Reports show that the average person changes careers 12 times. With an ever-increasing number of career choices, 30% of the workforce changes careers or jobs every 12 months. Employees don't expect their job to last longer, and today's employers often don't see their employees as lifelong commitments.

The majority of those looking for jobs traditionally have been passive job seekers who can take their time doing research and reaching out to their networking contacts.

Potential employers want to find strong candidates whose experience, strengths, and skills match the job description, so they also take their time passively looking. Good companies know that suitable matches result in motivated, happy employees who help build the company, and taking their time with this decision pays off.

Employees unhappy with their job may need to be more passive job seekers. Your inspiration to change needs to work in tandem with doing something that will help you find a company that will make you happier, not just as unhappy.

At these challenging times, many hope to make the next move, the one that gives them their "dream job." To do just that, start by examining your own story. Identify exactly why you want to move on. Take an honest look at your strengths, abilities, and what's important to you. Knowing these things about yourself will help focus your job search and make for a better fit in the new company.

For example, if you list all your skills, one approach would be to determine which skills you enjoy and find the most satisfaction in using the most. The jobs that most closely match that list will potentially be your dream job or the one you would be the happiest with. That process may sound like a simplification, but a dream job would be doing what you like and are good at. *

Let's say you find a job that requires skills you don't have. You are inspired to learn those new skills and prepare for this career change. It may not be the best job for you if the skills you don't have are ones you won't be good at.

Potential employers often see a candidate currently employed as a more vital potential employee, still valued by his past employer, not someone who was pushed out and considered weaker. Unemployed candidates can easily seem too eager to sell their experience and skills, even when they aren't the best matches.

Unemployed candidates who show passion and excitement about the job might be assumed to be not sincere and need a career rather than a genuine belief that someone can make a real contribution. But, as unfair as this is, being in a position where you don't have to take an offer is an advantage.

Employers usually reach out to someone with the best job skills, experience, and knowledge, so please be sure your resume shows skills and strengths that match those requested on the job listing.

Success in finding a dream job can come from finding the two events that matter to obtain your dream job.

#1. Doing things you like

#2 Doing something you are good at.

The next step after making a list of what skills you have that you like to use and the ones that you are good at is to find the ones that are on the top of both lists and then search for a job where those are the skills they want you to have.