Time Out New York

Robin Baron discusses simple rules for finding your dream job: get a foot in the door and build your interpersonal skills.

Excerpt from “Find Your Dream Job: Live Off the Rich“:

STEP 1: Have the right background.

Getting any job catering to the wealthy—whether as a private chef or personal assistant—requires that you are able to impress the not-so-easily impressed.  In other words, you need skills.  Robin Baron of high-end residential interior design firm Robin Baron Design admits that while a degree from a top school is nice, you will have learned very little about what it takes to actually be in the business.  After graduation, she recommends starting at entry level and getting paid to learn and interact with clients as a professional.

With that basic background, the job clincher is often simply how well you click with your potential employer.  “People skills are really important in terms of being successful in the market,” Baron says.  “People can pretty much sum you up within the first 30 seconds of meeting you, so how you look and how you carry yourself matters.  They don’t teach you that in school.”