The elusive career path to find your dream job
It’s something a lot of people think about when they’re starting their careers: a perfect situation in which they’re doing work they love and making great money. But is the dream job really a dream come true? Or just a fantasy that can never be realized?
In this article, we’ll explore the idea of the dream job and show you how to find the best job for you right now. Follow these five steps and you’ll be on your way to career happiness!
The side effects of obsessing over dream jobs
While it feels reassuring to think there might be a single answer to your career troubles wrapped up in one neat job, it’s rare things happen that way.
As a career coach I’ve heard from thousands of people who think this way, and it affects how they think about career planning and expectations — often not in a good way.
Here are some of the side effects of dream job thinking:
- You get picky and want to consider only certain types of jobs, even if they’re not a good match for your skills or interests.
- You might turn down good opportunities because they’re not the “perfect” job.
- You might stay in a job you don’t like for far too long because you’re afraid to leave without having another dream job lined up.
- You might not interview well because you’re so focused on making sure the company is a good match for you, rather than the other way around.
- Your dream job might not exist, or it might not be as dreamy as you thought.
- You might not be able to get your dream job without years of experience or connections.
- Your dream job might not pay as much as you want it to.
No Such Thing As A Dream Job
There’s a theme that runs through these side effects. The idea of the “dream job” is that it ticks every box. I can tell you from my experience dealing with a cross section of thousands of people that there is no job out there that ticks every box.
Some jobs may tick 95% of your boxes, or even all but one, but they never tick all. And that’s absolutely fine! That’s normal! You need to focus on finding the right career for you, rather than waiting around for the “dream” job to come along.
This is why I believe “dream job” is a misnomer. Really what most people mean is “the best job, right now, for me.”
@empoweredachievers Here’s a perfect example of why dream jobs are bogus! Meet Kate. Have you ever experienced this at a dream job? #dreamjob #highachiever #careerclarity #careerclaritycoach #alignment #lostmyspark #exitentialcrisis #peoplepleaser #quarterlifecrisis #corporatemillennial #trustyourself #followyourpurpose ♬ original sound – Chris | Purpose Coach
While it’s not as catchy, it’s actually a far better descriptor and a worthy goal to work toward. Really, this is “The Ideal Job.”
The Ideal Job allows for at least a little bit of compromise in your career choices. This is a far healthier way to see your career.
The Ideal Job: A healthier outlook for career planning
It’s far better to look for the job that ticks most of your boxes, not all. Here are some examples of the types of boxes an ideal job might tick:
- I get to use my strengths every day.
- I’m doing work that’s interesting to me.
- I feel like I’m making a difference.
- My co-workers are great.
- I have room to grow in this role.
- I’m being paid what I’m worth.
- I have a good work-life balance.
- My company has values that align with my own.
It’s far more likely you’ll find a job that ticks most, but not all, of these boxes.
Remember, you can always strive to make improvements in your career over time. If you’re not happy with your current situation, look for ways to make small changes that will improve your work life. And if you’re really unhappy, it’s always okay to look for a new job!
So don’t get hung up on the idea of the dream job. It’s not realistic and it’s not healthy. Instead, focus on finding the best job for you right now.
How to find the best job for you right now
Here are five steps to help you find the best job for you right now:
- Identify your core values.
- Assess your skills and interests.
- Rank your personal needs & priorities.
- Research different types of jobs.
- Network with the right people.
Identify Your Core Values
Core values are like your personal principles — rules that dictate how you like to live your life. They also influence what you expect from those around you, and therefore affect how you feel about your work, colleagues, and team culture where you operate.
Someone who knows that one of their core values is, for example, fairness, would feel confident avoiding an industry that treats people unfairly even though they have relevant skills for that industry and would be paid highly. They would still be able to sleep better at night and wouldn’t waste years going into the wrong industry.
Figuring out your possible values
Ask yourself questions such as:
- What behavior do I want to exhibit consistently?
- How do I like to be treated?
- What personality traits don’t I like in people?
- What positive traits do my closest friends share?
Thinking about how you want the perfect you to behave is a good place to start. What does that ideal you look like? Note the behaviors themselves as potential values. For example, do you always want to be respectful? Perhaps funny? Inspiring?
Consider how you like to be treated. What you want from other people often indicates your expectations, and our expectations are ultimately derived from our values. If you expect to be treated fairly, perhaps fairness might be a value to you.
Also consider the opposite: What don’t you like in people? Behavior you find distasteful is a strong indicator of your values, as they will usually be complete opposites.
And ask yourself why your closest friends are your closest friends. What about them attracts you to them? They likely exhibit the traits and therefore shared values you want to be around.
Questions such as these will help to pick out certain traits that you prefer which could indicate your core values. These core values then act as your north star for decision making.
2. Assess your skills and interests
It’s worth noting your main work interests. I don’t mean “passions,” as it’s not good advice to always chase your passions for work — it’s perfectly fine to have different passions for your personal life.
Think about what you find intellectual stimulating about work. What topics do you like to read about in your spare time that are work-related? What trends, articles, and discussions keep you interested? These can be a good indicator for the types of roles and career paths might interest you.
You should also consider what skills and experience you have to leverage immediately. Skills are strengths that you’ve developed through experience, learning, or practice — they’re things that come naturally to you or that you’ve gotten good at over time.
You might have a skill for understanding complex problems quickly, or for being able to maintain calm under pressure, and these are things that would be attractive to a potential employer and give you an edge in certain roles when applying for a job.
It also helps to focus more on your transferable skills, rather than pure vocational skills. Vocationally specific skills are those that are only applicable to a certain industry or job — for example, if you’re a Web developer, you might have skills in React or HTML. These skills can make it harder to switch careers, as they’re not easily transferable to other industries or roles.
On the other hand, transferable skills are those that can be applied in a range of industries or roles — for example, problem solving, teamwork, or adaptability. These skills are much more valuable as they make you more employable in general and give you the ability to switch careers more easily if you need or want to.
Once you’ve considered your skills and interests to help inform your future job search, you also need to consider your non-negotiable needs.
3. Rank your personal needs and priorities
This is all about setting up your decision-making for success. But before you rank you needs, you first need to figure out what your needs are!
This can be done by asking yourself a series of questions that help uncover what you need most in a career. Do you need more money, more time, more responsibility? Do you need to feel challenged or do you prefer stability?
Hopefully one or two are fairly obvious already and are part of what’s driving you to look for a new career path and more job satisfaction. getting down more than one or two is harder but essential. You don’t only have one or two priorities — everyone has many competing priorities that then need ranking. These priorities and ideas are different depending on whether you’re in your 20s, 30s, or 40s, whether you have kids, and so on, and they influence how you transition into something better.
Different types of needs
Common things people need from a career are: more money, more responsibility, new skills, better work-life balance, a shorter commute, job satisfaction, and so on. It could be returning to education and getting a new degree or trying online courses to help change careers.
But it’s not just about having things — people often need to avoid certain situations as well.
If you have young children at home, you might want to avoid a career that involves too much travel. You might want to avoid working in an industry that is under threat or in decline like your current career.
And it’s not just about work — your needs might be not related to work; you might need to live closer to family, you might want to move to a sunnier climate, or you might wish to pursue a hobby full time.
Remember, your needs are unique to you, so spend some time thinking about what they are.
Ranking your priorities
Now that you have a good list of potential priorities, it’s time to start ranking them.
Remember, we’re looking for a significant difference that will have a big impact on your life.
That means your top priority should be something that would make the biggest difference to your happiness and satisfaction. It might not be the easiest thing to achieve, but it should be the most important.
For example, if you’re looking for a complete change of scenery, a move to another country might be your top priority. If you’re looking for a big change at work, a promotion or starting your own business might be what you need.
Some priorities will be easier to achieve than others, and some may not be possible at all. That’s fine — just make sure the ones you do choose are ones that would have the biggest impact on your life and make you the happiest.
4. Research different types of jobs
It’s important not to limit your thinking when considering new directions for a career change. Your research doesn’t have to be directly tied to your current job. Your search needs to start from scratch to maximize the chances that you discover some exciting new options.
Here are some ideas to get your research started:
- Read job descriptions for roles that interest you
- Research companies that are doing interesting things in your field
- Look up salary information for different types of jobs
- Check out job postings on websites such as Indeed or LinkedIn or Glassdoor
- Attend career fairs or networking events
- Read articles or books about people who have made a successful career change
The most important thing is to keep an open mind and be willing to consider anything and everything. You never know where your next job might be hiding.
5. Network with the right people
I want to address this separately as I think it’s a vital part of research, probably the most valuable part.
Your network is a group of people you know and who know you. It’s made up of your friends, family, colleagues, classmates, and so on. And it’s an incredibly valuable resource when making a career change.
The reason networking is so important: The vast majority of jobs are never advertised. They’re filled through word-of-mouth, typically by someone in your network.
So if you’re serious about making a career change, you need to start growing your network. Here are some ideas:
- Join relevant professional organisations or groups
- Attend industry events or conferences
- Connect with people on social media (LinkedIn is great for this)
- Meet people by taking up a hobby or volunteering
- Get in touch with old friends, family or acquaintances
The more people you know, the more likely it is that you’ll hear about an exciting opportunity.
It’s also worth mentioning that networking isn’t just about finding a job — it’s also about getting advice and guidance from people who have been there and done it. This is what I mean by “the right people.” Don’t go spamming your online networks; make a concerted effort to build new valuable connections.
Conclusion: Making the change
Making a career change can be a big decision and it’s not something you should take lightly. But if you’re unhappy in your current role, or you’re simply ready for something new, it could be the best decision you ever make.
Just remember to do your research, set your priorities, and network with the right people and you’ll be well on your way to finding the best new job for you.
Don’t let perfect be the enemy of great — focus on the best you can do given the circumstances, and perhaps have a multistep plan to work your way toward your dreams. Don’t wait for your dreams to come to you, go make them happen!
This article originally appeared on Tribe And Seek and was syndicated by MediaFeed.
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15 weird jobs that can pay big money
You do what for a living?
There are many more occupations that are held by the roughly 128 million full-time workers in the U.S. than the typical jobs that first come to our minds. If you’ve ever watched the show Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe, there’s a good chance it opened your eyes to the existence of a countless number of professions that fall way outside your typical nine-to-five.
As weird and unconventional as many of these jobs may be, it doesn’t mean they’re not good, respectable jobs. Many of these jobs come with salaries you wouldn’t be ashamed to discuss. They’re just…different. And, like any job, they each come with their own set of rewards and challenges.
But if you’re looking for a job that’s a little different — but also pays surprisingly well — then look no further.
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What’s considered to be a good salary in the U.S. depends heavily on where in the U.S. you’re located. But in an attempt to define “a job that pays surprisingly well,” we considered salaries that would land the worker in what Pew Research Center defines as “middle class.” According to their analysis of government data, that means those whose income is two-thirds to double the national median, which was $57,617 as of 2016. This puts a three-person household earning roughly $45,000 to $135,000 in the “middle class.” So you’ll see all our chosen jobs fall within this range.
For each job, we sourced income information from a combination of reputable salary websites. We looked at the pay ranges for each job and created an average salary range to give you a better idea of the potential compensation for each career.
Finally, when it comes to how we define “weird,” we either chose jobs you might not know to exist or that would be considered strange for a child to express interest in doing when they grow up. Let me clarify by saying there is nothing against any of these jobs. They just likely wouldn’t be the first job that comes to mind when choosing a profession.
With that in mind, here are 15 weird jobs that pay weirdly well, too.
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These inspectors make sure your elevator delivers you seamlessly, but their job also goes beyond elevators. These inspectors examine and maintain all lifting and conveying devices — such as elevators, escalators, moving sidewalks, ski lifts, and even amusement park rides — to ensure they meet safety and compliance codes. The next time you reach your floor without plummeting to the ground, you know who to thank.
Education: To elevate your chances of landing one of these jobs, you’ll typically need at least a high school diploma with considerable related-work experience, as inspectors typically learn on the job.
Average salary range: $44,000-$81,000
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Nuclear power plants generate roughly 20% of U.S. electricity, and it takes a highly-trained licensed professional to ensure these plants never come anywhere close to having a meltdown.
Other than working in an overly-secure environment that’s sensitive to attack, nuclear power reactor operators are responsible for operating and controlling nuclear reactors. A normal day consists of adjusting control rods, monitoring reactors, and responding to abnormalities. No sweat, right?
Education: Nuclear power reactor operators typically need at least a high school diploma, but there’s extensive on-the-job training needed to prepare for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) license exam. You’ll have to pass a yearly exam to keep your license as well.
Average salary range: $60,000-$120,000
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If your passion for wine extends beyond drinking it, a job as a sommelier might be of interest. A sommelier, or wine steward, manages everything from identifying and purchasing an organization’s wine collection to its proper storage and promotion. You’ll likely work with kitchen staff to develop food and wine pairings, as well.
Sommeliers commonly work with upscale restaurants, hotels, and other locations where expensive wines are sold. They’re expected to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of wines, vineyards, geographic regions, and, of course, the grapes themselves.
Education: Requirements can vary, but some employers look for years of experience in addition culinary school training with an emphasis in fermented grape drink (wine).
Average salary range: $40,000-$71,000
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They may get their start in your grandma’s retirement-home bingo hall, but you’ll typically find these professionals managing the bingo departments of casinos, and it can be big business. A bingo manager oversees and directs the daily activities of the department, approving jackpots and payouts, and ensuring compliance with federal and state gaming regulations.
Education: Specific requirements will differ depending on the employer, but you’ll typically need 3-5 years of experience to land a gig as a bingo manager. Unfortunately, your grandmother’s referral won’t hold much weight.
Average salary range: $45,000-$100,000
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You can’t just slap a hot-dog stand anywhere on the side of the road and expect to make a killing, but in the right location, a full-time gig selling hot-dogs can turn a decent profit. It’s not unheard of for vendors in prime New York City spots to pay over $300,000 in annual rent to the city — so what must they be bringing in if they can afford this type of fee?
According to the New York Post, one hot dog vendor raked in up to $400 each day when business was peaking and only paid $60 a year for a vendor’s license.
Education: While no specific education requirements are necessary, you are running a business, so brushing up on key business skills couldn’t hurt.
Estimated salary range: $100,000-$300,000+?
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I’ve had some terrible ice cream, so either not all ice cream is taste-tested or these companies need a new set of mouths working for them. Regardless, it’s a real gig that pays real money, but do you want to chance ruining your love of ice cream with too much of it? Yes, yes we do.
An ice cream taster, also known as a taste tester or food scientist, checks to make sure each type of ice cream is up to snuff, containing the right ingredients, textures, and flavors so consumers won’t be disappointed. Depending on the role and the company, tasters may even be involved with inventing new ice cream flavors.
Education: Many companies look for candidates to have a degree in dairy science or food science, as well as a keen sensitivity to tastes and an insensitivity to brain freeze.
Average salary range: $35,000-$97,000
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Have a nice pair of hands? According to Forbes, a top “parts model” can make around $75,000 a year. Depending on their look — delicate or “practical” — hand models will usually either book fashion and beauty shoots or commercial work for food and cleaning products. You may even find yourself doubling for celebrities who have a less-than-appealing set of their own.
Education: The parts market isn’t vast, so competition is tough. You’ll also need to be able to take direction from heads of photography and deal with inevitable hand cramping.
Average salary range: $1,000-$10,000 for a day’s work, up to $75,000 per year
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Counseling for hereditary disorders might not seem like the most uplifting profession, but you will be in a position to help others as they cope with the unfortunate genetic hand they’re dealt with. A genetic counselor assesses the risk for a variety of inherited conditions, sharing this information with families and other healthcare professionals to support informed decision making. He/she counsels patients on unfavorable test results and coping methods for those at risk, as well as couples with hereditary conditions who are trying to conceive.
Education: A master’s degree in genetic counseling is typically required, and you can expect to have to come to work in a casual top and nice pair of genes.
Average salary range: $52,000-$87,000
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The thought of a repo man flying away in your airplane is pretty comical, but it doesn’t make it any less real of a job. If you buy a plane and can’t afford it, you can be sure the bank is going to come knocking. This gig is serious enough for the Discovery Channel to produce a show about it, and we all know everything we see on TV is real.
Education: While getting into this line of work can be pretty lucrative, it does have its limitations. For one, you have to be able to fly a plane, and you’ll need a pilot’s license to do that.
Estimated average salary range: 6%-10% commission on each plane’s resale price ($10,000-$900,000 per plane)
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A commercial diver earns their pay working underwater. Duties can vary greatly, but include checking for pipe leaks; inspecting and cleaning pipe valves; inspecting bridges, ships, docks, and sewers; and even salvaging wrecked ships. Anyone up for some 18th-century shipwreck treasure hunting?
Education: To become a commercial diver, you’ll need a high school diploma, scuba certification, and you’ll have to complete a commercial diving training program.
Average salary range: $35,000-$96,000
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Friends play an important role in weddings, but let’s face it, not all our friends are the best at tackling problems, nor do they always give the best advice. Professional bridesmaids step in to help brides through their big day. As a pro, aside from showing up at the wedding, you’ll likely be expected to walk down the aisle and maybe even give a toast in the couple’s honor.
If you’ve got a knack for problem-solving, a love for wedding celebrations, and a calming presence that can prevent even a nuclear reactor from melting down, a job as a professional bridesmaid might be a good fit.
Education: There might not be specific education requirements, but general business and strong customer service skills will help you excel in this role.
Average salary range: $18,000-$95,000
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Crime scenes may be cordoned off during an investigation, but once the evidence is collected, someone has to clean up what’s left behind. These professionals may go by different names, but crime scene cleaners are responsible for the removal of biohazardous waste, body fluids, blood, human waste, and other unpleasantries.
While you may not need an individual license, these technicians are usually a part of a company that does need various licenses according to the regulations set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Education: These technicians typically need at least a high school diploma and can usually land a job without prior experience.
Average salary range: $27,000-$61,500
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Ever wonder why that cheeseburger looks so good in the commercial but is haphazardly constructed in a clear attempt to ruin your day when you pull it out of the bag to eat it? You can thank the food stylist for that. These professionals are responsible for making foods look as appetizing as possible, usually for photoshoots, films, television commercials, and upscale restaurants.
Education: Food stylists tend to get work by providing a portfolio, so experience is the best way to land these gigs, though some employers may want to see a background in design or the completion of culinary school. Instagram photos of your food may or may not count as a portfolio.
Average salary range: $24,000-$91,000
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You might be able to make more as an unethical hacker, but I don’t need to explain why that’s a bad idea. Alternatively, the government, technology, cybersecurity industries are full of high-paying jobs for ethical hackers. With titles ranging from security analyst to penetration tester, these professionals make a living intentionally hacking computers and systems to uncover vulnerabilities — before the criminals do.
Education: Most employers require at least a bachelor’s degree in information technology or a cybersecurity-related field, as well as relevant certifications.
Average salary range: $47,000-$130,000
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Considering the price for a new box of golf balls and how many brand-new golf balls I’ve personally hit into the water, retrieving and reselling this white gold can be a pretty lucrative job. As the name suggests, golf ball divers take to the many ponds across golf courses to salvage, clean, and recycle golf balls, as the name suggests.
Education: You’ll be spending most of your time in murky water, possibly surrounded by snakes and alligators, so you’ll likely need to be scuba certified.
Estimated average salary range: $200/day-$150,000 per year
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We’ve taken a lighthearted approach to these jobs, but in all seriousness, these can be good, well-paying jobs. Just because they may seem unconventional doesn’t mean they aren’t legitimate. Any job is what you make of it.
If you’re looking for more interesting work — or more interesting pay — think outside the box when it comes to your career. The unexpected might be what you were looking for all along. There are more ways to make big money than just sticking to what’s conventional
This article originally appeared on FinanceBuzz.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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adamkaz
Featured Image Credit: amanalang/istockphoto.
