Everybody has a dream career, and I believe that it is important to dream big. However, some dreams may seem way too big to accomplish. I’m here with Roger Scott, the head trader of WealthPress, to tell you that there’s nothing that a well-designed plan and a lot of effort can’t accomplish.

As I mentioned, Roger Scott is the head trader at WealthPress with over 25 years of experience and has truly achieved his dream career. Now, he’s agreed to do an interview with me and give some tips on achieving any career you have your mindset on.

How important is planning when it comes to getting the career you want? Which is more important, effort or planning?

All the effort in the world will not achieve a goal if you’re not applying that effort to the proper avenues. So I believe planning is more important, definitely.

I think creating a detailed plan and listing out your long-term, and short-term goals is one of the best steps you can take toward accomplishing your career goals.

How detailed should someone’s plan be? Should they create the plan immediately and then stick to it?

Not exactly. I do recommend creating a very detailed plan. It should be a blueprint of your career path. However, you should also re-evaluate your plan every so often. Don’t just look at your plan and your roadmap; take a look at your goals.

People change their goals all the time, and when your goals change, your plan should change as well. You don’t want to follow a plan that will ultimately lead you to a career you no longer want, right?

Do people need a college degree to achieve their career goals? Does it depend on the career?

I will say that I think education and knowledge go a lot further than any degree. For example, if you want to become successful in the financial industry, there are many ways to improve your financial literacy without getting a degree.

With that being said, some careers will require that degree. These thoughts are not contradictory. Many people simply coast through school without learning a thing.

This may make them employable, but there is a ceiling for this type of person. Spend as much of your time learning as you possibly can.

Even if your specific career path doesn’t require a degree, you should still learn everything you possibly can. Knowledge and confidence are how you succeed in any industry.

Once you have the education required for the job you want, how can you get your foot in the door?

Many people won’t like to hear this, but you have to network. There are so many ways to network in the age of technology. It’s not all about career fairs and meet-ups. You can message someone on LinkedIn and ask for a virtual coffee meeting.

In that meeting, you can ask what they do and how they enjoy the work and end it off by offering them a copy of your resume to pass on to the hiring manager. The more personable and likable you are, the easier it will be.

Speaking of resumes, do you have any resume advice?

Well, I’ve always agreed with the advice that you should tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for. You’d be surprised what a difference spending half an hour to an hour changing up your resume can do.

The personal touch will make it much more attractive to the place you’re applying, and there’s a reason this is probably the number one most echoed piece of resume advice out there.