Attract Your Dream Job: What’s Holding You Back?
“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.”
– Albert Einstein
Too many people settle for mediocrity, ending up stuck in a rut and working in a spiritually and mentally unfulfilling job. Rather than going for what they really want to do, there is always some reason for why they cannot attain their dream career or life experience. Do any of these sound familiar?
- I’m too old to change
- I don’t have the time
- I’m not clever enough
- I can’t afford to do what I really want to do
- I will wait for an upturn in the economy
These excuses, and others like them, conveniently hide the real reason for inertia, the fear of change that holds all of us back at some point in life. It is easy to let this fear take over, letting it prevent you from fulfilling your innermost desires.
As with anything in life, if you want to overcome fear, break your goals into small, manageable tasks and take action on them one at a time. There is always a way to reach your goal, but the important factor is to know your destination before you set out on the road. Once you have that, everything else will fall into place.
If you truly know what you want from your career, yet you are not moving towards that goal, here are a few tips to help you on your way.
“The fight is won or lost far away from the witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.”
– Muhammad Ali
Simple Strategies for Attracting Your Dream Job
- Learn by Example: Do you already know someone who is doing what you dream of, a person who will be willing to share some of their knowledge with you? Are there any role models, mentors, or coaches that you can learn from? Study what others have done and don’t be afraid to ask iquestions. Once you know what you want to achieve, you just need to plan the route!
- Seek Out Supportive People: Surround yourself with people who support your dream 100%. There is no harm in having somebody prepared to inject some realism, but there will always be naysayers who always seem to point out what can go wrong yet never point out what can go right.
- Break A Large Job Into Smaller Jobs: Keep your eye on the ultimate destination, but try to avoid taking on too many tasks at once. If you try to accomplish too much too quickly, you risk burning out and never getting there. Break down your dream goal into smaller, achievable aims and, with a simplified plan in place, you can slowly but surely chip away at the task.
- Get a Foot in the Door: In the long run, it is better to take a step towards your dream career rather than stick with the dead-end job, even if it means taking a financial hit. Sometimes, you can tighten your belt and make do with less for a while – failing that, you can look at dedicating a few hours a week to studying and gaining experience.
- Improve Communication: Improving your communication and people skills can be the catalyst for propelling you towards the career you really want. Good communication will help you to get your points across clearly, helping you to become well respected.
- Make Yourself Stand Out: It always helps if you are seen as the type of person who goes the extra mile, with a refreshing ‘Can Do’ attitude. If you are to be interviewed for a specific job, study the objectives and skills required, ensuring that you have the right qualities and skillset to be the perfect match. If you lack some of the skills, show that you are willing to take the initiative and acquire them.
- Take Action: There may be a number of things that hold you back from applying for your dream job. Identify these causes and eliminate them, recognizing what you are afraid of so that you can cast aside anything that stands between you and your dreams.
If you hear a voice within you say “you cannot paint,”
Then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.
– Vincent Van Gogh
Thinking Laterally: A Few Career-Changing Ideas
- Job Fairs: These are a great way to discover new careers and hunt down opportunities. You will be able to determine which companies are hiring, and find out if you need to go back to school for specialized training.
- Career Assessment: Take advantage of the various career assessment options, including free career tests online. After answering a few questions about your personality, preferences, and skills, you will receive a list of potential jobs that match your talent and temperament.
- Take a Class: Going back to school can cost money, but it is an investment in your greatest asset: yourself! If you find that you enjoy a class, you know that you have found the perfect career. If not, you can move onto something else, with no harm done.
- Network: Connect with people on FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other similar sites. This will help you to find the right people, and opportunities can arise when you are least expecting them.
The Power of Patience: Dreams Can Take A Little Time to Manifest
Once you have made a list of actions that will move you towards your goal, you can start the process, even if it is very much a long-term investment. Set your plan into motion immediately, starting your research, setting up a savings account, or finding a mentor. These small tasks can help you to build an unstoppable momentum that will sweep you to your final destination.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal:
It is the courage to continue that counts.”