Photo by Liz Ryan

By Cindy Bates
Freelance Writer

You’ve graduated. Now you can work in the big, wide world without the hindrance of being unqualified or being a full-time student. So what should you do with this new gift? You can go on benefits, living life penniless, or you can get a job and start working towards a better future.

Here are five ways to land your dream job:

1. Understand that you won’t get the job you want when you graduate

People who say that you’ll get your dream job when you graduate do not have your best interests at heart. If it’s that easy to get, why is it your dream job?

It’s going to take baby steps, and you’ll have to work at it for quite awhile. This may include taking a starter position or working different jobs until you’re experienced enough to start applying for the bigger leagues.

2. Sometimes you have to make your own dream job 

Usually, you have to start on the lower rungs before working your way up. However, what if there were another way? It’s possible to create your dream job entirely on your own, but you have to be smart about it!

First off, work a full-time job that’ll pay for groceries and rent while laying the foundation for your dream job in your spare time. Keep building on your foundation until the job is self-supporting. For example, if you want to be a sculptor,  make sculptures on your Sunday’s off until you have a large collection of works. Then, start selling the sculptures or molds to see if you have any takers. If you find yourself making a steady income, you may be able to knock-off your day job and become a full-time sculptor.

3. A one page CV is not suitable

You’re a fantastic person, so prove it!

CV, or curriculum vitae, is an overview of a person’s achievements, specifically in academia. If you are going for a minimum wage job, then a single-page CV is just fine. However, in order to get that job of a lifetime, one page won’t cut it. Your CV should be the size of a book, filled with colorful photos of yourself and examples that prove you’re qualified.

Make it an all-singing, all-dancing testament to you, the best employee that ever walked the Earth. Include videos of you winning awards, photographs of you shaking hands with the mayor and gif animations of you working a soup kitchen.

4. But what if I don’t have videos of me winning awards?

Those are just some examples of the materials you should be attaching to your CV. If you lack these features, you should be working towards them. Take speech lessons, or work on your look! You should even try helping out a local charity on your weekends. If something makes a good impression, pursue it. Go for gold! It’s never too late to enrich your CV!

5. Write a CV and cover letter directed to your dream job

In essence, your CV is a big piece of work aimed at convincing one company that you are perfect for them. Most people will copy and paste their CVs from one application form onto the next. For your dream job, your CV needs to be specifically personalized for that position. You’re not just generally displaying your skills. Directly address the company you’re applying to. Top employers aren’t looking for all-around great employees. They want to know why your achievements qualify you as a great employee for their company, specifically.

Cindy Bates works as a freelance writer and editor at “BestEssayTips.” She used to write articles that shared her knowledge and experience in the educational sphere.