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We all have visions of that perfect job: a job that we love, doing things we are passionate about; a job that has good employment benefits and a good work life balance; a job that is flexible, and most of all, a job that pays well, on top of what is already listed.

Whether you are looking for your first professional job, or just seeking for a bit of extra income, or perhaps you are looking to change your career and follow a different path, it is always important to keep your job search realistic and be willing to compromise on the conditions to advance yourself in the career.

1. Assess yourself
Before you start looking it is important that you know exactly what your capabilities are. There is no point in looking into an executive position when you are only qualified to work as administration. Or, vice versa, if you are highly qualified, then there is no need to put yourself down and accept a job that does not match your skills level.

Look at your current job, or if you are not working, think about what your qualifications are and what you can do. You don't want to under-estimate your abilities nor do you want to be too over confident. What do you like about your current situation, and what do you dislike about it? Is there something that you are looking to get into? What type of working conditions are better for you? These are among the many points to consider about yourself.

2. Assess the job market
After understand yourself as a job applicant, have a look at the job market. There are many job searching websites that provide market trends and salary calculators and comparisons. Look into the particular job in detail will make sure you know what to expect and know what to ask for when you apply for your job.

Look carefully at the job offer and the company. Does the job description fit what you have been looking for? Are they paying enough? What sort of qualifications do they require and do you have them? Looking at the market trends and find out if the job is paying the average wage, or are they paying less than everyone else?

3. Be flexible
As much as we want everything about that dream job we have been thinking about, sometimes these jobs are simply just hard to come by. Allowing yourself to be flexible and negotiable about jobs and the employment conditions will have you land your next job successfully. This does not mean you can't have everything. Most people do work their way up and if you prove to be valuable to the business, you might just get that perfect working condition in the near future.

Being realistic doesn't mean you need to put down your confidence. It is about knowing who you are and what you want to do, and understanding the market so you don't sell yourself short, or end up expecting too much and not finding a job.

Learn more about this author, Amy Huang.
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