Be specific about what you want. Don’t make a blind search hoping to make the right connection. For whom do you want to work? Write down your objectives and narrow the search to pursue those aims. Don’t spend time on positions that don’t fit your objectives.
Don’t hesitate to seek advice. Ask for help from individuals who are already engaged in the sort of work you want. Even if the companies in which you are interested are not currently seeking employees, try to schedule some time with those who can fill you in on the realities. Getting a foot in the door may pay off when the company is ready for active hiring. And if you are able to spend some time with a person able to share their expertise, be sure you express your thanks with a hand-written thank-you.
Expect that you will have a number of interviews before you are hired. After each interview, analyze the experience and see if you can identify the elements that seemed to impress the interviewer and which did not. Work on the responses that fell short. Make each interview an opportunity to learn what employers in your chosen field seem to be seeking in new hires. Use your interview opportunities to build skills.
Don’t be shy in trying to persuade prospective employers that they would be happy they hired you. (Short of being pushy, of course.) Explain your enthusiasm for the area in which you would like to work and be specific about the qualities you believe would make you effective in that area. Be concise but confident.
If the search goes on, try volunteering within your chosen field while you wait for the real thing. Unpaid internships can be valuable training opportunities and will let prospective hirers know you are serious about your aspirations.
Stay upbeat if the job search doesn’t bring the desired results in a hurry. Giving in to a defeatist attitude will do nothing to help and could be a deterrent in the long run. If you have to take a step backward and take a job that isn’t ideal, don’t give up. Do a good job where you are employed and continue the search for what you really want.