The 6-Year Career Struggle: One Man’s Long Journey to His Dream Job

Most of us have experienced the daunting process of searching for our very first jobs in our chosen field. One of the scariest realities many college graduates face is lack of experience in the industry you earned your degree.

You may go through the discouraging cycle of carefully crafting your resume and cover letter to match the job you’re applying for, only to hear nothing in return. You might have countless interviews without receiving a call back, or worse, never even get a shot at an interview.

What if after six years of churning through the hiring cycle you found yourself helplessly at square one? Would you surrender and take whatever was offered to you, even if it wasn’t in your industry? Or would you do whatever it took to keep fighting to land your dream job?

If you truly want something, you will stop at nothing.

Now in his dream job as an evidence technician in the criminalistics industry, Demetrius did exactly that: he stopped at nothing to fulfill his career goals. After six years of interview after interview, internships, volunteering, and earning a master’s degree, he finally got the role he had his eye on.

While his tenacity is admirable, it’s not the norm. According to the University of La Verne, “50 to 70 percent of students change their majors at least once, [and] most will change majors at least three times before they graduate.”

Some people change industries to meet a certain level of earning potential, others just want to earn a degree or find anything that “fits,” but people like Demetrius are determined. Demetrius knew what he wanted to do and was willing to give it his all – plus six years – to get him to his goal.

SL: Why do you think it took six years for you to get the job you wanted?

Demetrius: I believe it took me six years for a variety of reasons. For one, I wanted to be a more competitive candidate to land the job I wanted, so I volunteered or interned at different agencies to gain experience.

I went back to college for my master’s degree in criminalistics and continued to specialize my education in the field. While in school I continued to apply for positions to get a better understanding of expectations in interviews, job requirements, and the skills and experience necessary to earn the title I wanted.

SL: What kept you motivated to continue searching?

Demetrius: I kept pushing toward the job I wanted because I was absolutely certain of what I wanted to do. I remained not only optimistic that I would get the job I wanted, but I was determined to reach my goal. The time and effort I put into refining my career-relevant skills, and navigating the challenges of finding my place, motivated me just as much as the faith I had from friends and family.

SL: How many job interviews do you think you went on during the six years?

Demetrius: Somewhere between 20 and 40.

SL: Reflecting on those interviews, what would you have done differently? Were there any issues you had to overcome? And if so, how did you?

Demetrius: During some interviews I was not as adequately prepared as I assumed or hoped. Regardless of the industry you’re in, it’s always a good idea to have talking points outlined specific to the job, research the company or organization to understand their mission and objectives, and brainstorm questions to ask the interviewers.

I think my most common interview issue was due to my nervousness. I tend to be a very nervous person no matter how much I try to control my angst. In those moments, I have difficulty voicing the answers forming in my head. I end up stuttering an answer without being specific or well-constructed.

While I’ve gotten much better at controlling my nerves, it can still be a challenge in times of stress. The many interviews I went on, as well as practicing individually, helped me to improve my speech pattern. I also took notes after my interviews about what I can do differently in the future, or how to better answer a question that stumped me.

SL: Now that you’re in the career field you want and you’ve finally landed your dream job, what challenges have surprised you?

Demetrius: I’ve only been in my career a little over a year, but the majority of obstacles I’ve faced challenge my stress levels and communication skills. I communicate with various professionals–nurses, officers, detectives, and medical examiners–so I am constantly trying to find the most efficient and direct way to get my point across. When speaking in a court environment, I also try to find the best method to convey my duties and expertise to a room of individuals who either know everything or nothing about my line of work.

SL: What advice do you have for someone trying to break into their dream career?

Demetrius: The most cliché sayings are true: persistence is key. Many fields have many individuals vying for so few positions. You can, may, or will fail many times. You need to be persistent in gaining as much knowledge and career-specific skills in order to be the best candidate. You also need to be able to endure and accept rejection and criticism. If you can use it to your advantage it will probably make you better overall.

If you’re continuing, or just starting your search for THE job, stay strong and take a page from Demetrius’ book. There’s usually something you can do to improve your chances of being the candidate they’re looking for. Whether you start stacking credentials, volunteer to gain real-world experience, optimize your LinkedIn profile, or improve your interview skills, you can take action to get a different result.

We want to hear from you!

Use the comments section below to tell us how you finally landed your dream job. What tips do you have for people who may be losing hope, and what’s your number one trick for acing a job interview?