Image via Complex Original
Despite what everyone else might tell you, you don’t have to work for the weekend. Work can be inspiring—the only secret is taking what you already love and transforming it into a career. And no, it doesn’t even have to be from behind a desk. Whether you’re into art, music, technology, writing, or business, there are plenty of opportunities all over the place that use the same skills that you already have, just in cooler and more interesting ways. So if you’re contemplating a career change (or even if you’re not), check out the 10 best ways to turn your passion into a full-fledged career path. Then get ready to take the plunge.
Tell People About Your Plan
Career connections don’t mean anything if nobody realizes that you’re looking for a job. Don’t be afraid to tell people what you want. A major first step is letting people around you know about your plans: what you want to achieve, and how you’re getting there. We’re not talking about self-promoting Facebook posts, either (because nobody wants an oversharer). Rather, it’s about talking to friends, family, and acquaintances about what you’re up to. Who knows, your girlfriend’s uncle just might know someone who can help you get the proverbial foot in the door.
Ask for Advice
Even if you think that you know how to turn your music/writing/art hobby is into a full-time job, you can always use some tips. After all, if it were easy, way more people would do it. Seek out those who are doing something similar and bounce ideas off of each other. Forming these relationships is the most genuine form of networking.
Carve Out a Niche
Regardless of what your dream job might be, chances are that there are many other people who are also working towards that same goal. Make yourself stand out from the pack by finding a particular niche, and then going for it. Want to write? Make yourself an expert in a specific topic. If you’re in a band, be sure that you offer something different than all of the other groups on SoundCloud. And if you want to start your own business, check that there’s no other similar company out there already. Employers are always looking for what they don’t already have. Once you’ve identified this void, then you’re already halfway there.
Make a Portfolio
Whether your passion is music, writing, art, technology, or business, you’ve got to show it off somehow. Making an online portfolio of your work gives you an instant sense of legitimacy. It’ll not only present to others what you’re working on, but it will always make you feel better about your progress. Think of this as concrete evidence of yourself moving forward.
Investigate All Areas of the Industry
Who knows, there might be an aspect of the career that you haven’t thought about and might want to pursue. Often times the most obvious dream careers—lead singer of a band, magazine writer, artist, CEO, or whatever else—aren’t all that they’re cracked up to be. You can find an equally (or even more) fulfilling position hiding just below the surface. Don’t rule out freelancing for different companies (or even checking out different cities) to determine which side of the industry fits you the best.
Consider the Future
It might be tough to predict where the industry will be in five, 10, or even 20 years from now, but keep in mind that things will change. If you can identify growing sectors and get in on the ground floor, the payoff will be huge. Just look at how far the media industry has come in a decade. Staying flexible and open to new ideas is key.
Shadow Someone in the Industry
The whole “take your kid to work day” concept might’ve been lame in middle school, but clearly they were onto something back in the day. See if you can have an informational interview with someone in your dream career just to see how they operate: their day-to-day responsibilities, the office environment, and the no-filter discussion on what the job is really like.
Put Yourself and Your Work Out There
Part of the excitement about taking a career risk is the fact that it’s inherently not a sure thing—it’s not guaranteed that you’ll succeed. In order to make progress, you have to accept this fact and put yourself out there anyway, even if it leads to rejection.
Find a Career Role Model
Whether you know this person in real life or not, it doesn’t matter. Knowing that someone did exactly what you’re attempting to do—and succeeded—is an instant confidence booster that you can do it to. Find a career role model, and then trace their steps on LinkedIn to see exactly how they got to where they are now. You don’t have to follow their path exactly, but it’s nice to have a guideline on how you can get there yourself.
Map Out a Plan
It’s important to have an idea of what you want to do, but what’s even more important is accepting the fact that things are going to change. Having a plan (and then a backup plan or two) will help give you some control—even if you can’t control everything.
