If you want to change jobs, why not make this the year that you go after your dream job.

Different job seekers have different ideas of what makes a position a "dream job," so we are referring to any job that provides what you need and want. 

For some workers that simply means decent pay and job security. For others, it may mean flexible hours, variety, excitement, teamwork, recognition, being in control, making a difference, being creative, or whatever you need to feel fulfilled in your work.

If you don't have the right combination of skills and experience, your dream job can be difficult to land in any economy. But "difficult" doesn't mean "impossible." If you can show an employer how you can help them solve a problem or increase revenues, you may be able to create the job you want. 

To create a job, look for companies that could benefit from having you as an employee. Your chances are likely to be best with small growing companies which need help but are unlikely to be inundated with unsolicited job applications. (Large or well-known companies may receive thousands of resumes every year.) 

Read the business pages of local news sites to keep up with news about companies that are active and growing. Visit companies' websites to learn what they do, what their goals are, and what they are looking for in employees. Then consider what skills and knowledge you have that the company could benefit from. 

For example, someone looking at our website, FabJob.com, would see from our company information that we want people to know we have received a lot of publicity in the media. Based on that fact, you might guess that we would be interested in hearing from job-seekers who have skills and experience that could help us get even more publicity -- and you would be right!

Once you have a sense of what you have to offer a company, you will need to deal directly with someone who has the authority to hire new people. This does not mean contacting the human resources department of a large company, unless that is the department you want to work with. The human resources department fills positions that already exist. 

If you want to create a new position, you will need to speak with the appropriate department manager or, in the case of a smaller company, the owner of the company or someone who works closely with the owner. 

You will need to meet with this person and gather more information about what their needs are in order to figure out how you can create value for them. But in order to do so, you'll need to get them to agree to a meeting. 

It's best if you can establish a relationship with someone through networking. However, you may even be able to connect with an employer through cold calling. Where possible, refer to yourself as a "professional" by giving yourself a job title that represents the type of work you want to do for the company. Here's an example of the type of message you might leave on someone's voicemail. 

Hello <name of employer>, this is Jo Jobhunter. I am a <job title, e.g. "customer service professional"> and would like to meet with you to discuss how I could help <name of company> cut customer service costs. Please call me at <your phone number> so we can schedule a time to meet. 

One way to prove your value to an employer is with a "working interview." You can have a working interview by volunteering to spend a day or more doing the job you would be hired for. Here's how one applicant pitched us in an email application for a marketing position: 

"If you are uncertain of my qualifications or fit within FabJob I am willing to provide a week of my time for a working interview during which I would carry out the day to day functions of the position on a volunteer basis." 

So show employers that you have what they are looking for in any economy, and you may soon have your own dream job.

Tag and Catherine Goulet are founders of FabJob.com, a publisher of career guides offering step-by-step advice for breaking into a variety of dream careers. Visit www.FabJob.com to discover how to break into the career of your dreams. 

Sisters Tag and Catherine Goulet are co-founders of FabJob.com, a publisher of guides on how to break into a dream career. Visit www.FabJob.com to discover how to break into your dream career.


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