5 Tips for Finding a Job in Your Field

By Chase Pattison on December 20, 2011

You study what you love, right? And you want to find a job doing what you studied. You want to find a job that can utilize your talents and interests, one where you won’t be bored. But the economy sucks. There are NO jobs out there in your field, even if you can tell what jobs ARE in your field. Whatever the case, everyone is telling you to find a stop-gap; something you can do until you find the mysterious ‘perfect’ job. Do something normal. Be a banker or a manager or a receptionist.

No. You don’t want to do that. You don’t want to be stuck managing the Chick-Fil-A for the rest of your life. But you don’t want to starve either. How can you find your perfect job? How can you resist the temptation to just DO something?

1. Don’t Settle – First off, don’t settle. Don’t give up on your dreams. There is a perfect job out there for you; you just have to resist the urge to settle for the ‘okay’ job or the job that offers you tons of money. Better to be poor and happy then rich and miserable, right? Don’t give in to naysayers who predict your demise. Your perfect job will pay enough. You just have to find it.

2. Explore – Don’t cramp yourself. Stretch out and explore things only marginally related to your field. You’ll be surprised at what the job actually entails. Some advertised jobs look like nightmares and yet turn out to be pieces of cake, and vice versa. Don’t rely on the summary or the ad. Go to lots and lots of interviews. Even if you are overqualified or under-qualified. If they agree to meet with you, then they might offer you some other job you never even knew about. And don’t be afraid to share talents that may seem useless. Mention your interests and what you are good at on your resume. It can lead to opportunities.

3. Keep Looking – Don’t give up. After four months, after six months, heck, after a year, keep looking. You might have to work at the Micky D’s to make ends meet, but so be it. Better to find the perfect job then get stuck in one you hate but rely on for money. That doesn’t mean you can’t get a good-paying job. Just remember to keep actively looking for your dream job even when you have stable work. Your dream job will probably not pay you as much, so don’t be lured away by the money.

4. Aim High, Look Low – Always keep in mind your goal job, but apply for ones below it. If you want to get to the top, a lot of times you’re going to have to work your way up. Don’t get depressed, sometimes you will apply for the low job and get hired for the higher job. Take a chance and don’t forget that almost everyone is flexible. They may offer minimum wage but be willing to double it when they see your degree and enthusiasm. Nothing is set in stone.

5. Know Thyself – If you don’t know what you’re looking for then how are you going to find it? Don’t trap yourself by focusing just on what you majored in. You can find a job in something you are good at, something you have a passion for, or something you just wished you could learn how to do. Don’t pass up opportunities, even if they don’t seem to fit with what you want. Any experience is good experience and can open the door to your perfect job down the road. You might find out your perfect job is something you never imagined.

To sum up, don’t give up. Your perfect job is out there, but you WILL have to fight for it. Keep looking, broaden your horizons, and find yourself. You may run across adventures that you would have never had if you just settled for the first job that paid well.

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