Although some get lucky and land a high paying job without much difficulty, this is not the case for everyone. Those who are not this fortunate have to work harder to get the job they are looking for. If you think you have tried everything possible, think again. There may be some options you have not considered before. Here are five tips to help you land a high paying job.
1. Get a College Education
Studies have shown that those with a college education make about 84 percent more in their lifetime than those with just a high school diploma. The type of college degree you obtain is crucial as well. Don’t choose a female-dominant major. Men generally make more money than woman, so you will have a better chance of landing a high paying job if you enter a male-dominated field.
2. Get an Internship
Getting an internship is easier to do when you are in college. If you are already a college student, you have many opportunities available to you. You can check with your college career center, the counseling center, your academic advisor, or even your professors. College is a time to make connections and gain experience. If you do a great job in your internship, the people you were involved with can help you find a job in the future. If you are not in college, you can still get an internship. Try visiting Internships.com and browse internships in your area.
3. Find What Motivates You
If you are not motivated, you aren’t going to get where you want to go. Find something you are passionate about and let that motivate you. Let it guide you to the job you are looking for. In Your Money or Your Life, Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez argue that you will make more money at a job that is in tune with who you are. They discuss five concepts that will help you land your dream job- purpose, intention, willingness, consciousness, and recognition. When considering a career, you must ask yourself questions regarding whether or not a job is valuable to you, whether you have the motivation to perform the tasks, and how willing you are to work hard for it.
4. Build a Resume
You may have all the right qualities, experience, and education, but you must display that in a presentable fashion if you want an employer to pick you. If it is a high paying job, chances are there are plenty of other people trying to get the same position. You have to stand out among all the other candidates. If you are a college student, your college career center can help you put your qualifications and work experience on paper. Go in with a rough draft so the career center can help improve it. As a general rule, only include information related to the job you are applying for, don’t use crazy fonts, and don’t use long, complicated sentences.
5. Make Connections Everywhere You Go
You never know who can be of benefit to you. Whether it is at a business meeting, school function, or just out in the community, talk to people. New opportunities are everywhere; you just have to constantly be on the lookout for them. If you meet a new individual who could possibly be a good reference for you, write down their information and keep in contact with them. Let them know what is going on in your life. This person may be the person to help you land that high paying job you have always wanted.
High paying jobs are not far from your reach if you know where to look. Search for jobs that are already known to have high salaries and stay away from female-dominated careers. Get the education to work in these fields. Make connections with people and keep in contact with them, even if you don’t need their reference right away. Opportunities come when you least expect it, so having these references on hand is important.
Gary Duncan is a marketing director and guest author at BestDegreePrograms.org, where he contributed to the list of the highest paying business degrees. Go here to view the list.