Many people take any job they can find after graduation. In most cases, these are not their dream jobs and this leaves them stuck, bored and frustrated until they decide to pursue their dream job. Transitioning to your dream job often requires that you put a lot of pieces in place and that you get everything right before you make a move. Things can get very complicated as you do this, so here are a few tips that will make the transition easier.

Have a Clear Understanding of What Your Dream Job Is

A mistake a lot of people make is having an abstract rather than a concrete idea of what their dream job looks like or would entail. It is very important that you clearly understand what your dream job involves. This could include things like understanding what you want to get out of the job, where you would prefer to work, how you would prefer to work, and more.

Once you have a concrete understanding of your dream job, you then have to tailor your search to align with what you want out of the job.

Assess Your Skills and Upgrade If Necessary

In many cases, the job you want to transition to might have vastly different qualification requirements than the one you already have, or it may require some skills you might not have. To ensure that your transition is as smooth as possible, start by identifying the transferable skills you can bring to your new job.

When assessing your skills, make a list of all that is required of you in your new job. Compare the skills you have to the ones required to ensure you are the right fit for that particular job. Doing this ensures you have the best chance of landing the job. In some cases, your dream job might out of your reach because it requires some qualifications or skills you do not have.

If this is the case, the situation can be remedied by taking a postgraduate course or degree. Although most people will think of a Master’s degree when the phrase “postgraduate degree” is mentioned, there is a huge difference between postgraduate and master’s degrees and courses. Postgraduate is a blanket term that encompasses lots of different degrees, certificates and diplomas that you can pursue after graduating with your Bachelor’s degree.

In many cases, the skills you need to add to your repertoire can be gained from taking a PgCert. PgCerts (postgraduate certificates) are short courses at the level of a Master’s degree but that takes less time to complete. PgCerts are the perfect option when you need to make a job transition fast. If you know what skills you need to level up, you can do some research on a PgCert on Uni Compare to see if it is the right fit.

Switch to a Skill-Based CV

Although many employers want to know you are qualified for a position, most of them want to know how you can help them keep their business going and what benefits you afford them. Showing what you can do and what benefits you bring them will require that you tweak your CV to showcase this. For example, saying that you can create web content for the marketing department has more weight than saying you are a proficient writer.

In addition to your skills, you also need a section that highlights the contributions you have made in the past using the skills you have. Tweak your CV to be better aligned with the job you are applying for rather than the jobs you have done in the past.

Make Use of Your Personal and Professional Networks

In many cases, your dream job is just around the corner and you already know the person who can help you make the switch. Your personal network is a very important resource that should be maximised to its full potential. Start by talking to your virtual friends, colleagues, and people in industries you are interested in working in. If none of these people have any leads, you could ask them to connect you to their network of friends so you can find the people who can direct you to what you need.

While connecting with your networks, do not forget to talk to past employers. In addition to putting in a good word when called by potential employers, they can also give you some leads that can help you land your dream job.

Making the switch to your dream job can be challenging, but it is doable. If you put the right plans in place, ensure you are a great fit for the new role and do not stop the search, then finding and switching will be a lot easier.