The average working person will spend around one-third of their life at work. The estimate is
you’ll work somewhere around 90,000 hours in total. With this in mind, do you want to keep
doing the job you’re doing now and stay in the same industry?
If you’re tired of your work and ready for a change, it’s never too late to start pursuing your
dream job, even if your experience so far is in a completely different field. Here’s how to prep
yourself and work toward your dream job at any age.
1. Define Your Actual Dream Job
It’s easy for kids to throw around impressive job titles like astronaut or Olympic athlete, but
when it comes time to sit down and plot a path to your dream job you need to be realistic.
There are a couple of ways to approach a dream job. Here are your angles:
Dream Impact
What do you want to accomplish with your work? Have you ever wished your work had an
impact on something you’re passionate about? Dream jobs can sometimes be more about what
you’re accomplishing and the impact you’re making than the actual work you’re doing.
Dream Working Environment
What do you actually like doing? What kind of work or environment feels less like work and
more like some kind of hobby to you? Dream jobs could be jobs that allow you to move around
outside all day, spend time doing an activity you love, or be around creative people with similar
interests.
Dream Job Characteristics
Do you want to be earning more, to have a certain title, or to command an air of respect? The
characteristics of a job can make it a dream job for you, depending on your priorities. There’s
nothing wrong with dreaming of a specific job because it has easy hours, little to no social
contact, or a competitive pay scale.
What’s Important to You?
It’s your dream job. What do you want more of from your job? Your dream job is something that
taps into your values and allows you to get more of what you want out of life. If you don’t have a
specific job in mind, write down what you value most and want most out of work, then find a job
that matches those values.
2. Read the Job Description
With your dream job defined, it’s time to start making a plan on how you’re going to get it.
Check online for job posts advertising the position you want. You’re going to go through some of
these job posts from different companies to see what they’re looking for in a candidate. This will
allow you to plan how you’ll become the ideal candidate.
Let’s take job openings for physician assistant roles as an example. The main requirements are
current certification and licensing for the state you’ll be working in. If the job is related to a
specific field of healthcare, there are additional requests for experience in that particular field.
What are they asking for in a qualified candidate? Match your current skills to the skills they
want and see how you compare. Remember that you don’t have to have all the soft skills to be
qualified for a job, as long as you match the main qualifications like education, official
certifications, or language fluency.
3. Make a Plan
If you’re lacking some of the skills, experience, or qualifications you need to start applying for
your dream job, make a plan to change that. Use what you learned in step 2 to map out how to
acquire whatever you’re lacking and become the ideal candidate for the job.
This applies even if your dream job involves working for yourself. What are you lacking right
now that you need to do the business you want? Plan your steps to get what you’re lacking and
start your business, even if what you’re lacking is just the capital to launch.
A solid plan goes a long way. By breaking down what you need into individual steps, you’ll
create a practical path to getting what you want out of life, even if it takes time.
4. Update Your Resume
As you gain new skills and work toward your goals, keep your resume updated to match your
new qualifications. Start from the first day you’re making your plan so your resume is a clean
slate. Then, every time you pass a milestone, make sure that’s reflected in your resume.
Highlight areas where you fulfill some requirements for your dream job, even if you don’t yet
meet all the requirements. Keep your resume up to date, use keywords from job postings, and
customize it to fit the job you’re applying for.
5. Get to Know People
If you’re making a long-term plan to get into a dream job, part of that plan should involve
meeting people who work in the industry you’re trying to join. Building a network can go a long
way when you’re looking to make a big career change.
Having a network related to the job you want helps you get a feel for what’s happening in the
industry, keep your pulse on the job market, and get news on opportunities for jobs you want.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.
Maintain your network well and stay connected as much as possible. Make sure that when you
form solid connections with people you ask if they will be your references for job applications.
6. Practice for Interviews
When the opportunity of a lifetime comes along, you want to be ready to make a great first
impression and follow up strong. Research how interviews are in the job you want, then
practice, seek feedback, get a nice interview outfit, and make a plan for when it finally happens.
Leave nothing up to chance if you can plan for it ahead of time. Even if your dream job is years
away based on your plan, learning the industry jargon and getting connected to the industry
early will be a huge benefit for you when it’s time to start working.
7. Don’t Give Up!
You need persistence to get into a new job field, especially if you have a lot of other
responsibilities that take up most of your time right now. Don’t give up. Be patient and
purposeful.
As long as you’re taking steps forward, even if they’re small, you’re going in the right direction.
If you’re ready for it, you can start working toward your dream job today. Think about what you’d
rather be doing with your working hours, then make a plan for how you can get there. Be ready
to put in the hard work to see great results from your efforts!
