Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Youth Central Logo

YOUTH ARE AWESOME

Youth Are Awesome, commonly referred to as YAA, is a blog written by youth for youth. YAA provides the youth of Calgary a place to amplify their voices and perspectives on what is happening around them. Youth Are Awesome is a program of Youth Central.

Any views or opinions expressed on this blog belong solely to the author and do not represent those of people or organizations that the blog may be associated with, unless explicitly stated. All content is for informational purposes only.

HomeAdviceHow to get your dream job?

How to get your dream job?

What Is a dream job?

A dream job is an occupation or position that includes the qualities you look for in a job. For example, opportunities that allow you to do what you love, engaging tasks, an opportunity to help others, a good work environment, career advancement, moneymaking opportunities and the list just continues to go on, and on. Dream jobs depend on what the person is like and what they want to achieve. They can go from being compelling and charming (e.g. acting, and playing music) to reputable and high-paying (e.g. doctor and lawyer).

Finding your dream job

How can you discover what you are truly meant to do?

It’s natural to feel confused about what you are meant to be doing. We want to try to find, and hold on to, a dream title that includes doing work you love. Therefore how can you find out what you’re truly passionate about?

Let’s get things straight, when we were little we dreamed or at least considered what we wanted to be doing when we grew up. Unlike nowadays, we had different ambitions. These ambitions might have stayed the same, but most probably have been replaced or modified.

To find the job of your dreams, you need to start with organizing the clutter and having realistic goals. You need to focus on something specific which will lead you to your career path. When focusing, it allows you to differentiate between earning a degree and going after set opportunities. You don’t want to have completed undergraduate degrees without thinking about what your dream job is. Focusing on a dream job will put you in a better position to pursue your dream. If focusing is hard, then talk to people to get career advice. You can take some time to request and schedule informational interviews with people who are in the fields that you may be interested in. It doesn’t only have to be with people that you know, you can network at conferences and workshops. Later on, when starting to have final thoughts, when you have really visualized, considered your strengths, likes and dislikes, it will be easier to figure out what you value in a job.

How to get your dream job?

Obtaining your dream job takes a great extent of self-awareness, perseverance and creativity.

Following your dreams helps you to become happier, your dreams set one’s heart on what to be or do. Follow your dreams so you can become a better and more joyful person when following your dreams, but also when accomplishing your goals.

Below I am going to go in depth about networking since 85% of jobs are usually found when doing that. There are countless missed opportunities when you spend a great deal of your time searching for job listings on your computer.

First of all, remember to dream big + take action. Dreams can be about anything, however, taking action is the hard part, since you may not know where to start. The key is to start small, for instance, applying to internships or reaching out to local businesses to gain experience. You can even volunteer since it gives you starting base. You can use the resources that are out there, such as YouTube. Self-teaching can be so empowering as it’s advancing your skills. The main thing I am trying to say is develop your experiences + skills. Don’t be ashamed of your weaknesses, instead work on them and make them your strengths!

Furthermore, you should understand that building a career journey is not something you can do alone. Find the people that can help you along the way. This can be a challenging step so here are some ways you can find the people: search within your network (beginning with your school’s alumni listings or LinkedIn). People that have your dream job right now can help advise you for where they got their start and will be able to answer your questions.

Later on, when narrowing down these people, create an informational interview with them. I mentioned this for finding your dream job because it really does help clear out any doubts which may limit you. Something to remember is to prepare the questions you want to discuss prior to the meeting. When talking with the people, start off with a friendly approach, then you can add on about what you’re passionate about, how you’re inspired by them and want to learn more about their journey. Finally, you can ask whether they’re available for a 15-minute Zoom call to connect. Networking is really important as it can help you to go deeper in your career path. It’s all worth it when you are getting closer to your dream career.

Eventually, when getting to the informational interview, make sure your questions and discussion topics are prepared. Come to the interview with a positive attitude that is curious, interested and willing to learn about the person’s career journey. Don’t just stop at learning about their journey, you can ask them whether they recommend anyone else who you can reach. They can suggest opportunities and ideas to you. Moreover, the informational interview will give you more knowledge and support.

Finally, get ahead of the game, think of things that you can do that set you apart. Don’t just wait for an opportunity to knock at your door. Alternatively, you can go knock on the opportunity’s door. For example, apply for a position before it even opens, reach out to organizations even if they may not be hiring. By reaching out, you are set apart from others.

To summarize, use this 5 step procedure to land your dream job! Above, it shows the reality of how things will open up for you. If you try and get out there, you will realize you are more qualified than you may think!

You can go onto MSNBC for videos and more inspiration.

RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular