The Workplace: Part 2

Last month, I posted “The Workplace: Part 1," https://thefallfromgrace.wixsite.com/blog/post/the-workplace-part-1. The post was all about navigating through the beginnings of your career, and this one is all about the steps you can take to get to your dream career.

I’ve recently helped a lot of people navigate through the first steps in their careers, and the advice has been attained through a great deal of trial and error. I switched my career path multiple times and explored industries I can no longer see myself working in. Here are my greatest takeaways that eventually catapulted me to where I am today--a full-time job secured:

1. Figure out what you don’t like. Make a list of all the careers you don’t see yourself in, and find the commonalities in all of them. For me, the common thread across the careers I didn’t want to do was dressing in business professional. I hated the idea of going to work in a full suit or blazer. Now I work in advertising, where people wear graphic tees to work.

2. Take a risk and apply to jobs that interest you, even in the slightest. Social media was a path that piqued my interest right away as I transitioned into marketing. My first internship was in social media marketing, and I realized that I loved copywriting and creating content. However, I didn’t see myself working in it forever. I wouldn’t have realized it had I not gained that experience.

3. Applying to a lot of jobs? Make a spreadsheet. Include the link to the job posting, the title, points of contact, what you included in your application, and when the app is due. Organizing yourself for success is the first step to a successful career.

4. Go to networking events. Your school might offer these events with big companies or host them off-site through corporate office visits. Take advantage of those opportunities and go. Even if you’re nervous or going alone, remember that all experience is good experience. Do your research on the company (learn about the company culture, recent news, industry trends) and bring multiple copies of your resume. Talk to the quietest person in the room. And follow up via email.

5. Subscribe to newsletters. Get a daily digest on industry news you find exciting. For some of my resources / suggestions, see here: https://thefallfromgrace.wixsite.com/blog/resources. Read about the topics that interest you on your commute and figure out if it’s worth dedicating a career towards.

6. Network with and learn from people you know. Chances are, you know someone in the industry you’re interested in. Connect with alumni from your school via LinkedIn, and ask about chatting about the industry and their work. You can even do this with someone you know who might be a little older and still in school. Everyone is at a certain stage in their career, and an upperclassman might be someone you’re more comfortable talking to.

7. Join a professional club. For me, that was my fraternity. For you, it might be the same or a marketing or finance club with a huge network of people to learn from. These clubs are made up of people in the same boat as you, still figuring it out, and there’s unity in numbers.

8. Still lost? Take a career test. Check out this quick one: https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/careers/career-quiz. Ask your friends and family what they see you doing. Don’t like their answers? Then don’t do that. Never heard of their career suggestions? Time to research.

Regardless of what you decide to do and try, it’s still entirely up to you to find the career for you. Your dream job will not come knocking at your door, and if it does you better open the door immediately. However, if you’re like a lot of us and have to figure it out, take the above steps and find what you’re looking for.