Complete Guide to Designing & Getting Your Dream Job in 2018

Define your dream job through a reflective exercise that examines childhood ambitions and early work expectations, challenging preconceived notions and social constraints to reveal what you truly want.

Define your dream job by separating the process from the product, document your answers with the pvc framework—purpose, benefit, chalk—and ask deep, non yes-no questions that spark human-centered innovation.

Use the career planning matrix to define what you like, what you don't like, what you want, what you don't want in work, and your non-negotiables.

Reflect on your exercise outcomes, recognizing challenges and valuable insights as you prepare for the job hunt; stay disciplined about what you apply for based on what you learned.

Define what you want, envision who you want to be, and complete the career playing matrix through introspection and impact questions to clarify non-negotiable values.

Design your dream job by drafting a core job description that captures company values, product or service, and industry. Prioritize culture fit and define responsibilities, objectives, and salary terms.

Analyze how a well-constructed job description outlines the company culture, role, responsibilities, and benefits, including perks like 401k and health benefits, to guide your own description.

Write your ideal job description by defining your ideal company, ideal role, and responsibilities, then align benefits and non-negotiable values through an honest self-conversation in 10–15 minutes.

Apply Rachel Richardson's four editing drafts—skeleton, overstuffed couch, pancake, and lively mass—to tighten your job description, refine with peer feedback, and craft a clear, presentable description.

Turn your dream job into a tangible, written description with feedback and core components. Analyze real examples to prepare for your job hunt and craft your positioning statement.

Define your positioning statement to shape how others feel about you and guide your content, choose the right platforms, and stay on brand with your audience.

Write your own positioning statement by answering: what you do, what that means, and how you do that, in two to three sentences, to sound aspirational.

Define your personal brand by identifying your core desired feeling and life motto, then craft your authentic message and content strategy, including a positioning statement, across key platforms.

Wrap up the lesson on personal branding and your positioning statement, complete the exercise, and learn where to use it as you prepare for networking.

Reframe networking as relationship building and master authentic outreach by building relationships, starting with familiar connections, using email templates, and arranging one-on-one meetings to align values.

Discover how to write effective thank you notes—handwritten and digital—that reinforce networking by recounting the conversation, detailing your connection, giving a genuine compliment, and including a respectful ask.

Prepare by researching attendees, identify at least five targets, and limit conversations to three to five minutes to convert chats into future meetings.

Create a target list of leaders representing your three core values, track outreach and meetings, and build your mentor network through thoughtful, daily connections.

Master networking as a core career skill, using do's and don'ts, templates, and strategies to expand your connections, even if you're an introvert.

Build your online presence to attract employers, showcase your skills with a digital portfolio, stay accessible across platforms, and create value through consistent, clear positioning.

Iterate quickly to pick one or a few channels you enjoy and that align with your strengths, then consistently contribute and repurpose content to reach your target audience.

Complete your LinkedIn profile by filling all sections, using a clear professional image, crafting a value prop headline, and highlighting impact with metrics; add personality, media, recommendations, and contact details.

Review the impact of your online presence, build a strong LinkedIn profile, and align it with your non-negotiable values, positioning statement, and the ideal job description.

Craft an electric resume that stands out in a sea of applications by using clear headlines, surprising visuals, and a whole-person profile with work experience, side projects, volunteering, and hobbies.

Craft an electric résumé that shows how you fit the job you want, using tactics to stand out and position yourself for the role. Utilize the resume template in resources.

Explore the framework for designing your dream job and career planning metrics, draft a dream job description, and build a personal brand, networking plan, and electric résumé.

Practice self-care and stay positive during your job search while identifying top opportunities, landing in-person interviews with practical templates, and negotiating your best offer.

Remember your value and keep working on your craft while staying connected to your community. View rejection as redirection, stay positive, and use downtime to explore and grow.

Learn why self-care matters for presenting your best self, moving forward in your career, and engaging your community as you explore the reading list and prepare for interviews.

Discover opportunities through publications and local blogs, and assess culture during interviews with questions that reveal work-life balance, leadership, collaboration, and decision making.

Learn to maximize referrals by saying thank you in twos, following up promptly, and paying it forward with handwritten notes and thoughtful gifts, building your path to your dream job.

Review key strategies for finding opportunities by culture, screening for fit, and leveraging referrals, with tactics, resources, pay it forward, and best practices to boost your job search.