Unsatisfactory job life can be tedious and demotivating, yet people get stuck with it as the salary pays the bills.

We all have a dream job in mind, but some of us feel that the dream job is elusive, when, in reality, it is not. Your dream job is not as unattainable as it seems. If you genuinely believe in yourself and your competencies, the right planning could lead you to your dream job.

Here are five easy steps for you to get you started:

1. Set Your Targets

You can start chasing your dream job only if you know clearly about it in the first place. Some of us can get overwhelmed while thinking about a dream job, and they may come up with unrealistic approaches and ideas. Know what you want beforehand in order to carve a project charter to attain it successfully.

Before you set your target, carefully evaluate these possible aspects:

● Know yourself: Charting a road map will become easy if you know where you want to go. A dream job could bean idea of getting highly paid,  having a great work culture or simply being true to your authentic self and working in a role that you feel most aligned with. Find out the position and the industry you are looking for.

● Know the Job: It is indispensable to know in and out about your dream job. Find out what are the required skill sets, educational qualifications, professional experience, and other prerequisites of your dream job.  

● Be realistic: Higher aspirations are great and very much attainable, but it must not cross the boundary of realism. Check out whether your dream job criteria requires you to take up additional training so that you can make an informed decision. When your target is fixed, you can start by taking small steps in that direction.

Remember, if the target is wrongly set, you will spend a lot of time in the wrong direction, and it will be an absolute waste of time and effort.

‍

2. Acquire necessary skills

To chase your goal, you must learn the necessary skills required for the job. Nowadays, the requirement of skill sets changes very quickly. One has to be incredibly adaptive and open-minded to survive in this ever-changing world. In the process of your job hunt, try and acquire the skills you will need.

For instance, if you are gearing to become a software engineer, to increase your employability it is essential to make yourself familiar with topics such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.

There are many online platforms like Udemy, Udacity, Coursera, EdX, and more to help you learn about newer technologies and other relevant topics. These platforms help you keep yourself updated and acquire relevant skills related to the dream job you want to get.

Put emphasis on the soft skills you need to either polish or to acquire. Most of the top management and technical positions require few soft skills like:

● Integrity

● Interpersonal skills

● Excellent communication skills

● Leadership skills

● Team management

● Innovation

● Adaptability etc.

One cannot acquire soft skills in a short time span. So, make sure you start early giving you time to develop. Even if you have these skills, there is no harm in sharpening and becoming more industry-ready.

‍

3. Keep tracking your progress

It is crucial to measure your progress. Due to existing work pressure, a lot of people tend to forget about the need for the continuous push. Tenacity and resilience are vital to achieving your ultimate goal. People start the journey with a stronger resolution, but eventually, the effort slows down.

Make sure you keep a track on your improvement. In order to do so, you can keep a few things in mind, such as:

● Measurable outcome: Divide your target activities into smaller parts and set some performance indicators. Make sure that these are measurable. If you have planned to enrol yourself in an online course and do a certification, then assign a feasible timeline with it. This is how you can measure your efforts. You can simply make a tracker to evaluate yourself.

● Avoid procrastination: Procrastination is the common problem of the generation. Keep yourself galvanised and be enthusiastic in the process, so that you get the motivation to execute the planned activity.

● Reward yourself: Be happy about your reactiveness and positive initiatives. Reward yourself for stretching the boundary.

‍

4. Begin early

The sooner you realise that you have the potential to chase your dream job, the better. During the early years of our lives, we remain more agile, tenacious, and eager to learn. After a long journey in the workplace, people get used to a certain environment and develop a comfort zone. It is challenging to un-learn and then re-learn. As a result, the learning curve becomes steep.

So, when you are in your twenties or thirties, you are likely to be a more attractive candidate than someone who is relatively older. Start your journey early when you have lesser responsibilities and financial burden. You will also get more time to acquire skills, undergo training, etc.

‍

5. Networking Extensively

Networking not only helps you understand the know-how of your industry but also enables you to be in touch with influential people in your industry.

Your reach is dependent on the number of connections you have. There are many professional networking platforms which can make your job easy. There is a sea of opportunities as you can interact with top management and industry leaders and get real insight from them. It is the best way to know about the latest business deals and innovation happening in the industry of your choice.

Ask for recommendations and endorsements from senior colleagues if you have done anything significant in the domain of your work. It may add substantial value to your profile. An upgraded and relevant profile will increase your visibility.

Connect with the crucial recruiters like talent acquisition managers, chief human resource managers to gain knowledge and awareness about the company . Many companies look for a culture fit employee. It is better to understand the perspective of the recruiters. Be it social media or professional platforms, a massive and relevant network can be extremely beneficial.

‍

In Summary

Patience, resilience, and proactive initiatives can boost your career and help you get your dream job. Self-confidence is the key to remain steady in the chase, but overconfidence and unrealistic expectations can be harmful to your career.

The right planning, small significant steps and constant upgrading of your skills will make your target accomplishable. Aim high and put your best foot forward with the right amount of dedication.

If you have the will and are ready to put in the hard work, then there’s no stopping you from grabbing your dream job

‍

______________________________________

‍

Author Bio: Lucy Manole is a creative content writer and strategist at Right Mix Marketing, an SEO-focused link building agency. She specializes in writing about digital marketing, technology, entrepreneurship, and education.