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"Working a job you hate is the worst. But if you've found yourself chasing a career that's so not the right fit, there's no need to freak! By following our simple steps, you'll be well on your way to achieving your professional goals, even if you feel super far from the action at the moment.\n\nLearn the ins and outs of your dream industry.\n\n Make sure you keep up with relevant news and, yes, gossip. Subscriptions tend be expensive, but most trade publications have at least some free articles on their websites and all send out e-mail blasts. Want to go into entertainment? Subscribe to alerts from Deadline and the Hollywood Reporter. Hoping to get into fashion? Make sure you're staying up to date with Women's Wear Daily's bulletins. This will help you learn the players in your desired field and feel connected to what's happening. The best part, though, is that daily updates will serve as a constant reminder to stay the course with your newfound dream. It's like inspiration sent directly to your inbox!\n\nUse days off to your advantage.\n\n The truth is, you may not be able to directly transition into your biz of choice because you don't have the experience. Try your best to take on small freelance gigs, side jobs, or even part-time internships to get your foot in the door, and dedicate one day every weekend to working towards your endgame. Quitting your current position to pursue a new one is always a risky move, so your best bet is to continue chugging along at your place of employment while also seeking out new opportunities in your free time.\n\nPinpoint your role models.\n\n Figure out who's starting to really made it in the industry and use their job history as an outline for what yours will (hopefully!) look like. Think of it as a blueprint of sorts. Instead of looking at who's the CEO of your fave company, do some research to find someone who's been in the field for three to five years and see what they did to get to where they are today. This way, you'll know what entry-level positions you should be looking for and what segment of the industry you could most easily translate your work background or college major into.\n\nRebrand yourself.\n\n Interact with people in your chosen field on Twitter, and be an active participant in the comment sections of insider blogs. Edit your resume and LinkedIn profile to play up your strengths as well; your gig in finance may seem like it has no connection to your dream job of becoming a makeup artist, but your ability to stay organized, keep costs in check, and never drop the ball on a client are incredible core values that you can spin to your advantage. Keep in mind that people may not know you're interested in a change of pace, so be sure to express your desires to friends and acquaintances. People are typically more than happy to introduce their pals to one another, and you'd be surprised how far mentioning \"your dream to work in PR\" can take you.\n\nTake informational meetings.\n\n Your first job could very likely come as the result of a recommendation, so having contacts in the industry you want to work in is imperative. Find people who are similar to you and offer to take them out for coffee or lunch\u2014your treat! You'll be mining them for advice for an hour, so ponying up for a cappuccino or chopped salad is well worth it in the long run. Send a thank you note after your meeting, and be sure to keep in touch every few months to see how their projects are going. You'll stay on their radar while also keeping your connections fresh. On the flipside, don't be offended if someone turns you down! Most people are willing to pass along their knowledge, but if they say no, they're probably just busy and can't get away during their crazy workday.\n\nKeep your head up!\n\n There will be plenty of tough bridges to cross in the coming months and years, but following your heart and doing a job you love is important to your happiness and even your overall health. Whenever you're feeling like your goal is too hard to achieve, reach for some motivation, and remember why you want (or need!) to make this change in the first place."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.teenvogue.com/story/changing-career-path>