Landing Your Dream Career | Find Your Dream Job

For those of you that do not know, a career is much different than a job. A job pays the bills until something better comes along, and a career is an opportunity to better your life while doing something you love. Most of us start out with jobs in order to reach our careers, and that is great. We all have to start somewhere. At this point in time people are stuck in an unfortunate circle: you need an education for good money, but you need money for that education. This often forces us into student debt, but I can promise you that it is well worth it once you have that degree in your hand.

However, the hard work doesn’t stop there. After you have that degree, you have to start on the next part of your journey, finding the paying position. If it was easy we’d all have our dream jobs by now, so remember that the most important thing to do is have continual faith in your abilities. Don’t let one rejection or even twenty stop you from acquiring your dream.

There are several things one can do in order to help land your dream job. The first and foremost asset is the resume. It is the first thing a potential employer sees, so make sure it is clean, organized, and above all; professional. Try to keep it to one page and break it up into short, descriptive sections that make it easy for quick eyes to spot your value. The average hiring manager spends five to seven seconds surveying your resume, so make sure the words they catch are valuable ones.

Once you make it through that, it’s time to sell yourself in the interview round. Dress to impress and do not, under any circumstances, show up to an interview in jeans and sneakers. Even if the job you’re applying for allows you to dress casually in the office, you still need to make a good first impression. Make sure your teeth are brushed and your hair is combed (if you have any). If you are someone who prefers to wear makeup, stick to low-key natural makeup and a soft hairstyle. The interview is not the place for the smoky eye or teased hair.

When the interview begins, make sure to look your interviewer in the eye and answer their questions as honestly and as accurately as possible. Smile and shake their hand, and when guided to a seat, take a comfortable but professional position. Make sure your body is facing theirs and mirror their body language. This innately tells them they are facing an equal.

Lastly, when discussing your credentials, be confident in both yourself and your answers. They are looking for someone who knows what they’re doing not just with their life, but with their career as well. Let them know you have the self-confidence and intelligence it takes to fill the position they have open. Even if you won’t be working with your interviewer afterwards, it is still necessary to build a strong relationship with them in the event of a promotion. Always look for ways to improve yourself within the company and keep a cool temper with your co-workers. Good luck out there, and remember; never give up!

Posted in: employment today