In my post Dream Job Help – Get a Strategy, I talked about the likelihood that you aren’t ready for your dream job, yet. I also mentioned that you may need a First Aid job so that you can pursue your Dream Job… or at least the stepping stones to that job. And I promised that we would talk about components of a successful strategy and then some tips to implementing it.
Some of the components of a successful strategy in pursuing your dream job?
- Identify the gap between the skills and talents you have… and those the dream job requires.
- Determine what jobs will fill the gap… and if there is an optimal order to pursuing the jobs (so you can acquire the skills and develop your talents.)
- Start your search for the first intermediate job.
- Package yourself appropriately in your job search.
Each one of those could easily be the subject of its own post (or many posts)… and might be, one day. But for today, let’s just cover it at a high level.
Identify the skills gap
For this you need to be able to know what your skills and talents are. There are exercises and assessments that can help you discover these if you don’t know what yours are. (My Mission Discovery program covers this ground.) Also, you need to be able to identify the skills and strengths your dream job requires. (We covered this ground in the previous two posts.)
When you have those two sets, the requirements of the dream job that are not on your skills/strengths list is the gap. List those out. This is your working list of what you need to acquire in order to be the perfect match for your dream job.
(You might ask if you have to have all the skill requirements in order to land your dream job. The answer, of course, is maybe. It depends on what your dream job is. If the economy and the world in general will only support 5 people in that job… and a bunch of people would like that job, then you will need to be a perfect fit for it.
If, on the other hand, there are thousands of openings for your dream job and only hundreds applying for it, then as long as you have the critical skill set, you are likely a shoe-in for the job. This strategy will work no matter which end of the spectrum your ideal job falls. The more it falls to the scarcity of candidates side, the more likely you can skip an intermediate job to get there.)
Determine how to fill the gap
While school or more education might be required, most of the time formal education is not a requirement. There are exceptions, of course. If the dream job is being a surgeon, I certainly want you to have the required schooling… and the experience. And, by coincidence, so does the state. But if that is your dream (or similar pursuits), you already know that and can easily find strategies and help to accomplish that dream.
That said, most jobs really don’t require the formal education or training in order to get there. (Although, sometimes, formal training can shortcut your path to the dream job, it should not be the first plan on your list. Going back to school doesn’t bring in money while you are pursuing your dream job. Too many times, people think that more education is the answer. It is the answer only if you are fully utilizing what you have already learned and are still coming up short. Don’t rule it out, but don’t think it is the magic key… it isn’t.)
Most often, having a series of jobs (usually more than one… thus the series) is a surer path to the dream job. Identify the job that you are a good candidate for with your current skills and talents, but that also holds the opportunity to develop one or two crucial skills you are lacking. That is your likely candidate for your next job.
While you are planning, try to identify the job after that that you would be a good candidate for (including your newly soon-to-be-acquired skills)… that also holds the opportunity for growth toward your dream job. Do this over again until your “gap list” have been covered.
At this point, you will have a plan for getting to that dream job… and being in a position to get it and excel in it. Don’t forget that many skills cross industries…. so if one industry isn’t hiring, look for a similar job in an industry that is hiring.
In the next post, I’ll cover the last two points.
Don’t forget, if you need help right away, take a look at my coaching program. I have recently put together a package for job seekers that draws upon my years of experience both as a hiring manager and as a job seeker (during 3 different recessions). Your age and experience matter less in your job search than your attitude and drive. We will define your dream job, map out a plan to get there, and create a track record of success.
Other posts in this series:
Dream Job Help – Get a Strategy
Related posts:
Pingback: Tweets that mention Your Dream Job Success Strategy – Part 1 -- Topsy.com
Pingback: Your Dream Job Success Strategy – Part 2