Walt Disney once said, “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” Those of us with career aspirations, doing very little to chase them, can learn from the late movie moghul’s wise words.
Many of us carry a picture of our dream job in our mind’s eye. But we do very little to attain it, believing that it will simply land in our lap one day. Needless to say, that never happens. In a job hunt, as in other areas of life, it is important to be proactive. You have to work smartly and steadily towards your objective without getting disheartened.
There are several ways you can be proactive about finding your dream job. You could:
1. Draw up a job hunt strategy
Scoring your dream job may require you to take several baby steps over one giant leap. People who are in their dream jobs have probably worked towards landing those jobs years before their actual appointment. To get on that path, draw up a smart job hunt strategy and stick to it with single-minded determination. Research the job or sector, network and prepare yourself well for the selection process. Want to become a TV journalist with a global career? Find yourself a local or national level reporting job and prepare a showreel to circulate your work. Recognize the importance of starting small and don’t lose heart or focus during this period.
2. Network
Is your dream job a private banking job or one with an international bank? Make sure you source the right referrals and recommendations. Establish a friendly rapport with your peers, seniors and boss. If any of them move out to a place you want to go, make sure they remember you. Attend events and seminars that are related to banking and, if possible, introduce yourself to industry figureheads. Another great way to connect with them is online, through events like the annual Monster Virtual Career Fair.
Don’t restrict yourself to professional contacts. Often, the best leads come from people in your social or personal circles. Connect with as many people as possible and tell them what you’re after. When they hear about a suitable opening, they can sound you out.
3. Use social media
These days, recruiters are using services like Monster TalentBin that source professionally relevant information people share on social sites to broaden the talent search. So make sure you create social media profiles that best reflect your professional skills and draw headhunters. One way of doing this is by posting new and relevant information regularly, like an important project you may have spearheaded or an award/citation you have received. At the same time, take care to erase anything that could potentially jeopardize your chances of landing a job, like controversial statements or photos. You could also use social media to follow key people from your industry – you may find your dream job opening through something they have posted.
4. Assess your qualifications
Make a realistic assessment of your qualifications before you draw up a strategy to obtain your dream job. You may find that to qualify, you need to get an additional degree, take a short course or attend an academic programme for working professionals.
Being proactive about going after your dream job has several benefits. For starters, by identifying potential employers and proactively networking with them, you may learn of job opportunities before others. If you stand out, and seem a good fit for the company, they may even create a job for you. So what are you waiting for? Get cracking on that strategy now!
