Remember when people used to ask you: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Well, maybe we should have thought a little harder before we answered.

I’m still meeting people who haven’t made any steps towards landing their dream job, or even worse they don’t know what their dream job is.

You don’t have to have it all together, you don’t have to have all the answers, but here’s why there’s no excuse not to be chasing your dreams.

1. The internet exists.
So anything you want to learn, I can pretty much guarantee there’s someone teaching it online, or advertising a class for it online that takes place offline.

You’d be surprised how much free knowledge people will give away either through their blog, a free webinar or on social media.

2. The internet exists.
So setting up your own online store, YouTube channel or blog is now easy as pie, and in some cases, completely free.

And you can go and find examples of great online stores, YouTube channels and blogs in your niche and see what they’re doing well, and not so well.

Clear your Twitter and Instagram feeds of celebrities and memes and start following people who are doing the job you want to do and working at the organisations you want to work at.

How do they spend their weekends? How did they get into the industry? Do they have any side hustles that make them more attractive to employers?

Specific tip for writers: start subscribing to blogs, podcasts and newsletters in your niche; whatever you consume affects your output too.

3. Google exists.
Do you know how many professions I’ve googled? There are so many articles out there that provide step by step guides on how to get into different industries. For example:

How to Be a Makeup Artist, from the Industry’s Top Players – Teen Vogue

How to Become a Wedding Planner: 4 Things to Consider Before You Get Started – Udemy

How to become a retail buyer – National Careers Service

So you can’t use the excuse of “I don’t know how to get into the… industry” for a second longer, sorry!

4. There is no set path anymore.
In days of old, if you wanted to be a journalist, you would need to work your way up from the bottom as an unpaid intern, going from rank to rank, or know someone in the industry.

These days if no one is willing to hire you, you can set up your own blog and self-publish, and could even jump into working at a publication in above the usual entry-level because of your experience.

With the above examples;

– If you want to be a makeup artist, start practising on your friends and family, take great pictures and upload them to a personal blog, with a description of what you used and what the occasion was. Then upload some of those images to your Instagram and Facebook accounts, with a link back to your blog.

Having a blog means you have more space to grow, write as much as you want and improve your SEO (how high your site comes up when people Google terms such as your name or ‘London makeup artist’.)

Just having social media accounts and no website is like building your house on someone else’s land. What happens if Instagram decides to delete your account, or shuts down? (Remember Myspace?) 

– If you want to be a wedding planner start researching the industry, figure out what training you might need, shadow someone who is already working as a successful wedding planner, and start a blog about the different aspects of weddings (alternative dress options, the best London caterers, checklists for bridesmaids) to show you know what you’re talking about.

– If you want to be a retail buyer start reading about the specific industry you want to buy for, see what the requirements are for assistant buyer jobs and start a blog about the marketing side of fashion, your reviews of student fashion shows, or your experiences while trying to get into the industry – people love to read about a struggle.

Notice how I advised you to start a blog no matter what industry you want to get into?

That’s because employers expect so much more from potential employees now, and if you can prove you’re dedicated, passionate and know enough about the industry to frequently update a blog, that can only help your application. Don’t forget, employers will be googling you.

And if you want to work for yourself and be your own boss, blogging is one of the best online marketing tools out there.

5. Time is on your side
In 2016 there are so many time saving and organisational tools that there’s no excuse not to be making the most of your time after work, before work and at the weekends.

Be honest about how long things take, and plan your weeks ahead of time.

 

What’s your dream job, and how close are you to landing it? Let me know in the comments.

You can now sign up to my email list to receive my free workbook on how to market your content effectively on and offline: http://eepurl.com/b2rdHP 

 

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” – Proverbs 16:3