Have you decided to make 2018 the year when you finally land a new job; that dream job?

The current job hunting landscape is more complicated that ever and it can be stressful to figure out how to stand out from the pack. That is why Skillshare, the online learning community of over three million students, has partnered with us at Glassdoor to create a new step by step guide on job hunting in the digital age. Whether you are looking to make a big change or just starting to consider your next step, here are some tips on how to manage every aspect of your search, from updating your resume, to navigating negotiation.

Narrow down

Starting the job search can feel overwhelming. You know what you want, but are not exactly sure how to get there, or which one of the hundreds available job ads is the right fit for you. A good starting point is to consider these three steps:

1. Start by thinking about your skillset – what are your strengths and weaknesses, and do they correlate with what you enjoy doing or not?
2. Work-life balance – how do you see your job fitting into your life and what are the factors that you need to take into consideration, i.e. a partner, children, commute, hobbies, etc.?
3. The next five years  – do you know what job you would like but realize that you do not have the experience to get you there yet? Don’t worry. Instead, write up a five year plan and think about what jobs you will need to do to get to that final dream job.

Build new skills

If you realize that there is a quality or skill you need in order to get that dream job, don’t rule it out. Today, it is fairly easy to learn or brush up on a skill without having to go back to school full-time or it costing you a fortune. Instead, you can turn online and look for a platform that offers online classes such as  Skillshare, which has classes in everything from business to design and beyond.

Customize your resume

Even if you are looking for different positions that are all within the same industry, it is still important to tailor your resume to the specific job that you are applying for. Read through the job description carefully and make sure to include the key words and requirements they are looking for in your resume. By doing so, you are showing the hiring managers that you have done your research and are qualified for  the  position. It is also good to keep the resume concise and to the point. Standard is to keep it to a page or a page and a half, especially when applying to an entry-level position. If you are in a creative field, you might consider creating an infographic resume to showcase your talents and help you stand out from other applicants. For a guide on creating a visual resume, check out this Skillshare class from graphic designer, Catherine Madden.

Prepare for your interview

Congratulations, you have made it to the next stage! This is your chance to show how brilliant you are. The best way to counteract the pre-interview jitters is to make sure you are prepared. A good way to boost your confidence and get inspired is to watch TED talks. Two good ones are; Five Ways To Kill Your Dreams by Bel Pesce or How To Find Work You Love by Scott Dinsmore. 

Before going on an interview, consider doing these four steps:

Research the company you are interviewing with and the work they do.

1. Practice answering common interview questions beforehand.
2. Depending on what job you are applying for, bring along materials and examples of previous work you have done.
3. If you know who will be interviewing you, look up background information about them.
4. In addition to preparing for how to properly answer an interview question, you should also prep what information you want to know from the interviewer.

Start somewhere

According to the most recent numbers by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, today’s average worker stays at a job for 4.4 years, but the expected tenure of the workforce’s youngest employees is about half that.

With that in mind, you are not bound to stay in one job for the rest of your life, so do not stress too much. Perhaps you need to kiss a couple of frogs before you meet the right match, or you need to do one job to be ready for the dream position.

Start your own

If is worth considering that perhaps your dream job is not at an established company, but rather a project or product that you want to develop. It is easy to be intimidated by all the reasons not to do it: it is risky, you could go into debt, you won’t have a social life – the list goes on. But there are just as many, if not more, reasons to take the leap and start your own. You don’t need to jump into the deep end straight away, though. Instead, establish the project as a side hustle and watch it grow into your dream. Start here, and be inspired by these nine companies that started out this way.