If you are like most working people in America, there is a great chance that you may feel undervalued, under appreciated, stagnant, stressed and possibly even disgruntled over the fact that you are being paid peanuts in comparison to profits accrued by the company that hired you. Lack of recognition, boredom, the invisible glass ceiling, poor pay and heavy workloads are all components that make for the large percentage of unhappy employees in corporate America. This mind you, doesn’t even include managing stress levels, working in hostile or unsafe environments, or dealing with traffic congestion and the extensive travel time it takes to get to your job. The NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) reports that work and stress are synonymous. Also, according to a 2006 survey conducted by ComPsych Corporation that illustrates how stress in the workplace has grown rampant in recent years, “fifty-five percent of workers said they have high levels of stress with symptoms of extreme fatigue and feeling out of control. Another 42 percent said they have constant but manageable stress…” Not to mention the high percentage African Americans who deal with stress related to the surreptitious, yet sometimes apparent racial tension in the workplace. This can’t be good for anyone.

Let’s paint a vivid picture: On the average, within your 24 hour day, 9 hours are spent at work; 6 hours a day are spent preparing yourself and children (maybe even spouse) for work, dropping off and picking up kids, preparing meals and traveling; 7 hours are spent sleeping; if you are lucky you get 1 to 2 hours to yourself. In a 5day /168 hour week that means 38% of your time is spent at work, 30% is spent sleeping, 25% spent traveling to and from work, and 8% spent on leisure time. Adding the time spent traveling to the time spent working equals 63% of your time is spent with efforts going towards work. So, why not spend that time doing something you love to do – and get paid for it.

One of the key issues people often face in the decision making process of transitioning is finances. Ridding yourself of stability and financial fears in regards to location and pay cuts that are usually encountered when taking leaps of faith are two of the hardest feats you will need to over come. During contemplation, keep in mind, that you can always work your way back to the top; with ambition, decreased financial status is only temporary, as you now have room to grow and climb in areas of an industry or field you now enjoy. The best thing to do is compare the costs of taking a pay cut to the benefits of landing your dream job. Consider the potential advancement and greater benefit packages that you can negotiate in an environment that fits your passion. After all, you are here due to the fact you are currently working at a job that neither pleases you nor satisfies your sense of achievement and productivity. Weigh the amount of stress that will be alleviated in your life from this one decision. Uprooting is also something to seriously consider, especially if you are void of family responsibilities.

At this stage, the most important thing to do is to identify what you love to doing most…whether that is drawing, delivering bottled water, painting building houses, working with numbers, writing short stories or acting. The ultimate goal is to place yourself in a work environment that pleases you and simultaneously serves a purpose for the well being of others. Don’t forget to incorporate your values and things that are most important to you in this journey called life. Through your talents, gifts and skills, it is easy to become your own promotional product. The best way to figure this out is to think of something you would actually do without getting paid and create a service out of it. Yes, this tactic should be used even if pursuing a job at a Fortune 500 company rather than going solo and starting a business. The truth is, you will find that packaging and selling yourself correctly – proper attire, strong handshakes, eye contact when communicating, being informed, unbeatable skill set, voice of confidence - can lead you up a yellow brick road to prosperity if done positively and effectively.

I must make mention of an extremely important factor that is often overlooked in regards to transitioning from one job to another, and that is credit status. Credit has now become an essential part of the job search/hiring process. When applying for a job, be prepared to have your credit history checked, as most employers declare it as a quick way to assess the character of prospective candidates. If your credit is not up to par, this would also be the perfect time to start the process of restoration.

So now, let’s get you on your way to landing that perfect dream job:

Do your research and get your resume or portfolio up to standards.
CREATE A PLAN. Once you have identified your passion, it then becomes necessary to assess whether or not you are qualified to solicit employment. If you are not, this would be a good time to contemplate ways on how to get the knowledge and training essential to making yourself hire-worthy (this includes taking advantage of flexible degree programs that your current company may provide). Assuming you are already qualified, ask yourself whether you or not you have obtained the proper amount of experience to acquire this dream job you so desire. Your next step should then be conducting intense research on what industries can best utilize your talents, expertise and experience. If you find that you are knowledgeable, but not quite up to par with your experience in those particular fields, I would suggest possibly freelancing, working part time (along with your 9-5 when conducive), contracting your services and/or providing consultation. This can provide you with avenues of gaining the experience you need to better negotiate salary, as well as give you a better idea as to which industry and/or avenues you would like to follow in your career path without having to suffer financially. It also enables you to append your resume and portfolio with up to date knowledge.

NOTE: It is not necessary to quit the job you already have during this process. The best time to actually seek better employment opportunities is when you already have a job.

Now you have done your research, you know which industry best fits your aptitude and you have the experience under your belt that makes you the prime candidate for the position. As a contender, the key is to make sure stand out in the unchanging abyss of job hunters, and you do this by updating your resume and/or portfolio. Yes, that document that has been saved on a dusty old floppy disk for the past ten years. Just a few tips: make sure your contact information (email address, phone number, fax number and address) is current. Chronologically list your jobs and promotions within a job from present to past. Avoid listing jobs you had over ten years ago. List attributes that highlight you as an individual and a professional. Italicize or bold your strongest points and accomplishments. Remember you are packaging yourself for progress. Make sure your resume indicates such.

Focus on illustrating your future career goals within your resume to give your employer an idea of where you are currently and where you are headed. One thing that most people hesitate to do (which may also hinder their search) is to constantly change their resume to match the requirements of a specific job, providing you have the experience (do not put knowledge and experience you do not have, it may back fire on you in an interview). It is okay to have more than one resume. Avoid using pronouns (I, our, we, etc.) and make sure your use of nouns overrides your use of verbs (Example: instead of “I directed videos…” use “Video Director”), as scanning software utilized by most recruiting companies tend to search resumes accordingly.

Expand your network.
Become the person you envision by surrounding yourself with those who can help you fulfill your dream. Start by listing all the possible companies you would like to work for. From there list the names of top executives, recruiters and department managers and schedule informational interviews with as many as possible. This allows for you to meet a prospective employer and creates the opportunity for you to learn more about the company, which can thus assist in deciding if it is in fact a place you would like to be employed. Make another list of all people in your personal rolodex you need to contact from top executives to those in entry level positions. Pursue opportunities to network at gathering and events that will most likely be filled with people who work in the industry you are pursuing. Join and promote yourself at professional organizations relevant to your interests and the things you enjoy.

Ask for help and guidance. Seek a mentor who can share with you their journey to success. Communicate and socialize with people you currently work with, this way you start building or re-establishing trust in those who can later support your endeavors when your opportunities present themselves.

Create your environment. Be prepared for opportunity.
In your pursuit, offering a project manager (in the desired department within your place of employment) assistance on project for free is also a good way to gain experience and build rapport. Practice interviewing with friends so that you are prepared when the opportunity presents itself. Set up an office space at home – become the executive or creative person you aspire to be in your own residence. Sometimes working in a space conducive for organization will get motivated, and ultimately get you to take your pursuit more seriously. Make sure to create documents that log of all your contact and follow up calls so you can see your progress. Remember, while networking, dressing for success plays a big part in the hiring process; appearance plays a big part in making a first impression. You would hate to meet a prospective employer and you are dressed in jeans and sneakers. You would be surprise at how many African Americans are ill-informed at the dos and don’ts of choosing proper interview attire. If you are not sure, call someone you respect and ask them for advice. This is a big plus in respect to building your own confidence, as well. When you look good, you feel good; when you feel good, you are confident with self. Whether or not you are aware of it, everyone around you is a resource – or at least conduits for potential resources. Consider the possibility of holding your own networking functions and inviting everyone in your rolodex. ALWAYS business cards close by – you never know who you will run into.

Seek expert advice and request feedback.
Professional counselors are available in your human resources department, assist in navigating you towards your interests and establishing a path and that is best suited for the job you envision. Soliciting a career coach can also keep you on track in maintaining your motivation. In the event that you are contemplating taking a job that pays less than your current position, consider seeking consultation from a financial advisor to discuss budgeting options that will enable you to accept your dream position. Other than the afore mentioned steps that you succeeded, find out what else about makes you a commodity and develop those characteristics even further, to better utilize them as selling points in interviews.

Communicate Effectively
Interviewing skills are crucial. Offering a firm greeting and full eye contact, while speaking with a voice that emanates confidence is a sure way to gain the respect of a hiring manager or executive. To break the ice, discussing the details relating to the information you acquired about the company prior to your interview is often helpful. Elaborating on your future goals and interests with a prospective employer shows initiative and confidence. Ask questions about the organization and how your role, if hired, will actually benefit the company and its endeavors; request further details on job requirements and initial assignments. Inquire about benefits packages, continuing education programs, company diversity, culture and practices, growth and advancement leads the employer to believe you are really interested in working for his or her company. And lastly, close the interview by extending an open door of communication by requesting additional contact information, and ask for permission to call back in the event you have any further questions regarding the position or the organization. Sending a personalized Thank You note the following day shows professionalism and may possibly give you an advantage over other candidates.

As African Americans, we need to aspire and work hard to utilize our strong attributes as a means to contribute to society and our communities. Whether it is working our way up the ladder in corporate establishments or starting our own companies, having the proper skill set to compete is the only way we can ever get ahead. Recognizing your talents and abilities is crucial when pursuing your dream job; while equipping yourself with knowledge and vision can lead you even further than you ever envisioned. The ultimate gift in utilizing all of this insight is success and the ability to pay forward so that others can succeed as well.

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Mathhew Lynch can be emailed at Lynch39083@aol.com