subject: Successful Career Change: Landing Your Dream Job [print this page] Successful Career Change: Landing Your Dream Job
For many of us, the Sunday evening blues begin when we think about our upcoming Monday morning. Going to a job that you dislike can have a major impact on all aspects of your life. Our careers are a very time consuming part of our lives, taking up a majority of each day, as well, many people feel defined by what they do for work.These hard times have seen many of us take jobs out of necessity and not out of interest. This has added a lot of stress to individuals who are struggling to make ends meet, as well as others who are trying to support their families. If you're not going to work because you want to, then it might be time to think about a change.Companies who offer career coaching recommend a few steps to accomplishing this. The first thing is to do is to find out what career success means to you. Discovering things like your ideal work schedule, how much you would like to earn as well as where you would like to work, will all help narrow down the field of choices. Next, making a list of your talents, strengths and weaknesses will help identify what you have to bring into the working market. It's important to approach this with a lot of self-confidence because you will need to make others believe it as well.Looking back on your work career and thinking fondly of other jobs you've had and liked will help include some options. Think about things that did and didn't work for you, things that were both negative and positive. This will help provide a clear view of your working history. This may also help identify your passions. Asking yourself 'if you could read only one book, what would the subject be?'Next, doing research into different job options and companies will also help guide you forward. Target companies that work in the areas you're interested in. By finding these companies, you can then begin deciding what role you would like to target in these organizations. If you're unable to find what you're looking for, don't be afraid to ask for help. It's easy enough to get the help you need from people you respect in your current job or volunteer place. It's important to search out contacts and begin a foundation of networking.Putting together a package of who you are and what you seek will provide others with a better understanding of what it is you have to offer as well as what it is you're looking for. Set goals for your project plan and career change. It's important to spend about 30 per cent of your time investigating public positions you see in newspapers or on job boards. The rest of your time should be spent exploring networks and doing research.If part of your research finds you considering a few online courses, an upgrade of one's skills is never a bad idea. No matter how you decide to go about it, determination and positivity are key ingredients to finding your dream career.
