How To Find Your Dream Job: A Step-By-Step Guide

Many people dream of finding employment that reflects one of their passions. Others seek stability, flexible working hours or a job that provides a certain salary. Whatever your dream job is, turning it into reality involves a lot of work and effort. In this article, we explain how to find your dream job and offer some tips to help you identify what you want from your career.

How to find your dream job

You may be wondering how to find your dream job. Follow these six steps to learn how to find your dream job:

1. Identify your hard skills

The first step on the pathway to discovering what your dream job is is determining what your strengths are. Not only does this give you confidence that you can succeed in your chosen role, but it also allows you to pinpoint the areas in which you thrive. There is a range of skills you may want to identify, such as technical skills and soft skills.

Technical skills are known as practical skills in a certain profession or activity and are usually improved through training and first-hand practice. Also known as hard skills, technical skills are typically quantifiable in some measure, such as by certification or a similar level of proficiency.

Examples of technical skills include:

• invoicing

• copyediting

• marketing planning

• using spreadsheets

• commercialisation

• video editing

• data analysis

• risk management

• web development

• using HTML

2. Identify your soft skills

Conversely, soft skills are the skills also commonly referred to as interpersonal skills. These soft skills are exactly quantifiable, but you can demonstrate them in the way you act. Some of the most popular soft skills among employers include:

• leadership

• communication

• time management

• creativity

• flexibility

• decisiveness

• conflict resolution

• teamwork

• confidence

• situational awareness

One of the best ways to find out what are your strengths is to ask those closest to you to describe you. They can offer a more balanced view of your character and describe your strengths in greater detail. Another advantage of identifying your stronger skills early in the pursuit of your dream job is that it simultaneously allows you to discover the areas that need further development.

Related: The Top 10 Employability Skills That Will Help You Get the Job You Want

3. Explore where these strengths could lead you

Once you have pinpointed your individual strengths, you may be able to narrow down the industries or sectors in which you would feel comfortable working. For instance, if you demonstrate great time management skills and you're proficient in word processing software, you're probably suited to an industry such as publishing or copywriting.

On the contrary, if you feel like your strengths lie in your creativity and knowledge of HTML, a career in one of many digital technology industries may be better suited to you. There is a broad variety of industries that are continually developing thanks to exceptional employees paving the way forward. Some of the many industries and sectors you could find your dream job in include:

• agricultural and horticultural

• energy and mining

• healthcare and medicinal

• arts and design

• retail and wholesale

• financial and banking

• hospitality and tourism

• building and construction

• education and social work

• creative and heritage

Each of these industries offers something unique, so it's important that you look at all the ones you believe would match the specifications for your dream industry. From there, you can narrow down specific roles.

4. Research roles that you could thrive in

So, you've narrowed down your dream job hunt to a particular industry. Your next step is to research the various roles that help that industry to operate properly. Each role works in tandem with one another and, without them, it might be incredibly difficult to function in the same way.

Alongside researching the roles for your dream job, it's also recommended that you research the various companies within that industry. Whether you intend to apply for one of the big names or a smaller, more independent business, narrowing down your scope allows you to focus on your dream career with a renewed clarity.

5. Take a chance and go for it

If you've identified your strengths, narrowed down the industry you wish to work in and pinpointed the scale of business you would like to work with, it's time to get to work applying for your dream job.

When applying for any job, it's important that you don't put all your efforts into a single opportunity. Especially if it's in a competitive field or with a prestigious company, it's crucial that you view your dream job as an end goal to work towards. With this in mind, also apply for the job openings that allow you to get one step closer to making your dream job a reality, be it through building connections or by gaining essential experience. Your dream job may also change as you become more and more knowledgeable in the industry, which is natural.

6. Assert yourself with confidence

Finding your dream job isn't an overnight process. It can take days, weeks, months or even years to totally recognise what is your dream job in life. Once you identify this goal, you can start to work towards it. When you start your journey towards earning your dream job, confidence is key. Trust in your strengths and continue being driven to achieve what you have worked hard for.

What does a dream job look like to you?

No two people are the same, so dream jobs can be very different depending on your background and personality. While there may be a lot of common ground between your dream job and someone else's, it still remains individual to you. Before you start trying to find your dream job, it's important that you ask yourself what you want from your career:

• Is it the ability to progress into a higher paid job?

• Is it a steady income, good weekly hours and a pension scheme?

• Is it the freedom to express yourself in a creative or investigative manner?

Once you realise what you need from your dream job in order to feel fulfilled by it, you can begin the process of finding out the perfect career for you.

Related: 14 of the Most Fun Jobs in the World

Tips to help you find a dream job

While looking for your dream job, there are a number of other considerations to keep in mind. In doing so, you can ensure that your search remains focused and driven by the right things. Below are five of the other tips to consider while searching for your dream job:

What motivates you

Everyone is motivated by something different. It's crucial that you keep your individual motivations in mind while finding your dream job. For instance, if you're driven by your passion for combating climate change, it makes little sense that your dream job is at an oil corporation.

Your passions

Beyond what you're good at, your dream job might reflect something you're passionate about. After all, you're working for a big part of your life. That's why your dream job may be something you enjoy and wish to continue developing in as you grow.

Your goals

Whether it's a certain skill you've always wanted to learn or a certain age by which you wish to become a homeowner, your dream job might be something that helps you to achieve your goals. Your dream job doesn't have to contribute to all of your goals, but it's beneficial if it contributes to at least one of them. If not, you may need to consider alternatives.

Related: Highest Paying Jobs in the UK

Your hobbies

Of course, you're more than just your employment. You likely have a range of hobbies that you enjoy in your own time, be it alone or with friends. But your hobbies can offer invaluable insight into your character. In doing so, they can play a vital role in helping you to find your dream job.

Your legacy

Everyone has an idea of the mark they would like to leave on the world. Whether it's a small legacy between your friends and family or you have goals of leaving a legacy far greater than your roots, your dream job might be something that helps you shape your legacy into what you intend. Carefully consider how your dream job affects the world around you and whether it contributes to your legacy in a positive way.

Related:

• How to find your dream career (with steps and questions)