Ever Thought About the "Perfect" Job?

Do you love your job? If so, congratulations! (You can skip the rest of this article!)

Many people actually dread going to work each day. Others are rather ambivalent...they can take it or leave it.

If you do not love your job, perhaps it's time to give some thought to your chosen career. After all, you'll spend a huge part of your life at work. Wouldn't it be better if you actually enjoyed earning a living?

So, what do you enjoy? What's your idea of the perfect job? Have you given any serious thought to pursuing that--what it would be and how you would obtain it?

There are thousands of interesting and exciting professions in the world. How many of them have occurred to you?

I think a fun job would be the "Professional driver on closed course" that you read about (if you squint) in the fine print on TV car commercials. Zooming across the desert salt flats, doing donuts in the dust in a brand new sporty car... yep, I think I could handle that. I'd also love to write for a living. Hey, wait a minute... that's what I'm doing!

What's your passion?

Do you like animals? Ever thought about running away to join the circus? Seriously, they are often looking for people to groom, feed, clean and exercise their exotic and domestic animals. How about working in a zoo or animal hospital? Or what about starting up your own dog-sitting/walking business? Studies show that interacting with animals reduces stress and helps people relax. Wouldn't it be nice to come home from work relaxed and unstressed?

Do you like movies? Ever thought about being in one? My husband's niece is a movie extra. She's appeared in several TV shows, including "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Although she's never had a speaking part, she's having a lot of fun working around movie and TV sets while she finishes college. Casting agencies are always on the lookout for extras, especially for location shoots.

Do you like sports? Ever thought about being a golf pro? Did you know there are more than 25 million amateur golfers in the United States? I'm sure many of them could use some professional help! Tennis players are probably in the same boat. A friend of mine is a tennis pro at a ritzy country club. He makes a great salary doing something he'd do for free.

Do you like to travel? Every thought about teaching English overseas? There are many opportunities to do this, particularly in Asia. And you often don't need any kind of teaching certificate or credentials. Or how about working on a cruise ship, or being a tour guide?

The point is, if you put your mind to it, you could probably find a "perfect" job that doesn't feel like work! So as part of your career planning strategy, think about what you'd truly love to do, not just how much money you'd like to earn.

An excellent resource for information on tons of fabulous jobs is FabJob.com

Find your passion, then do your research and take action to live your dream!

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10 Steps to Getting Maximum Benefit from Job Fairs

Many job seekers tend to overlook job fairs. They are crowded, busy, competitive and sometimes confusing events. But where else can you visit dozens of potential employers on the same day and in the same place? And you know what? Job fairs can help you land a job! Here's how to get the most out of these events:

1. Do advance research. You goal is to target the most promising employers at upcoming job fairs. To do that, you need to know who those employers are and what they offer. Usually, the promotional materials or advertisements for job fairs will list participating employers and the general types of jobs they have open. Get online and search for information about the companies you are interested in. Knowing more about the companies than the other job seekers who visit their booths will help you make a memorable impression. The more you know, the better.

2. Bring enough resumes Bring at least 25 clean, crisp copies of your resume (more if it's a large event).

3. Be prepared to fill out applications. Most companies will not accept a resume INSTEAD of an application. So even if you provide them with a nice resume, you'll probably be asked to fill out an application form, too. Be sure to bring a pen and a "cheat sheet" with the information you'll need to complete job applications on the spot. This is better than taking the applications home and sending them back later, as many job seekers will do. You'll beat them to the punch!

4. Dress for success. First impressions are important. Just because job fairs tend to be friendly, informal events, don't be too casual. Dress and act professionally, be enthusiastic, and remember to smile.

5. Arrive early. Pick up a booth-location map and plan your route. By arriving early, you may be able to get in and out before it gets too crowded. Visit your targeted companies first, then "shop around" and do some networking.

6. Think "Quality" over "Quantity." It's much better to spend quality time talking with only a few, well-targeted employers who are looking for your specific skills, than to drop off your resume at every booth you see.

7. Be prepared for interviews. Some companies may want to do short, on-the-spot interviews at the job fair. Be prepared to talk about your best selling points, the assets and skills you will bring to the company. Doing research, as suggested in Step 1, will help you to design your answers to meet the company's specific needs. As the interview is wrapping up, remember to ask what the next steps are .

8. Keep track of where you submit your resumes Collect business cards and make a list of the companies you apply for. Jot notes about conversations you have with representatives or topics discussed during interviews. This will help you when following up later.

9. Send thank-you letters. Send thank-you letters within 24-48 hours to each of the companies/representatives you spoke with. Even if there was no real interview, doing this will help you to stand out in their minds among the hundreds of job seekers who visited their booth during the job fair. Tell them how much you appreciated the time they took to talk with you and answer your questions. Mention the name or location of the fair and the positions you discussed, and reiterate your interest in working for their company.

10. Follow up. Depending on their answers to your "what are the next steps" question (see Step 7), follow up appropriately with the companies for which you applied.

Follow these steps and a hectic, crowded job fair may just lead to the job of your dreams!