7 Reasons Why People Can’t Land Their Dream Job

A dream job is like being in heaven. You wake up most days feeling excited, looking forward to using your talents to create something unique. You feel inspired – and it shows in your work. You’re not afraid to go the extra mile, because you love your work and you know you’ll reach the top someday.

But everything comes with a price. You need to pay your dues to get that dream job. If you have the right mindset and you work hard, nothing can stop you.

Still, plenty of folks out there can’t land their desired profession. Here are seven reasons why.

 

Why People Can’t Land Their Dream Job

1.) They love the comfort zone.

We all love our comfort zones to a certain degree. After all, when you’re already earning $60,000 from your job, why would you need change, right? You can afford drinks on the weekend, take a vacation every year, and have an enjoyable life.

Why chase your dream job, especially when success in that direction isn’t promised?

The problem is that little comfort in the short-run can bring huge discomfort in the long-run. A little comfort from your current job provides financial security. But it also steals your chance to become who you were meant to be.

If you run a car repair shop, but you’ve always wanted to be a musician, the security is not worth giving up on your dreams. It is not only a disservice to yourself, but also to the people you will inspire with your passion.

 

2.) They don’t know their dream job.

You won’t hit a target you can’t see. So it is important to know in which direction you’re going. Most people never take the time to decide what they want. All they have is a vague idea. But they never figure out the path it will take to get there.

As Tony Robbins says,

“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.”

You need to take that vague idea, work on it, and set measurable, specific goals for the short- and long-term. For example, if you want to become an astronomer, your short-term goal may be to find the right college program.

 

3.) They believe in overnight success.

There’s no such thing as overnight success. Michael Phelps worked every single day for five years before he became a legend – that’s more than 1,800 days of continuous work without missing a single day.

It took Kevin Hart 19 years of rejection to reach where he is today. He was told repeatedly that he’s not good enough. He is now worth hundreds of millions of dollars – but he worked hard for two decades to reach that point.

If you can’t commit to your dreams for the next five years, you don’t really want them. In this situation, it’s better to explore other things until you find something worth committing to.

 

4.) They can’t sell themselves.

If you want to get that dream job, you have to learn to sell yourself. It’s not about being slick or acting like a snake oil salesman. It’s about knowing your true worth, being authentic, and letting recruiters know that you can bring results.

You need to master the application process. You have to learn how to write a persuasive cover letter to make a strong first impression. You also need to know how to answer tough interview questions.

This ensures that you don’t sweat and flinch when the tension levels get high during the interview. The key here is to trust in your preparation.

 

5.) They don’t network.

You’d be surprised to know that 71 percent of recruiters hire new employees via referrals. But at the same time, only 7 percent of employees actually ask for a referral.

This is expected, because sitting behind a laptop and sending out job applications with a few clicks is easier, than reaching out to your friends and acquaintances for referrals.

It’s possible that your close friends don’t know anyone they can refer you to. But they may know someone who can. The best way to approach the person is to ask about their opinion of the company. If they love working there, ask them how you can get your resume in the right hands.

 

6.) They are afraid of failure.

Failure is tricky, but only until you understand it. It disrupts your flow by telling you that your hard work and efforts have gone to waste. But the truth is that your efforts can never go to waste – as long as you learn from them.

Each failure brings with it a lesson, an opportunity to grow and realize your full potential. If you want to get that dream job, you’ve got to stop thinking about the reasons you can’t do it. That’s fear speaking to you.

If you want to win over fear, act courageously. According to Brian Tracy, the law of reversibility says that if you act in a courageous manner, your brain will create the feeling of courage in your heart. You will feel strong inside. So even if you’re afraid, act courageously and your brain will affirm that you are no longer afraid.

The key here is to move toward your fears. When you run away, it just grows as your confidence shrinks. When you run towards fear, it shrinks and your confidence grows.

 

7.) They worry about money.

Many people never take a chance at their dream job because they think it won’t pay their bills. But this is not true. Whether you want to become a writer, dancer, a fire-fighter, or a professional athlete, you can always monetize your passion.

Still, choosing your passion is a double-edged sword. Some passions aren’t very lucrative. That’s where you need to check your priorities. If you have kids to raise and you need lucrative income, it may be best to keep your passion as a hobby.

Or perhaps you can have both by doing multiple jobs or running a side business. For example, a dancer can offer classes during the day and work as a freelance writer during the evening.

It will be hard, but it will be worth it. You may have to downsize a little and kill your desire to buy fancy possessions. But you will have freedom – something that no amount of money can buy.

The post 7 Reasons Why People Can’t Land Their Dream Job appeared first on Everyday Power Blog.