Many of us have memories of being a child and having an idea of what we “wanted to be when we grew up.” Adults would ask. We’d be assigned prompts from teachers begging the question. We’d see our role models reflected in TV, books, or current events that made us want—or not want—to pursue the same career(s) as them.

This led us to try and think of our dream job, a concept that most likely evolved. Maybe you’re even still figuring out what your dream job is. Or perhaps you have an idea of it but don’t know where to start. We’ve rounded up some tips for overcoming self-doubt and pursuing your dream job.

Acknowledge any self-doubt—but don’t let it stop you

When you were younger, were you told you’d be president one day? If so, you’re not alone. A lot of us grew up with an ambitious goal in mind. Although you still may not want to be president, it doesn’t hurt to have lofty goals. On the journey to accomplish these goals—and land your dream job—it’s also fundamental to recognize any self-doubt that could be lingering.

Recognize that success doesn’t happen overnight, but you can set small goals for yourself on the way to achieving bigger ones.  

Recognize excuses

What’s stopping you from landing your dream job? Well, I’m sure a lot of things. Most people must make money in some way, even if it’s not at their dream gig. The important thing is to examine excuses when they arise. Say you can’t make a networking event—why is that? What are you prioritizing in your life over it? Once we allow ourselves to examine our excuses and re-frame our mindset around them, we open up opportunities to carve out time for larger goals.

Build a career-specific resume

The art of the resume evolves every day. Be sure to stay on top of current resume trends and buzzwords. Also, keep in mind that employers could be looking for a resume tailored to the job. If you’re making a pivot to a job in graphic design, you’re going to want to follow current graphic design trends—especially from the companies you’re applying to.

Build a network

Network, network, network. The only way employers will know you’re interested is if you put yourself out there. Reach out to people at your dream company or those who have your dream role. Interview them and pick their brain about their job and industry. Also, you may want to consider joining a job search club. Doing all of this will help build your network—and you may learn helpful information in the meantime.

Pick up freelancing

The Great Resignation is continuing to shake up traditional workplace standards. It’s also a time when more people have switched to freelancing. According to a study from freelancing platform Upwork, 36 percent of the U.S. workforce did freelance jobs during 2021, an increase of 2 million people from the year before. Even if you’re not ready to make a full-time career move, you still can build a portfolio and gain experience through freelancing.

So you may have wanted to be an astronaut at the age of five and now you have a different job in mind. Regardless of the career, if you are dedicated and engaged, your genuine interest in your dream job will ultimately shine through.

Once remote work gained popularity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies with office spaces decided to re-think their plan to work together in person. While a portion of businesses require essential workers, a large majority of companies can operate on a remote or hybrid level, which also means they’re now more inclusive.

And with The Great Resignation, most employees are in favor of this type of work. According to a recent survey, 74% of professionals expect remote work to become standard.

Research shows a positive uptick in remote work—and positive benefits that come from it.

LinkedIn Changemaker and disability inclusion consultant, Martyn Sibley, said: “Disabled people face many barriers in daily life. Workplace barriers are the most disabling for two reasons – because work provides us with financial independence and is also fulfilling mentally. Flexible working can help remove some of these barriers and create new employment opportunities, which is extremely positive for disabled people, employers and society as a whole. As companies consider what the future of work looks like, I’m hopeful that they will use this moment to redesign work to make it more inclusive for all.”

Here are some ways in which remote work is inclusive.

It allows flexibility for parenting

Without a commute and having to be in an office all day, parents of children of all ages have more flexibility when arranging daycare, scheduling pickups to and from school, and being present at home.

Also, statistically, women are the primary caretakers in our country and have to adjust their careers more than men do. If women are in this position, remote work allows them more freedom to be both a parent and an employee.

It’s more economically inclusive

Before the pandemic, many employees not only commuted but super commuted—meaning they traveled more than 90 minutes each way, mainly due to the economic limitations that come with living in a more populated (or popular) city.

Now, due to the uptick of remote roles, people no longer have to live in the same city as their company, saving money and allowing flexibility to travel or live anywhere in the U.S.—or abroad depending on their company’s rules.

It benefits employees of color

Unfortunately, people of color who work in predominantly white offices are likely to experience racism of all types.

“Employees of color face microaggressions and friction in the office on a regular basis,” Subramanian says. “When that happens in-person, there’s more pressure on the employees to grin and bear it, or ignore the comment, whereas in a remote environment, there’s the freedom to close your laptop and walk away, and less opportunities for microaggressions to happen in the first place,” Sheela Subramanian, the vice president of the Future Forum said.

It’s more accessible for people with physical or mental limitations  

Did you know that over six million people in America’s workforce have some form of disability? Both commuting and in-person work limit people with disabilities, depending on their nature.

Additionally, a recent Wall Street Journal piece examined how the pandemic has created a new space for neurodiverse candidates within cybersecurity jobs. It highlights how video conferencing features specifically are particularly helpful for people with ADHD or those with auditory processing disorders.

Ultimately, remote work has proven to open more doors than the traditional in-person office model does. It’s proven to produce the same or more levels of productivity while also catering to a more inclusive community.