Launch an Investigation

Learn more about the field or position you’re considering, in order to make sure your dream job is really what you want. Sometimes your idea for a dream job isn't what it's cracked up to be! Begin with those resources closest to you, including friends, business contacts and local company profiles. Move on to classified ads, job fairs, magazines and trade journals, which can all provide insight into what’s going on in a particular field or an industry.

However, remember to keep an open mind and be positive throughout your search. “It’s easy to make mistakes while looking for your dream job because of the pressure you put on yourself to find the exact fit,” says Reesa Staten, Senior Vice President at the Robert Half International staffing firm. “While you should strive to locate a position that matches this ideal, don’t automatically discard opportunities that don’t meet every criteria. A job with all of these characteristics may not exist. And by placing all of your focus on it, you may overlook positions that can prove fulfilling in other ways.”