This is an aspect that you should take into account when evaluating a profession. You may not enjoy it that much, but the fact is, you may not become that good at something, unless you like it at a certain point.
You can monetize your skills or at least tackle the aspect that you really enjoy (as a guide)
Step 8. Analyze your hobbies
It is possible to obtain financial benefits from hobbies. Often times, this means starting a small business, taking into account the headaches that this entails, but remembering that you will achieve the career of your dreams. Before you dismiss a hobby that you think you can't monetize, do an internet search. You might be surprised!
Step 9. Take a job test online
If you're feeling lost and none of these tips help, consider taking a job test online or at your local career center for advice from the professionals. Good tests are easy to find online, but some of them require a small fee.
Part 2 of 3: Setting yourself up for success
Step 1. Look for the advertisements to find out the possibilities of the chosen profession
Before considering a particular job, do some basic research to find out what open positions are. It does not matter what city they are in, as long as it is in your country or they are open to members of your citizenship. Evaluate what the requirements are. What seem to be the most basic? Your goal should be to reach them and possibly overcome them.
Step 2. Talk to industry professionals
Find people who are doing what you want to do. In addition, contact those who are in charge of hiring the position in question. Talk to both of them and ask for more details that are not in the job postings. What are the most important skills and qualities? Make sure to include them on your checklist.
Step 3. Evaluate your educational options
Read your list and determine if it is feasible to meet those requirements. While you may need a higher level of education (this is to be expected), don't feel that this limits you too much. There are many government programs available for people to get the education they need to get a job, especially if there is a high demand for such positions. You can also apply for scholarships, internships and internships to obtain or improve the required skills.
Make sure to factor in the costs of the certificates or degrees you need to get your dream job
Step 4. Gain knowledge and experiences to expand your resume
In the meantime, do volunteer and other job experiences that allow you to develop the skills you need to land your desired job. Look for positions in the same industry, or even volunteers that allow you to carry out the activities of the position in question.
As abstract as it is (for example, working in a store to improve your customer service skills), this experience can be beneficial in the long run, and will help you raise funds for a better education
Step 5. Make friends in the right places
It is not necessary to go to the best university in the world or secret organization; The important thing is to meet people who work in the sector to get to know them better (and who also know you). You can volunteer in their organizations, attend conferences related to the field in question, and even go to a job fair to meet people.
- Just make sure you make a good impression so they definitely remember your name.
- You can also attend casual encounters to start building your network.
Step 6. Evaluate if you really like the job
Take an internship, internship, or volunteer to find out what work itself is like on a day-to-day basis. This will help ensure that you are not romanticizing it, and that you really like it, as well as being an opportunity to meet people who could help you develop fundamental skills for the sector or industry.
Part 3 of 3: Get the job
Step 1. Take the initiative
Of course, all you've been doing (if you've followed the previous steps) is taking the initiative. Just make sure you don't stop. It is important that you pursue your dreams and take an active role in achieving them. If things don't go the way you expected, get up and try again. Find new routes. Do whatever it takes to make it work.
Step 2. Understand that progress is gradual
Don't aspire to be at the top in a year or two. Understand that landing your dream job can take time and a few steps in between. However, the wait is worth it; You will arrive at some point and you will have achieved it with your efforts!
Step 3. Find places to apply for a position
The most common methods are attending job fairs and doing an internet and magazine search. However, don't forget that you can also contact the companies directly. Decide who you want to work for and pay attention to the jobs section of their website. You can even contact the company directly to ask if they receive resumes.
Step 4. Get good references
If you've followed the aforementioned instructions, your resume should be spotless, but don't forget to include good references. Don't mention jobs that have little to do with what you want to do now, and definitely avoid mentioning people with whom you've struggled.
You should always make sure to call people to ask if you can put them as references and if they think they could provide good feedback related to your job skills
Step 5. Have a good job interview
Once you get to the interview, be sure to show how awesome you would be if you were hired. Dress for success and prepare ahead of time. Look up the most common job interview questions to rehearse your answers. Also, consider possible questions that will allow you to show that you take the job seriously.
Advice
- Be authentic and kind to people. This will allow you to impress the most important ones.
- Write a list of jobs that interest you. Then think about which one you would perform better.