Ever pictured yourself doing something you’ve always loved to do? We can all relate to this because growing up, we had vague ideas of what we wanted to be, although it was usually skewed towards the ‘Doctor-Lawyer-Pilot-Engineer’ talk. How do you get jobs like these?

Now as a young adult you probably have figured out that you don’t really want to be any of these, but instead you want to pursue a career in Journalism, be a Marketer or an Accountant. For most people, the goal is to get jobs easily, but you’ll also agree that the deeper goal is to get that dream job. Right, so how do you pursue this dream job? Consider the tips below.

1. Challenge Yourself

Mental psyche is important when you want to chase after your dreams, especially when these dreams seem way too big for you to reach. While you understand that it may take time to get to the top, know that everything is possible with the right attitude and determination. Set small targets and work your way into achieving them task by task.

2. Develop the Interest and Skills

If it’s something you have been hoping to do for a long time, then the interest will be there. But if you had interest in it at some point in your life but went on a different career path, then you might need to rekindle that interest and decide if it’s something you still want to do before you make any decisions.

3. Read Around it

Be knowledgeable. Keep up with industry news and trends relating to your dream job. For example, if your dream is to be a Human Resource Professional, then you will have to read and be well-informed on latest HR practices and industry trends.

4. Get a Formal Education

Once you have made up your mind and decided to pursue an interest in a specific career field, you must add value to yourself, and one way to do that is to have a formal education. There are many short courses and top-up programs that are available to individuals who are seeking to learn or gain professional recognition in certain areas of their career. Take advantage of this to get ahead in your career.

5. Be Ready to Take Risks

Letting go of a familiar job to pursue new interests is a risk you must be willing and ready to take. Although there may not be any surety that you will succeed, there’s also no guarantee that you will fail. Instead of asking yourself ‘What if I fail?’, focus on the positive ‘what if I make it?’.  Have a positive mindset while giving it your best shot.

6. Network

Find and follow people who are experts in providing insight into the career you want to pursue. It is easier to do this with social media and professional networking sites like LinkedIn. When possible, attend networking events, connect with, and make physical contact with people already in that field. Listen to them share their experiences. Tell them what you want to do and ask them for their opinion or advice in helping you realize your dream.

Pursuing your dream job can be hard, but knowing what your passion is, makes it a lot easier. Don’t live the rest of your life thinking about what you could have, should have, or would have done. Go out there and get excited about what you do!