How to Get Your Dream Job in the Lifestyle Industry

6 Tips for Establishing and Growing a Career in the Digital Space
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Is your dream job in the lifestyle industry?  In the past five years, a blogging career has proven to not only be possible, but it can be very fulfilling.  One-woman shows are now successful companies with teams of creative editors and contributors. 

I first worked for two and a half years as a public relations professional before becoming an editor for Waiting on Martha.  I’ll be honest with you: I put a lot of stress on myself about landing my job, and now, looking back, I would have done some of it differently.  At the time, I didn’t understand the importance of being flexible and open-minded.  It’s crucial to have a come-to-Jesus-talk with yourself about the definition of your “dream job” and what it all entails, while remaining open to the twists and turns it may give you along the way. 

In the slideshow above, I’ve outlined six tips I have for someone interested in breaking into the lifestyle industry through a career with a blog or creative website. There is a plethora of helpful job hunting sites and it’s very helpful to read expert advice, but I always like to tell people to also be curious, stay persistent and be flexible.  It’s a constantly evolving dream to chase after, and a lot of the path is new to pave, but it is so rewarding to find yourself in a role that both challenges you and excites you.  Good luck!  Cheers, Kat 

SHOP THE STORY / CLICK LEFT & RIGHT ARROWS TO EXPLORE

 

 

DO YOUR RESEARCH

DO YOUR RESEARCH

IF YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE INDUSTRY, YOU'LL ALREADY BE DOING THIS WITHOUT REALIZING IT. BY REGULARLY READING INDUSTRY SITES AND INTERVIEWS OF THE PEOPLE YOU ADMIRE, YOU'LL BE A FEW STEPS CLOSER TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT TAKES TO GET STARTED AND SUCCEED (AND YOU MAY EVEN TWEAK YOUR PATH A BIT AFTER DOING SO).

RECOGNIZE THE HANDFUL OF BLOGS AND BRANDS YOU ENJOY FOLLOWING, AND KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S TRENDING IN THE EVER-CHANGING LIFESTYLE SCENE.

SOME OF MY FAVORITE SOURCES OF INFORMATION FOR CAREER ADVICE, ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS AND ALL THINGS LIFESTYLE INCLUDE: MY DOMAINE, THE EVERYGIRL AND STYLE ME PRETTY LIVING.

SHOP THE LOOK:




VIA PINTEREST
ANALYZE YOUR PATH

ANALYZE YOUR PATH

KEEPING UP WITH CURRENT TRENDS IN THE BIZ IS IMPORTANT, BUT LEARNING TO SPEAK TO IT AND ANALYZE THE CONTENT WILL BE YOUR SECRET WEAPON IN THE JOB SEARCH.

ASK YOURSELF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE READING AND ANALYZE WHY YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO. THESE QUESTIONS CAN HELP YOU PINPOINT YOUR INTERESTS AND LEAD YOU ON A PRACTICAL PATH TO JOINING THE TEAMS THAT YOU ADMIRE, WHILE EQUIPPING YOU WITH SOMETHING TO BRING TO THE TABLE TOO.

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VIA MY DOMAINE, BY COURTESY OF LOVELY LIFE
FINE-TUNE YOUR SKILLS

FINE-TUNE YOUR SKILLS

BEING IN THE LIFESTYLE INDUSTRY AS A BLOGGER OR WEBSITE EDITOR WILL REQUIRE A HANDFUL OF PRACTICAL SKILLS YOU CAN FINE-TUNE ELSEWHERE. CONSIDER ENTRY-LEVEL JOBS IN ADVERTISING, MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS TO CREATE A STRONG FOUNDATION TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS. IN AN OFFICE, YOU'LL LEARN DOZENS OF CRUCIAL BUSINESS SKILLS, EMAIL ETIQUETTE, MULTI-TASKING AND PRIORITIZATION, CLIENT RELATIONS, THE INS AND OUTS OF CONFERENCE CALLS, MEETINGS AND MORE.

CONSIDER WORKING ON IMPORTANT SKILLS THAT INTEREST YOU SUCH AS PHOTOGRAPHY, GRAPHIC DESIGN, CODING, STYLING AND WRITING. THESE ARE THE "LIFE SKILLS" IN LIFESTYLE I LIKE TO SAY, AND THE MORE TIME YOU SPEND MASTERING THEM, THE MORE YOU CAN OFFER IN YOUR DREAM ROLE.

SHOP THE LOOK:




VIA LARK & LINEN
BE FLEXIBLE

BE FLEXIBLE

ODDS ARE, THE TIMING, THE PAY, THE BENEFITS AND/OR THE LOCATION OF THE GIG YOU'RE DREAMING ABOUT WON'T PERFECTLY MATCH YOUR GOALS.

BE FLEXIBLE AND STAY OPEN-MINDED. THE OPPORTUNITY MAY OPEN ITSELF UP TO YOU AT A LATER DATE, YOU MAY COME ACROSS AN EVEN BETTER GIG IN THE MEANTIME AS A RESULT OF YOUR DISCUSSIONS, OR YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF IN A POSITION TO MAKE IT HAPPEN ON DIFFERENT TERMS. IT'S EASY TO GET YOUR HEART SET ON ONE SCENARIO, BUT IN THIS SOMEWHAT NEW INDUSTRY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE.

SHOP THE LOOK:




VIA LARK & LINEN
GET OUT THERE

GET OUT THERE

THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND SITE ENGAGEMENT (READ: INSTAGRAM COMMENTS, TWEETS, REGRAMS, BLOG POST COMMENTS, ETC.) YOU CAN MAKE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH BRANDS, BLOGGERS AND FELLOW CREATIVES IN THE INDUSTRY.

PLAN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS AND CASUAL COFFEE DATES. SHOW YOUR CURIOSITY AND INTEREST IN THE PERSON'S WORK AND USE TAKEAWAYS TO ALIGN YOUR PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR POSITION AND YOUR PERSONAL GOALS. FOCUS ON THE CONNECTION WITH THE PERSON FIRST AND FOREMOST AND BE GRATEFUL OF THEIR TIME. GOOD THINGS WILL FOLLOW IF IT'S A GOOD FIT.

LASTLY, SIGN UP FOR NETWORKING EVENTS AND CONFERENCES TO MEET LIKE-MINDED PROFESSIONALS AND LEARN KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM PIONEERS IN THE BLOGGING GAME.

SHOP THE LOOK:




VIA WAITING ON MARTHA
DON'T STOP

DON'T STOP

FINDING YOUR "DREAM JOB" MAY OR MAY NOT UNFOLD HOW YOU IMAGINED.

AND ONCE YOU DO LAND A JOB YOU LOVE, DON'T STOP. THE HARD WORK DOESN'T STOP WHEN YOU GET THE JOB, AND YOUR DREAM JOB WILL DEFINITELY STILL INCLUDE TASKS YOU AREN'T CRAZY ABOUT. ONE OF THE BEST PIECES OF ADVICE I HAVE FOR YOU IS: "HEAD DOWN, HUSTLE ON."

SHOP THE LOOK:




VIA MY DOMAINE, BY LE FASHION
ADDITIONAL CREDITS:

Photography, Rustic White

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PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL. WAITING ON MARTHA IS A PLACE FOR POSITIVITY, INSPIRATION, CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM AND HEALTHY DEBATE. THOSE THAT ARE DEEMED INAPPROPRIATE, INCLUDING GENERAL OR SELF-PROMOTIONAL SPAM, OFFENSIVE STATEMENTS, OR COMMENTS UNRELATED TO THE STORY WILL BE DELETED.

  • I think the advice on keeping your head down and doing your thing is so important for everyone in the industry! It’s when I do my best work. Loved this write up, Kat.

  • Kat Neunaber / 07.28.2015

    Thanks so much, Jess! xo

  • I love this post Kat! You are living my dream and this post was a good reminder to keep plugging away and working hard- thanks for the inspiration! XO, Diana

  • I love all of these tips, super informative!!

    xoxo,

    http://www.missharwell.com

  • That orange lamp is stunning with that black and white patterned wall paper!

    XO, Jessi
    mywhiteT.com

  • Kat Neunaber / 07.29.2015

    So glad you enjoyed it! xo

  • Kat Neunaber / 07.29.2015

    Stay tuned for more shots in an upcoming collab with World Market! You will love love love! xo

  • Kat Neunaber / 07.29.2015

    So glad you thought so, Hannah! Thank you! xo

  • Great advice, Kat! Thanks for sharing these tips with us!

  • Kat Neunaber / 08.05.2015

    Of course! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I realize all situations are very different, but I wish I had known to be a lot more flexible and patient when I was going through the transition. Cheers doll xo

  • Ethel Jane / 05.29.2017

    Thank you for sharing these tips and encouragement. I subscribed hoping to see more posivity and inspiration along the way! Love this!

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