Has the State of the Economy Made You Lose Your Ambition?

Would you say you’re an ambitious woman? Do you go off the beaten path to get out your dreams, or are you taking what you can get to help pay the bills and that’s it? It’s understandable with unemployment rates skyrocketing to tire of looking for your dream job and just do what you need to do to get things done: light bill paid, rent covered, food in the fridge. But before you assume your degree is going to go to waste and fall into whatever comes your way (a la Tetris), know that you don’t have to give up—you’ll just have to hustle harder than before. Here are five things you need to keep in mind while you fill out job applications on the low and plan your next move to get the job you really, REALLY want. Never say never folks.

Practice Makes Perfect. You’ve got the 9 to 5 job. Your bills are getting paid, you’re making new friends, but in the back of your mind, you know you want to spend that 9 to 5 writing stories, designing layouts, making clothes—doing something that pertains to the degree you spent four or more years obtaining. So it’s 5 p.m. and you’re on your way home, now what? Free time available after you do your everyday gig should be spent honing the craft you’re most interested in. You like to write? Big on sharing your opinion with others? Create a colorful Tumblr page. You want to show off your design experience? Work on a website or re-construct some of your favorite ads to throw in your portfolio. Hope to be the next Alexander McQueen? Keep those sketches coming and continue crafting unique

pieces. Look for freelance opportunities that are flexible, but keep busy. A true hustler uses free time to their benefit to become better at what they really want to do, so intern, volunteer, whatever you do, you better work!

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