Five Steps to Make Your Dream Job a Reality

You’ve identified your dream job and taken steps to explore it. You’ve used assessments to ensure it’s a good fit. Now it’s time to make your dream a reality! Overwhelmed? No worries! Here's a five-step approach that will keep you focused + on track to achieving your goal. 

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Remember: Looking for a job is a job.

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1. COMMIT

• Set aside time every day (or several days a week) that is "protected time" to conduct your job search. Put it on your calendar. Adhere to it.
• Invest in the "tools" for a job search: working technology (cell phone, computer with video capability, printer) and business apparel.
• Connect with an accountability partner. This person will help you stay motivated and on track. Good options are mentors, career counselors, and coaches.

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2. ORGANIZE

• Update your resume. Look online for high-quality examples. Use a tool like Live Career Resume Builder, or work with a resume writer. Highlight accomplishments with quantifiable results. Avoid personal information. Keep it clean, but thorough. Most important: use key words found in your dream job postings so the applicant tracking system (ATS) will put you in the "yes" pile.

• Enhance your LinkedIn profile. Make sure it is accurate + portrays your best self. Ask former colleagues to recommend you. Write your own recommendations to support others even as you are asking for their support.
• Prepare outlines for cover letters. You'll want to customize your cover letter for each application, but you can have a format that becomes your template.
• Have at least four professional references (keep this list separate from your resume and supply them only upon request). Call those references to 1) confirm that they’re willing to be references; 2) remind them of your accomplishments; and 3) get their current e-mail addresses and phone numbers.

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3. RESEARCH

• Identify organizations where you’d like to work. Consider how you will “fit” with each culture, and where the features match your desires (e.g., industry, location, benefits). Start with 8-10 companies. Research them online (websites, career sites, Glassdoor reviews, news articles). From there, narrow your focus to 2-3 companies that are the best fit for you.
• ​Monitor these companies' websites for new job opportunities 2-3 times a week. If they have online career centers where you can receive notifications for new openings, sign up! 

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4. NETWORK

• Join a professional association. If you're currently a member, join a committee or your local chapter board. Go to every meeting. Get to know the people in your field in the local market. Yes, they're your competition, but they also know when colleagues are retiring or leaving. You might get advance notice before a job ever gets posted!

• Use the power of LinkedIn. Leverage InMail to connect with others or ask for informational interviews. Join groups in your area of interest. Be active. Offer thoughtful comments. Post your own articles + blogs, or share other articles that will be attractive to those in your field.
• Remember to follow up. This is a top priority in networking and all phases of the job search. Send a LinkedIn invitation to the person who gave you their business card. Always send a written thank you – through e-mail or snail mail – to anyone who helps you.

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5. EXECUTE

• Apply for jobs! Stay organized by keeping a log of jobs + contacts (this Job Tracking Form can help). Keep copies of cover letters with original job posts + descriptions. Why? Because it's embarrassing during an interview to be unable to recall the job you applied for months ago!
• Be patient + persistent. It is a numbers game. The more you apply and follow through, the better your chances of achieving your goal. It takes time, effort, and many applications to get to an interview.
• Prepare for interviews. Read up on the company, review the job posting + your cover letter, learn what you can about the people interviewing you, and refresh your knowledge of any technical terms used in the job.
• Follow-up with written thank-yous, highlighting what you can do to help each company reach their goals.

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Which job search techniques work best for you? I'd love to hear from you. Need additional perspective? Let me know if I can help you achieve more. Best wishes for landing the job of your dreams!

This article is the last in a series of three articles where I share tips on how to get your dream job. Be sure to read Part 1 - You CAN Get Your DREAM Job, and Part 2 - Make Sure Your Dream Job Isn't a Nightmare, to get the full range of tips that can help you succeed in landing your dream job.

​Image source: Pixabay