5 Steps You Can Take Today to Land Your Dream Job Tomorrow

5 Steps You Can Take Today to Land Your Dream Job Tomorrow5 Steps You Can Take Today to Land Your Dream Job Tomorrow Almost 30 percent of 25- to 33-year-olds know what their dream job is, but they arent sure how to get it, according to LinkedIn .Are you one of them? If so, consider these five steps to landing your dream job.When Laura Mael was laid off from a banking job she liked in 2011, she did what many newly unemployed people do She regrouped.I found my dream job by evaluating what I really loved to do over my 25-year career and listing the things I wanted to keep doing as well as stop doing, said Mael, who works in public relations for a bank.There were 17 things on the positive side, and Mael gets to do all of them at her current job.Consider other strategies to ensure that the dream job youll be chasing is worth getting. Start by interviewing someone who currently holds the position you covet. Dont just ask how they got it. landsee if you can shadow them for a day or more so you can get afeel for what the job is really like.Rachel Carroll had the benefit of knowing during her college years that she wanted to be a designer. Upon graduation, she sought out a junior designer role only to be rebuffed.Before landing my dream job, I was an intern , said Carroll, whos the senior head of user experience (UX) at StudySoup. It isnt always easy pursuing an internship, as the demands are high, and many internships are unpaid or provide only a small stipend. But the payoff is invaluable.If you find yourself in Carrolls shoes, dont think internships are beneath you. They could lead right into your preferred role.If youve been out of college longer, see if you might have to retrace your steps to earn a different degree, continue your education , or take on an entry-level or midlevel position. You wont want to be disqualified by hiring managers for your dream job because you never gained a basic certification.Your roadmap should outline each step up to your ideal job. Carroll, for example, wanted to lead the UX team for her abflugup. So she started on a spectrum that included titles such as intern designer, UX or user interface designer and head of design.Make your career roadmap even more worthwhile by estimating how much time you should spend in each position. You can find hints by considering the job description for your dream role. The description could reveal what experience you need to qualify.Getting hands-on experience is imperative. It could prove to hiring managers that youve experienced - not just read about - everything you need to know for your ultimate gig. Itll also confirm your career choice for yourself. If Carroll didnt enjoy the ins and outs of UX design, for example, she probably wouldnt have loved managing a design team.Dont be afraid to switch employers if it keeps you pointed north on your roadmap. You wont be alone if youre mobile. Thirty-five percent of employees have switched jobs in the last three years, according to Gallup .Just remember that every former colleague and current co-worker is a connection that could help push you where you want to go. Include them as you network your way to the top .I started sharing with everyone, I love to do this, do you know anyone who needs someone who does this? said Mael.Now imagine interviewing for your dream job . Youre sitting across from a hiring manager, and they have your resume in one hand and the job description in the other.What isnt going to match up? Its healthy to ask yourself this question as you follow your roadmap - and before you start applying for your dream job.Mael, for example, had more than two decades of experience working toward her dream job as a public relations professional. However, she identified four gaps in her resume, including a lack of experience with TV or radio and a lack of connections with influencers in her field.One of Maels less-than-dream jobs on her way up the ladder, however, allowed her to i nterview C-level executives on-air. That experience helped her bridge some of the gaps on her resume.When critiquing your candidacy for your dream job, be hard on yourself. When you identify areas where youre lacking, strategize on how to improve. Volunteer to take on extra projects at work if you have to. Better yet, start a side hustle to build your expertise.Not everyones career path is as straight as Carrolls. Its likelier that your path will resemble Maels.Like Mael, its OK to be flexible. Your dream job could change as you gain experience and build connections. What you want to do today might be different from what you want to do in five or 10 years.As long as youre working in the right direction, youll end up in the right place - where your dream job will be waiting.This article was originally published on Student Loan Hero . It is reprinted with permission.