How To Get Your Dream Job

By Matt Miller via Forbes
11/28/2012

Before any soon-to-be-college grads out there head straight for their parents basement, please know that despite what you hear about the job market and the unemployment rate and whatever else is abysmal right now, it’s actually possible to get a job — even a good one.

I didn’t go to an Ivy League school, graduate top of my class, or really have the best grades, but I was able to land my dream job before graduating college.

What it takes being able to harness the technology-based job seeking tools of 2012, along with understanding the traditional, time-tested skills of working hard and meeting professionals in your field.

Here’s how I did it:

Find Something You Want To Do

Logically, the first step in getting a job is actually knowing what you might want to get a job doing. Crazy, right?

It’s a bit surprising how many students go to college and complete a few years before even declaring a major. I was lucky enough to know I wanted to write since I was a little kid.

With that goal I was able to take steps early to learn about how to find a job and what to do to prepare for post-graduation. College doesn’t last forever (well, at least it’s not supposed to). Really, it’s shocking how fast you’ll be wondering what to do with that diploma.

Have a goal of where you want to see yourself after college, then talk to the right professors, get involved in applicable extra curricular activities and start building those experiences and skills early.

Be Willing To Work For Free

Internships, paid or otherwise, are without a doubt the most important thing a college student can do to become a valuable potential hire when entering the job market — sometimes more important than actually going to class.

Yes, they can be stressful and sometimes even a little bit degrading, but these types of positions are the only things that show you have some real world experience and you can work in a professional environment.

The key is do as many as you can — the more on your resume the better you look, and once you’re there be prepared, happy even, to do the grunt work with a smile. You will show people in your chosen field that you’re a hard worker, which translates to a good reference down the road and possibly even a job where you’re interning. Read full article >>