This is a guest post by Nikki Ruth

Did you know?

Audrey Hepburn wanted to become a ballerina. She was considered too tall and was advised not to continue.

Tom Cruise joined a seminary to become a priest. He was also a paperboy for the Louisville Courier-Journal.

Before Cameron Diaz made her acting debut in The Mask she toured the world as a model.

Walt Disney drove an ambulance for the Red Cross during World War I.

Johnny Depp worked as an over-the-phone pen salesman before he became an actor.

Celebrity careers rarely happen overnight and chances are your first job will not be your dream job, but one of many as you work your way to the top. It is possible to get your dream job. Here’s how.

1. Learn about yourself

Take time to do a self-assessment of your values and how you like to work. What’s most important to you? What do you want out of life and how do you want to be remembered? Then get specific. If you say you’re a good communicator, do you like talking informally to small groups of people or do you like making formal presentations? Now brainstorm around these findings and think about the different roles or activities you can use these skills in.

2. Do your research

Once you know the kind of career you’re looking for, start talking to people who have jobs in the industry you’re considering and find out what it’s really like. Ask them what they love and hate about their job. You might find that after these conversations, more careers will be crossed off your list and others might emerge.

3. Find a mentor

Find a mentor who has already succeeded at what you want to do and ask them how they achieved their dream job. A strong relationship with a mentor who is higher up in your company can open a lot of doors for you. You’ll learn a lot about the company and about the jobs you might want to get in the future. You’ll also have an ally who will be willing recommend you when you do decide to apply for a new opportunity.

4. Create an action plan

An action plan should contain S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time framed) objectives and actions and resources. Plot a path between your current position and the dream. This might involve some training or you might need to get out of what you’re doing so that you can work in a job that is more connected with your dream? If you keep getting rejected from your dream job, you are not ready yet and might need to take a ‘stepping stone’ job before you can move onto the next level.

5. Speak to a career coach

Seek the sound advice of a career professional to help you get closer to landing the job of your dreams. Career coaches can help you plan a change of direction, get your career off the ground with job hunting tactics, identify your career options, provide recommendations for your career development and might have an ‘in’ that helps you through the door!

I hope you found my tips useful.

Guest post by Nikki Ruth, CV Writer and founder of My CV and Me. Nikki provides cv writing and career skills workshops services. Follow her on Twitter @mycvandme

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