By Kiplinger
The happy campers profiled on these pages found their fields of dreams by figuring out what they really wanted to do -- and then daring to do it. Although that may sound easy, most people never get past square one, says Elizabeth Kanna, an entrepreneur who advises candidates on career makeovers at her Web site The Dream in You. "Often people pursue a smaller dream because they think thats safer," says Kanna.
Take stock of your assets. Write down your strengths, weaknesses, skills, experience, interests and values, recommends Virginia Kravitz, a job coach in Rocky Hill, Conn. "If you summarize it for yourself, ideas start to form."
Network, network, network. Talk to all the people you know -- and all the people they know -- who are working in your target field. In the latest edition of "What Color Is Your Parachute?," author Richard Bolles recommends this strategy as a way to find out more about your dream gig upfront and enlist a support team. If friends dont suffice, join a networking group, such as the Five OClock Club (800-538-6645; $50 per month) or the 40-Plus Club (202-387-1582; $600 initiation fee and $30 per month).
Volunteer or work as a temp. Thats a time-honored way to test the waters and enhance your marketability. Bitten by the political bug, Matt Wilson was a volunteer for Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., during Gephardts presidential campaign. His efforts earned him a paid job with Gephardt until the candidate bowed out.
Go back to school. Harriet Siew attended culinary school full-time to earn her bona fides in the food industry. She discovered that she liked everything about the field except restaurant work and ended up working on a cooking show.
Take advantage of your day job. Instead of quitting right away, Kravitz suggests taking on different roles at your current place of employment while putting the rest of your strategies in place: "Tell yourself, Ive got my skills inventory, Im networking, taking a class, saving money, and when the opportunity arises, Im going to go for it."
Toot your horn. Dont spread your rsum around; rather, target only promising jobs that turn up while youre networking, recommends Spencer Niles, president of the National Career Development Association. Keep it brief -- under one page if you have fewer than five years experience, or two pages if your job history is longer. Avoid irrelevant details, and be specific about your accomplishments. For more tips, see the "Damn Good Resume Guide" by Yana Parker or go to www.damngood.com.
Consult a pro. If the do-it-yourself approach seems daunting, consider a few sessions with a certified career counselor who has an advanced degree in counseling and, preferably, specialized training in career development. Counselors take an analytical approach to job quests, discussing past work experience and interpreting personality tests in office sessions that run $50 to $150 an hour (to find a counselor, go to www.ncda.org).
Hire a coach. For retainers starting at $200, these pros act more like cheerleaders, often relying on phone chats or e-mail to provide encouragement and advice. Ask about professional credentials. Among the programs offering more extensive training are Coach U and MentorCoach.
Get a makeover. Lynne Markes of the London Image Institute, in Atlanta, charges $150 an hour to prep clients for interviews and to give wardrobe advice. "You must look current," she says. To find a consultant, contact the Association of Image Consultants International (972-755-1503).
Return to "Dream jobs -- and how to get one"
-- Contributing to this article: Jane Bennett Clark, Kimberly Lankford, Sean Oneill, Robert Otterbourg And Catherine Siskos, Elizabeth Kountze 2004, The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc.
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