There are countless job search websites and thousands of job postings but have you ever considered the possibility of creating your very own dream job? Some of the best jobs have not been created… yet. Below are the beginning steps to creating your very own hidden dream job.
STEP ONE: To begin, you must clearly understand what you can offer future employers. What do you do best? What is your skill set? What makes you unique? Why should employers hire you and not someone else? Employers are looking to hire people to help them fix a problem and add to their bottom line. You must be able to articulate your skills and set yourself apart from the competition. Next, explore your interests and start to narrow in on your dream job. What job tasks do you enjoy doing? Where would it be located? In what type of work environment do you work best? All of these pieces make up your dream job. Go ahead and work through all the details as if you are creating the job description for your future employer.
STEP TWO: With your dream job description in hand, it is now time to take a strategic look at the people within your network. Do you know someone that already has your dream job? Who works for your dream company? Could someone benefit from the work you would do in your dream job? Make a list of people that you can talk with about your dream job, and then reach out to each person to ask for an informational interview. This is a great tool for gathering more information to narrow the search for your dream job further.
LinkedIn is a great resource if you are having difficulty finding people within your network. Search your connections for keywords from your dream job description. Your friend from college may have a new job since you last saw each other. Or your old next-door neighbor may have a connection that works for your dream company. Don’t be afraid to ask your connections to introduce you to someone within their network.
Next week we will explore the final steps in creating your dream job!
