How to Study For Exams

Taking exams is stressful, but you can make it easier by improving the way you study. Studying for your exams effectively and efficiently will keep you from feeling unprepared, and it will set you up for success!

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Setting the Foundation for Later

1. Review your syllabus. Figure out when all of your exams will be and how much of your grade they are worth. Put these dates on your calendar or planner so they don't sneak up on you!
   
   • Plan review sessions beginning at least a week in advance of each exam. Ideally, you'll do several mini-reviews well in advance, gradually increase the time in which you study, rather than trying to cram everything into one mega session the night before the test.
2. Pay attention in class. This seems like a no-brainer, but actually paying attention while you're in class will help you immensely once exam time comes. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you'll just "absorb" knowledge; be an active learner. Try sitting at the front of the class, this will make it easier to focus.
   
   • Listen carefully, because teachers often give hints like "The most important thing about this topic is...". Or they may just place emphasis on certain words and issues. This is the real key to testing well. The more you absorb the information early on, the less studying you'll need to do.
3. Take good notes. This is easier said than done, but learning how to take good notes will help you immensely once it comes time to study. Write down everything your teacher writes on the board or puts up in slides. Try to record as much of what the teacher says as possible, but don't allow taking notes to distract you so much that you forget to listen.
   
   • Review your notes daily, right after class. This will help reinforce the information you just learned.
4. Make studying a part of your habits. Too often, it's easy to view studying as something that only gets done at the last minute in a huge overnight cram session. Instead, try setting aside some time every day to study. Scheduling it just like another appointment or class may help you stay motivated to continue the habit.^[1]
   
5. Ask about the exam format. Ask your teacher what format the test will be in, how it will be graded, if there are any opportunities for extra credit, and if they would be willing to talk to you about highlighting in your notes, what the most important broad subjects will be, etc.
   

[Edit]Creating an Optimal Environment for Learning

1. Study in a clean , quiet and orderly room. Keep anything and everything away from where you are that may cause you to get distracted. Jumping up to read a text message on your phone or periodically checking social media is ill-advised whilst studying.
   
2. Turn on the light! Studying in a dark room is not recommended. Add lamps at night, or in the daytime, open the window coverings (open the window a little, too). People tend to study and focus better in a brighter, oxygenated room with little noise.
   
3. Turn the TV off. While many students believe that they're good at multitasking, such as studying with the TV on or while chatting online with friends, research suggests that this is not true for the vast majority of people.^[2] For better studying performance, eliminate distractions such as TV and loud music with lyrics. Rapidly swapping attention between studying and watching TV makes it more difficult for your brain to prioritize information acquisition.^[3]
   
4. Decide if music is right for you. Music's effect on memory performance varies between individuals. Some studies have found music to aid the memory performance of individuals with ADD/ADHD, while reducing it in individuals without the disorder. Classical music appears to be the most effective in enhancing studying performance.^[4] You must determine whether you're better off with or without it. If you do enjoy listening to music whilst studying, make sure you're actually concentrating on the material you have to study for, and not the catchy tune that's playing in your head.
   
   • If you absolutely must listen to music, find instrumental music so that the words in the music don't interfere with your studying.
   • Listen to background sounds from nature in order to keep your brain active and prevent other noises to distract you. There are several free background noise generators available online.
   • Listening to Mozart or classical music won't make you smarter or keep information in your brain, but it may make your brain more receptive to receiving information.

[Edit]Organizing Your Learning

1. Focus on your work objectives. What do you intend to accomplish during this session? Setting a concrete study goal may help you. Creating study plans is also a good idea. If 3 out of 5 lessons are easy and can be finished fast, finish them first, so you can spend quality time on the difficult lessons without fretting. Also, keeping a folder for your exam reviews is a good way to keep organized.
   
2. Write yourself a study guide. Go through your notes and rewrite the most important information. Not only will this give you a more focused way to study, but it creating it is another form of studying! Just don't spend too much time on the guide itself: you need to have time to go over it too!
   
3. Reinvent your notes in other formats. Rewriting your notes is great if you're a kinesthetic learner. Mind mapping is the most effective way of doing this. Also, when you re-write something, you will probably think about what you are writing, what it's about, and why you wrote it down. Most importantly, it refreshes your memory. If you took notes a month ago and just found out that those notes will be relevant in your exam, rewriting them will remind you of them when you need it for your exam.
   
   • Don't simply copy your notes over and over again. This tends to lean towards memorizing the exact wording of your notes instead of the actual concepts. Instead, read and think about the contents of your notes (such as think of examples), and then re-word them.
4. Ask yourself questions about your material. This can help you tell if you have remembered what you just studied. Don't try to remember the exact wording from your notes in your answer to yourself; synthesizing that information into an answer is a much more useful tactic.
   
   • It can also help to say the answers to your questions out loud, as if you were trying to explain it to someone else.
5. Review previous tests and assignments. If you missed questions on previous work, look up the answers and understand why you missed these questions. This is particularly helpful if the exam you're studying for is cumulative or comprehensive, meaning it covers things you also covered earlier in the course.
   

[Edit]Studying Efficiently

1. Find the right hours. Don't study when you're really tired. It's better to get a good night's sleep after studying for a short time than to push on at two in the morning. You won't remember much and you're likely to see a performance drop the next day.
   
2. Start as early as possible. Don't cram. Cramming the night before is proven to be ineffective, because you're taking in so much information at once that it's impossible to memorize it at all — in fact, you'll hardly retain anything. Studying before and going over it multiple times really is the best way to learn the material. This is especially true with things like history and theoretical subjects.
   
   • Always study when you have the chance, even if it is only for 15 or 20 minutes. These short study periods add up fast!
   • Study in chunks of 25 minutes using the Pomodoro Technique. After that make a break of 5 minutes; repeat the process 3x, then make a longer pause of 30-45 minutes.
3. Study for your learning style. If you're a visual learner, using pictures can help. Auditory learners should record themselves saying notes and recite it afterwards. If you are a physical person, lecture to yourself (out loud) while also using your hands or moving around; this way it will be easier for you to memorize.^[5]
   
4. Adjust your study techniques to fit your subject. Subjects such as mathematics require a lot of practice with problem sets in order to become familiar with the processes required. Subjects in the humanities, such as history or literature, may require more information synthesis and memorization of things such as terms or dates.
   
   • Whatever you do, don't just re-read the same set of notes over and over again. In order to actually learn, you need to take an active role in knowledge creation as well as information review. Try finding the "big picture" among what you've taken down or reorganizing your notes by theme or date.
5. Think of your teacher. Ask yourself: What is my teacher most likely to ask on the exam? What materials should I focus on to give myself the best chance of knowing what I need to know? What trick questions or wrinkles could my teacher introduce that might throw me for a loop? This may help you focus on the most important information, rather than getting stuck on things that might not matter as much.
   
6. Ask for help. If you need help, ask someone who is good at these subjects. Friends, family, tutors, and teachers are all good options. If you don't understand what the person helping you is communicating, don't be afraid to ask them to elaborate.
   
   • Asking teachers for help conveys your commitment to the material and can be helpful in the future as well as with your exams. Always remember to ask your teacher if you do not know what she is talking about or if you need more information. The teacher will probably be glad to help.
   • There are often resources at schools and colleges that can help you cope with stress, answer study-related questions, give you study tips and other forms of guidance. Ask your teacher or visit your school's website to learn how to use these resources.
   • Your teacher might let you record your classes if you struggle to focus. You can review the recordings when you study for your exams.^[6]

[Edit]Maintaining Your Motivation

1. Take breaks. You need some time to have fun and it is better to study when you are feeling relaxed than to exhaust yourself studying all day! Carefully structure your break and study time.^[7] Usually, 20-30 minutes of study and then a 5 minute break is the most effective method.
   
   • If you have trouble bringing yourself to study, instead of long uninterrupted sessions, chunk your work into 20 minute periods, taking a 10-minute break at the end of every period.
   • Make sure that you structure the chunks logically so that you're not breaking up concepts across chunks, as this may make it more difficult to remember concepts in their entirety.
2. Think positive but work hard. Self confidence is important; focusing on how little you've studied or how badly you think you will do on the exam just distracts you from working on achieving success. However, this doesn't mean that you shouldn't study hard. You still need to work at it, even if you have confidence in yourself. Confidence just keeps away roadblocks to success.
   
3. Work with others. Arrange study dates at a library with your friends to compare notes or explain things the other one might not understand. Working with other people can help you cover gaps in your own knowledge and also help you remember more information, since you may have to explain things to them or have conversations about the topic. It's also a great way to stay motivated.^[8]
   
   • If you ask for help from others, don't joke around. Concentrate on what you are doing.
4. Call for help. If you're stuck on a subject, do not be afraid to call a friend and ask for help. If your friends cannot help, ask a tutor for help.
   
   • If you have time before your exam and find that you're not understanding material, ask if your teacher will go over it with you.

[Edit]Preparing Yourself for Test Day

1. Get plenty of rest the night before. Children in elementary school (in the UK, primary school) require on average 10-11 hours of sleep for optimal performance. Adolescents, on the other hand, typically require at least 10+ hours. Poor sleep has been found to accumulate (referred to as "sleep debt"); in order to make up for prolonged poor sleep habits, several weeks of daily optimal sleep may be required to return to optimal performance.
   
   • Don't consume caffeine or any other stimulating substance within 5-6 hours prior to sleeping. (However, if a doctor prescribed you a stimulant to take at a specific time, take it at that time regardless of when you fall asleep, and ask your doctor before changing anything.) Such substances reduce the efficiency of sleep, meaning that even with sufficient sleep time, you may not feel well rested upon waking.
2. Eat a healthy, light meal. Eat a balanced breakfast full of lean protein, vegetables, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants. A sample breakfast might include a spinach omelet with smoked salmon, whole wheat toast, and a banana.^[9]
   
3. Bring a snack. If your exam is a long one, bring a snack with you if you're permitted to do so. Something with some complex carbohydrates and protein, such as a whole-wheat peanut butter sandwich or even a granola bar, will help boost your concentration when it begins to flag.^[10]
   
4. Get to the exam room with time to spare. Give yourself at least five or 10 minutes to gather your thoughts before starting the exam. This way, you can get settled in and have time to relax before the test starts.
   
5. Do the questions you know first. If you don't know the answer to the question, do the next one and come back to it at the end. Struggling and concentrating on a question you don't know the answer to can be time consuming, which makes you lose valuable marks.
   
6. Make flashcards. If you have a grammar test or English, its good to make flashcards to remember definitions of a word. You can take it to school and just flip through them before your exams start.
   

[Edit]Sample Study Timetable

Sample Study Timetable

Sample Study Timetable

[Edit]How Can I Cope With Test-Taking Anxiety?

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

• Try not to eat too much before you sit to study as it could make you feel lazy or tired.
• Review old tests and homework. This will definitely help you as it's likely there will be a few very similar questions on the exam.
• Read aloud as it may help you learn faster.
• If you have an idea of the questions that will be asked and are finding it hard to remember the answers, write the question in one side of the card and the answer on the back. Practice relating the question to the answer as it may help you remember the answer.
• Don't study lying on top of your bed as you could get sleepy.
• Organize the place you are sitting in, as that might help to organize your brain.
• Try not to procrastinate when exams are coming close. Stay focused!
• Re-write some of your vital notes in bullet points. It may be easier to remember rather than reading a big paragraph.
• If you plan to start at a certain hour, like 12 PM, and get sidetracked and realize that it is 12:10 PM don't wait until 1 PM to begin. It's not too late to get working!
• Read a section of information, then write it while the book is closed. This is a way of memorizing.
• Sit in a clear place, most likely a desk and study. If you start to get tired then take a 15-minute break. Working for long periods of time mean you become fatigued more quickly so short breaks more often are beneficial for studying.
• Borrowing notes from your friends will help you preparing for the exam.
• Start preparing for exams right when the school year starts.
• Sleep at least 9 hours at night to be fresh and relaxed for the time of the exam.
• Being active (running, biking, etc.) before you start studying may help you concentrate and think about the problem more carefully.
• Finish your homework in any free time you have, so you have more time to study for exams and read the material later on.
• Take breaks, but not too long, so you don't get distracted or procrastinate.
• If you are studying for a test and your subject has a textbook, look to see if they have a main ideas section or questions in the textbook. Most likely, those questions or main ideas will be on your tests!
• Read a lot of books but remember to chose a book that you are more comfortable with. Plan your time wisely and don't get distracted easily. Don't daydream during lesson and focus on the lesson.
• Search & study the important question answers. And do not pressure yourself to do anything. If you want to take a break, then take a minute one and then go back to studying.
• Study and/or refer to more than one textbook or paper, which will help gain more knowledge and help you understand the chapter better.
• Also try recording the notes on your phone and listening to them before sleeping. This helps to revise the chapter. It makes use of your auditory nerves.
• Always remember that your parents and your school faculty are there for you at all times.
• Don't think about your phone for the messages or your favourite TV programme that will be coming soon. Remind yourself that you need to work hard and the future is in your hand.
• Be consistent and study throughout the academic year, instead of studying at one night as a whole.
• Discuss problems with your teacher if you have any.
• Do some 3 to 5 sit ups in the morning. It helps in increasing memory power.
• Doodle while studying. Studies have shown that doodling makes people more focused.
• Use a planner/study schedule to help you organize your studying.
• Study one main chapter properly instead of studying every chapter at once.

[Edit]Warnings

• Don't stay up too late. Studies show that you are more likely to forget what you learned if you don't get enough sleep, so get enough sleep! If you really need to study more, do some in the morning.
• Avoid stress from other people, if at all possible. Creating an atmosphere of negativity and stress around studying will make you want to avoid it.
• Cheating won't solve your exam problems, it will just end up with getting you busted. There are often severe penalties for cheating, including notes on your official record and even expulsion.
• Don't study only on the night before the exam. Study everything bit by bit when you come home from school every day. It's no use studying everything in one shot.

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Create Good Study Habits for Exams
• Cram for a Test
• Concentrate While There Are Background Noises
• Study For Exams
• Relax Before a Final Exam in College

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://www.apu.edu/articles/6-crucial-study-habits-for-college-students/
2. ↑ http://news.stanford.edu/news/2009/august24/multitask-research-study-082409.html
3. ↑ https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120430124618.htm
4. ↑ https://news.usc.edu/71969/studying-for-finals-let-classical-music-help/
5. ↑ [v161441_b01]. 18 June 2020.
6. ↑ [v161441_b01]. 18 June 2020.
7. ↑ [v161441_b01]. 18 June 2020.
8. ↑ [v161441_b01]. 18 June 2020.
9. ↑ https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/what-to-eat-the-night-before-a-test/
10. ↑ https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/what-to-eat-the-night-before-a-test/

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How to Make a Brochure Using Google Docs

Google Docs tutorial for making one-page, two-page, and tri-fold brochures

This wikiHow guide shows you how to create and print a brochure in Google Docs. The most common brochure type is a tri-fold brochure, sometimes called a pamphlet. Although Google Docs doesn't have a tri-fold brochure template, it's pretty easy to create your own. If you're not concerned with the format and just want to make a simple one-page or two-page brochure, you can use one of Google Doc's free business brochure templates.

[Edit]Things You Should Know

• Make your own tri-fold brochure template using a 3 column table. Go to File > Page Setup and switch the page to Landscape orientation.
• Go to Insert > Table to add the 3 column table to 2 pages —one for each side of your brochure. Add your design, hide the table outline, and print double sided.
• Use the Template gallery on Google Drive to create a simple one-page or two-page brochure.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Brochure Formats

1. Note these brochure styles. You can format your brochure in a variety of ways depending on the needs of your project:
   
   • Tri-Fold Brochure: This is the more typical pamphlet-style brochure that folds into three distinct sections. You often see this style in museums and school projects.
   • One-Page Brochure: This is a minimalistic brochure without folds that has all of the information on one page.
   • Two-Page Brochure: This variety just has one fold, splitting the paper into 2 sections, like a greeting card.

[Edit]Tri-Fold Brochure

1. Go to https://docs.google.com in your browser. If you're not already signed into Google Docs, follow the on-screen instructions to sign in now with your Google Account.
   
   • Before you get started, decide what you want your tri-fold brochure to look like. Brochures come in many shapes and sizes. Think about how many pages you want your brochure to have and the size of each page.
   • You can share the Google Doc file with your coworkers or project members if you want to collaborate on the design at the same time.
2. Click to create a blank document. It's the large rainbow plus sign in the bottom-right area of the page.
   
   • To name the file, click the "Untitled Document" textbox in the upper-left corner of the window, then type in a title for your brochure.
3. Click the menu and select . This is where you can edit the dimensions of the document.
   
4. Click the radio button next to "Landscape." This changes the page orientation of the document to landscape so you can fold the brochure properly.
   
5. Set the margins to and click . The margins are on the right side of the window. This gives you more space for images and text.
   
6. Create a three-column table. You'll need to create three columns on both sides of the page so you can fold it into thirds. To do this:
   
   • Click the Insert menu at the top of Docs.
   • Select the Table menu.
   • Drag your mouse so only the top three squares are highlighted. Each of the squares will represent a column in your brochure.
   • When you see the new table, press the Enter or Return key repeatedly to extend the columns to the bottom of the second page. Since you're making a tri-fold brochure, you'll want your columns to line up on both sides of the sheet. The idea is that you'll see three vertical columns on both sides of the page (you can hide the actual lines later). Although you haven't added data yet, this gives you some visual table lines to work with.
7. Familiarize yourself with the tri-fold layout. You should now have 2 pages with three columns each. Since you'll be folding the brochure along the lines, the layout will look like this:
   
   • Page 1 (the "outside" page): Inside flap (this part folds in) | Back Cover | Front Cover
   • Page 2 (the "inside" page): Other side of inside flap | Inside of Back Cover | Inside of Front Cover
   • It might be more helpful to visualize if you take a sheet of paper, draw column markers, and then fold it in this order:
     • Fold the left panel down (behind the cover).
     • Fold the right panel (the cover) behind so it covers the other panels (the back cover will now be at the top).
     • Flip the folded brochure over so the cover page is on top (and opens like a book).
8. Design the front cover. The front cover of the tri-fold brochure will be the rightmost column on the first page (column 3).^[1] The design of your cover is up to you, but here are a few ideas to get you started:
   
   • Type your desired title at the top (or anywhere, really) of column 3. Just click the mouse cursor in the column and start typing. To stylize the text, highlight what you've typed and use the text style menus and buttons that run along the top of the document.
     • For example, you can select a style by clicking the menu that says Normal text and choosing an option. You can also change the font face, size, weight, and even color.
     • It's common to center the title. To do so, highlight it and click the button of 4 centered lines in the toolbar.
   • A strong cover image is important to illustrate the purpose of the brochure, as well as draw the interest of readers. To add an image, click the desired location, click the Insert menu, select Image, navigate to the image's location, select it, and then click Open.
     • Drag the blue anchors around the image's edges to resize if needed.
9. Design the back cover. This is the center panel of page one, so it's directly to the left of the front cover. Brochure back panels often include contact information, credits, and closing statements. Occasionally back panels are even designed as mailing panels so you can mail it without an envelope.
   
   • It's a good idea to make the back panel as vibrant as the front so it draws attention to matter where the brochure is placed.
10. Create the first inside panel. Now that you're done with the 2 covers, it's time to add the rest of the content. The third column on the second page is the inside of the front cover. Since this is usually where you'll introduce the product or service, it'll probably be a little more text-heavy than the sections.
    
    • When you open a tri-fold brochure, you'll see a flap on the right side that can be opened up. That flap, which is the leftmost column of Page 1, should contain stand-alone information, such as an ad, or special offer.
11. Add content to the rest of your brochure. Since you've introduced the product or service in the first column of page 2, you can continue adding content to the remaining pages. Since you already know how to add text and photos, check out these tips for more in-depth image formatting:
    
    • If you add images, you'll want to make them work with the text by setting up wrapping. Click the image after inserting it, and then click one of the three wrap icons below it.
      • Inline (icon 1) means the image will be added as part of the text, causing the image to shift when text is added or deleted. This is not recommended as it can cause formatting issues in the case of a brochure.
      • Wrap text (icon 2) allows text to flow around and to the side of an image. This is a good option for the inside of a brochure when you have small images amongst paragraph text.
      • Break text (icon 3) means the text will stop above and continue below the image. This is a good option for tri-fold brochures as the columns are small and don't have a lot of space for text to go around the image.
12. Hide the table outline to see the final product. Now that you've designed your brochure, you can get rid of those black guidelines. Here's how:
    
    • Click any blank area inside any column to select the table.
    • Right-click any blank area inside the table and select Table properties. Alternatively, you can hold and click the blank area on Mac.
    • Change the default line size (1pt) to 0pt in the "Color" drop-down menu.
    • Click X to close the table properties menu.
13. Print the brochure on a duplex printer. Since the inside and outside pages of the brochure technically span 2 separate pages, you'll need to print both pages together double-sided. Here's how to this in Google Docs:
    
    • Click the File menu and select Print.
    • Select your printer from the "Destination" menu.
    • Select how many copies to print (start with one just to make sure you like what you see).
    • Expand the More settings menu.
    • In the "Two-sided" section, check the box next to "Print on both sides," and then select Flip on short edge from the drop-down menu. This is because the file is in landscape mode—flipping on the long side would make the inside print upside-down.^[2]

[Edit]One-Page or Two-Page Brochure

1. Go to https://docs.google.com in your browser. If you're not already signed into Google Docs, follow the on-screen instructions to sign in now with your Google Account.
   
   • Although Google Docs has a brochure template, it's not the typical tri-fold style you may be expecting. Still, it'll work in a pinch when you need to get people the information they need.
2. Hover over the and click the template button. It's the large rainbow plus sign in the bottom-right area of the page. Hovering over the + button reveals the template button, a blue piece of paper icon. This opens the template gallery.
   
3. Click a brochure template in the "Work" section. There are 2 brochure templates in the "Work" section—one called "Modern Writer" (a travel-oriented template) and another called "Geometric" (a basic product template). Click the template that best suits your needs.
   
   • Geometric is a portrait-oriented brochure with 2 pages. You can delete the second page if you just need a one-page brochure.
   • Modern Writer is also a portrait-oriented brochure intended to be folded in half, like a greeting card. It has 4 pages, which is great if you intend to make a booklet. You can also just use 2 pages and delete the rest if you want your brochure to just be 1 piece of paper folded in half.
4. Replace the placeholder text with your own text. You'll notice all the text in the brochure is generic, like "Your Company" and "Product Brochure." Large blocks of placeholder text begin with "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet." Triple-click some placeholder text to highlight it, and then start typing your own content.
   
5. Replace an image. Brochure templates come with images pre-inserted, but you can easily replace them with images of your own without messing up the format. You can also move them around if needed. Here's how to replace an image:
   
   • Click the image to select it.
   • Right-click the image.
   • Select Replace image.
   • Click Upload from computer (or select another location, like Google Drive or Google Photos).
   • Select the replacement image and click Open.
6. Change the image size if needed. With the image still select, click and drag the blue squares on the corners of the image to resize the image.
   
   • If you upload a small image, making it bigger may cause it to look pixelated and fuzzy.
7. Reformat your text if needed. If you want to make text bigger or smaller, use a different font, or use a different color, you can apply your preferred changes by highlighting the text that you want to change and then clicking an option in the menu bar at the top of the page.
   
   • For example, you can make the text bold by highlighting it and then clicking B at the top of the page. Or you can use the "Font" drop-down menu to change the font.
8. Print the brochure. You've successfully designed your brochure! Now you're ready to print and start folding your brochures. Use the following steps to print the brochure:
   
   • Click the File menu and select Print.
   • Select your printer from the Destination menu.
   • Select how many copies to print (start with one just to make sure you like what you see).
   • If you need to print on both sides of the paper, expand the More settings menu and check the box next to "Print on both sides."

[Edit]Sample Brochure

Sample Tri fold Roller Blends Recipe Brochure

Sample Tri fold Roller Blends Recipe Brochure

[Edit]Tips

• Google Docs automatically saves your work every few minutes. Don't worry about having to save your work.
• Brochures are most easily created when all the files that you need for the brochure are in the same place. Consider copying all the photos and documents that you want to use for your brochure onto your computer's desktop to streamline the process.
• You can also create a brochure in Microsoft Word if you'd prefer not to use Google Docs.
• Not all printers support double-sided printing, which is what you'll need to create a folded brochure. Make sure that you have access to a printer that can print on both sides of a sheet before attempting to print your brochure. You can also take a document to a print shop.

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://www.uspress.com/page/eight-five-fourteen-trifold-brochure
2. ↑ http://support.ricoh.com/bb_v1oi/pub_e/oi_view/0001037/0001037857/view/printer/unv/0055.htm

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How to Get Your Dream Job

Maybe you’ve just graduated from university and are struggling to figure out what your dream job might be. Or perhaps you are already working a 9-5 job but are feeling unfulfilled in your current role. Landing your dream job may seem like a daunting task but it can be done with motivation and persistence. You will first need to identify your dream job or the qualities of your dream role and then focus on getting the necessary skills and education for the job so that you can then apply for your dream job and improve your chances of finally landing it.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Identifying Your Dream Job

1. Think about what makes you feel happy and fulfilled. The first big step to getting your dream job is identifying what roles, positions, or skills make you feel happy and fulfilled. Your dream job should be a position that you truly love to do, day in and day out, despite any challenges or obstacles that you may come across. Think back to any times when you were happiest and the most fulfilled.^[1]
   
   • This could be something you enjoyed doing as a child, such as drawing or writing, which could then lead to a dream job in the arts like graphic design or creative writing. Maybe you loved building structures with legos as a kid, which could lead to a dream career as an architect or a builder.
   • You should also consider activities you do now on your off time that you enjoy, such as a recreational sport or a hobby. If you love playing hockey for example, you may consider getting into the retail sport business or starting your own hockey club.
   • You may be doing certain skills or roles in your current job that you enjoy and may want to leverage as ways to transition into a dream job. If you like the people management side of your current role, for example, you may want to consider a career in human relations or a more people focused role.
2. Identify your personal values and ideals. When you think about your dream role, you should think about your personal values and ideals. Your personal values are the core beliefs or ideas that are the most important to you. Identifying your personal values can allow you to really focus on what you are passionate about in your career. Consider some guiding questions to help you identify your personal values:
   
   • Identify at least two individuals you respect or admire. Think about why you admire them. What characteristics do they possess that you admire or appreciate?
   • Think about what you would change or shift in your community. This could be a small issue or a larger issue. Consider what issues or problems get you the most riled up when you talk to others.
   • Try to identify any themes or common ideas in your answers to these guiding questions. These could then be your personal values, which can help you identify your priorities in life. You can use these priorities to get a better sense of what your dream job might entail.
3. Write down your personal goals. Personal goals can motivate you to pursue a certain career option or an educational option which could then become your dream job. Writing down your personal goals forces you to be self reflective and consider what activities or moments are meaningful to you. You can then use these goals to focus on what you are passionate about and how you can achieve your passions, or your dream role.
   
   • Create a schedule for your personal goals so you are motivated to achieve them. Depending on how complex or simple the goals are, you may have different timeframes for each personal goal.
4. Do a best possible self exercise. This exercise can help you to visualize a best possible future self and home in on your dream job or role. Even if you do not have a clear picture of your best possible self, it will help you get better insight into your goals, motivations and passions for the future. It will also require you to be self-reflective and use critical thinking to determine where you see yourself in several years.^[2]
   
   • Use a prompt to do this exercise: “Think about your life in the future. Everything in your life has gone as well as it possibly could. You have achieved your life goals and realized your dreams. Write down what you see.”
   • Write to this prompt three days in a row for 20 minutes a day. On the fourth day, read over your responses. Underline or circle any themes, goals, or ideas that appear multiple times in all three writing responses. These repeating ideas could be useful guides for where your passions might lie and how you can achieve them.
5. Determine your skill set. A big element of achieving your dream job is having the necessary skills to acquire the job. Depending on the skills required for the job, you may be able to learn these skills or work toward learning these skills while you are doing the job. You should consider what skills you already possess as you pursue your dream job, as this can give you the confidence boost you may need to really go for the job.^[3]
   
   • For example, if you already have a background in human resources and have several years experience working closely with others in teams, you may be able to translate these skills into practical skills for a dream job working as an HR representative. If you have extensive knowledge of hockey and strong connections to individuals in the sports community in your area, you may be able to lean on these skills to start your own hockey club.

[Edit]Getting the Necessary Education and Skills for Your Dream Job

1. Research the educational requirements for your dream job. To increase your chances of landing your dream job, you will need to show potential employers or investors that you have the educational requirements for the job. Depending on the dream job you are pursuing, you may only need to take a few continuing education classes to understand the key elements of a field of study, or you may need to consider enrolling in a program to get a degree that will allow you to get hired to do your dream job.^[4]
   
   • Do an online search of the educational requirements for a particular role or job and talk to a career advisor at your school. If your dream job is to be a dolphin trainer, for example, you should get a good sense of the educational requirements and the skillset required to qualify for the position. You can then decide if you would like to pursue the career and enroll in the necessary degree program.
   • You can also ease into your new career by keeping your full-time job and taking night classes that will help you get one step closer to your dream. Over time, you may ask your employer for a work schedule that allows you to go to school part time and gain the education you need for your new, dream career.
2. Identify the skills required for your dream job. To get a better sense of the expectations of your dream job, you should research the skill set required to attain the job and do well in the role. You may find you already have some of the skills required for your dream job or have skills that could be useful when transitioning into your dream job.
   
   • If your dream job is to be a forensic psychologist, for example, you may realize you have several skills or traits that may help you become successful in the role. You may have strong problem solving skills, strong observational skills, and excellent people skills. Having these skills may give you a leg up on others who are also pursuing your dream job.
3. Reach out to mentors, teachers, and other professionals. Get advice and guidance on what it will take to land your dream job by talking to mentors, teachers, and professionals in the field you are pursuing. You should try to find a mentor who is currently doing your dream job or who works closely with individuals who have your dream job. Be willing to listen to their advice and ask them if you can shadow them for a day to learn more about your dream role.^[5]
   
   • You should also ask the mentor, teacher, or professional about the most important thing they have learned in their role and how it has helped them to become successful. Find out more about what you can do to get to where they are and to achieve your dream job.
4. Join a professional association that relates to your dream job. A professional association or organization can be a great way to meet potential mentors, employers, and peers. If your dream job is to be a dolphin trainer, for example, you may join a marine mammal trainers organization in your area.^[6]
   
   • These professional associations can also offer continuing education courses to further your skills and networking sessions where you can get to know potential employers, bringing you one step closer to achieving your dream role.
5. Look for opportunities that offer hands on experience in the role. Hands on experience in your dream job can help you to confirm you would like to pursue the role and to get a better sense of a typical day in your dream job. Internships, fellowships, and volunteer positions can be good ways to get hands on experience and to learn from a more senior individual in the field.^[7]
   
   • You may qualify for internships or fellowships once you complete the education required for your dream job or you may be able to apply for an internship or a fellowship based on your existing skillset and education. Volunteer roles are also good ways of getting some first hand experience and training, especially if you still exploring your dream role and do not yet have the educational requirements for the role.

[Edit]Applying for Your Dream Job

1. Translate internship positions into full time positions. If you manage to get an internship position, you should try to network and connect to as many individuals in the organization as possible. Make your presence known at the company or organization and show that you are willing to learn from more senior individuals. Being a good intern can show the organization that you may also be a good full time employee and you may be able to use your passion, charisma, and eagerness to learn to your advantage.
   
   • It may also be useful to talk to your supervisor or boss at the end of your internship about possible part time or full time positions at the organization. Even a small part time role could lead to a more extensive position and help you get one step closer to your dream job.
2. Tailor your resume to your dream job. Before you send out resumes to potential employers, you should tailor your resume to reflect the educational requirements and skillset needed for your dream role. Doing this will show employers that you are aware of the requirements of the dream role and have considered what you as an employee can offer them.^[8]
   
   • If your dream job is to be a dolphin trainer, for example, you should list any educational experience that relates to the role and any hands on experience you have working with animals, even if the animals are not dolphins. If you belong to a marine mammal trainer association, you should also make note of this to show employers that you are part of the community and are actively involved in the field.
3. Demonstrate passion, drive, and an eagerness to learn in your job interviews. While you may not have all the educational requirements or the skills needed for the role, you can use your passion, drive, and eagerness to learn to show employers you are a good candidate for your dream job. Often, employers are looking for employees who will be motivated, self sufficient, and able to think of their feet. Demonstrating that you have these skills may help to make up for your lack of expertise or hands on experience, as passion and drive can often be more enticing to employers.^[9]
   

[Edit]Video

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/9-steps-to-find-your-dream-job.html
2. ↑ http://www.carolinemiller.com/info/Best_Possible_Future_Selves_Exercise.pdf
3. ↑ http://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/getting-started/6-tips-for-landing-your-dream-job-hot-jobs/article.aspx
4. ↑ http://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/getting-started/6-tips-for-landing-your-dream-job-hot-jobs/article.aspx
5. ↑ https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2013/04/23/how-to-get-hired-for-your-dream-job
6. ↑ https://fortune.com/2014/09/03/9-tips-to-land-your-dream-job/
7. ↑ http://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/getting-started/6-tips-for-landing-your-dream-job-hot-jobs/article.aspx
8. ↑ http://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/getting-started/6-tips-for-landing-your-dream-job-hot-jobs/article.aspx
9. ↑ http://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/getting-started/6-tips-for-landing-your-dream-job-hot-jobs/article.aspx

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