How I Finally Got My Dream Job

Landing your dream job is both overrated yet one of the best things you’ll ever do - allow me to explain ✨

How it started

I remember wanting to write for as long as I could hold a pen. It wasn’t a decision so much as a knowing - I had never been good at science, maths or really anything I wasn’t super interested in. 

Having been diagnosed with ADHD I struggled to do anything I wasn’t passionate about - so no matter how hard I tried, I was always led back to writing.

I almost don’t have to think about writing consciously - it just happens, like breathing (🔥 hot tip, if you love something, anything so much that it feels incredibly natural to you - keep pursuing it).

I decided to try and get into the writing biz in my own convoluted way by studying my second passion at university: languages. I studied French and Spanish for 4 years, and it was one of the best things I ever did.

But not because it led to me finding my dream role; because of the life experiences, the learning curve and the friends I made for life. 

I would recommend uni to anyone who wants the rollercoaster of meeting new people, having fun, feeling stressed, getting into debt but also it being one of the best things you'll ever do.

I'll also mention that what I do now is nothing to do with my degree, and that is really normal and common *hot tip no.2 - don’t rely solely on your degree to get you where you want to be*.

After years of working in retail, hospitality and customer service, I eventually got fed up with not getting the roles I thought suited me, and that I knew I would be a great fit for - like content writing, copywriting and journalism. I started putting trust in myself and took matters into my own hands because the degree I had didn’t quite fit the jobs I wanted.

Putting the effort in

One mistake a lot of people make is thinking that their dream job will just happen when it’s meant to, or that it’s inevitable. I learned the hard way that you have to really put energy, time and effort into your career to make it happen.

So I started from scratch and set up a free website for myself during the pandemic and started freelancing and offering my writing services to people on Facebook groups.

It all snowballed from there, and about 2 years later, I managed to land my dream job ultimately by taking risks, investing in myself and my skills. I had the balls to apply for roles I knew I could do and really advocate for myself.

How it's going

I’ve been a copywriter at Year13 for almost a year now, and after years of feeling lost, confused and frustrated, it’s everything I wanted and more - but it doesn’t mean everything in life suddenly falls into place.

It is important to understand that getting your dream job isn’t actually about finally landing that job you adore or finally finding happiness - there will always be moments you don’t like; when you’re tired, stressed or even overwhelmed. 

That happens in every job, and it's human nature to have a diverse set of emotions on the reg. What is the most important thing is the journey - to be proud of how far you’ve come, to stop and appreciate the present and to believe in yourself. 

Once you get that job, you’ll want to reach a new set of never ending goals, because that’s how we progress and grow. The best thing in the world is being proud of yourself, no matter where you’re at - and enjoying the ride. If you need tips on how to get your dream job or just how to get your career off the ground, check out our free careers expo for some awesome resources and inspo.

Key takeaways:

1. Don’t just rely on qualifications to get you your dream role
2. Believe in yourself and take risks
3. Know it’s ok if it takes time  
4. Don’t wait for your dream job to come to you
5. Enjoy the ride!