Here's a question for the Season of Sharing at Fairygodboss!

13 Comments

1. AnonymousNovember 2,2021 at 3:54PM UTC

   It's hard to know exactly what you want....personally I chose something I knew I could do well and also not miserable doing. Finding a work environment that has supportive co-workers as well is key. Would I say my favorite part of my day is going to work? No I would not...if I could choose to not work I absolutely would but I am not miserable at work.

   I know some people who absolutely love their job and miss it when they aren't there. I am not one of those people....I work to fund to the things I do love like traveling. Some may see that as a terrible outlook but its my reality.

2. AnonymousNovember 2,2021 at 6:02PM UTC

   Have anxiety attacks? Flounder? That's what I've been doing for 20+ years. I'm only good at things I don't like doing and they don't even pay well. I wish I had an answer.

3. AnonymousNovember 2,2021 at 6:51PM UTC

   This is where I actually work on the spiritual side of things, I have a regular manifestation practice to calling exactly what I want. 6 months ago I knew I wanted to leave my job that I was unhappy at, and just started a new one 2 weeks ago. I looked back in my journal to all the "must-haves" I wrote down and realized I got them all! A dream job is only a dream unless you put action behind it!

4. Christina NavarroNovember 2,2021 at 7:09PM UTC

   I am in the same boat! I never thought I'd end up in financial services, but at 18, I knew I didn't want to go to college right away. I started working making peanuts but worked really hard to move into other positions that interested me. This led to 14 years at my first company. I left there 2 years ago to take on a new position that sounded really interesting and let me work from home again.

   I think you have to consider the flexibility that the job gives you not just what the job itself is. Also what kind of opportunities can it lead to in the future? Do you like helping others? Do you love numbers and math? Do you want to be customer-facing? All of these things can lead you to your dream job or at least one that makes you happy. Does the job give you a good sense of work life balance? :) Good luck!

5. AnonymousNovember 2,2021 at 7:11PM UTC

   I "fluked" into my job after university. It was not my dream job. In fact, it was not even in a field I had considered (finance... I have an ethics degree). BUT, I kept getting promoted so I tried to convince myself that's what "success" was.
   I stayed with the same employer for 10+ years and realized that not only was it not the dream, it wasn't fulfilling either.
   So, I got a career coach. No dream job yet - I don't know exactly what that is - but it did help me determine what I NEED at work to feel valued and fulfilled.

6. Marguerite Thibodeaux, Leadership & Career CoachNovember 2,2021 at 7:35PM UTC

   First, there's nothing inherently wrong with no having a dream job to daydream about! If you are generally satisfied with your job and enjoy a happy life outside work, enjoy!

   Now, if you still want to figure out what your dream job is, start by getting to know yourself better. What makes you excited? Energized? What would you do even if no one paid you? What are your strengths?

   You can do this exploration on your own or with a pro, like a mentor or a career coach.

   Eventually, a vision for that dream job will start to come into view and you can take steps to get there. Good luck!

7. Daphne ValcinNovember 2,2021 at 11:21PM UTC

   I think part of what has allowed me to figure out what I'm passionate about is trying a variety of things. I was super unclear about what I wanted to do especially towards the beginning of my career journey. Once I recognized what I was good at and what I liked, I tried to be better and better at that. I think it's completely okay if you don't have a dream job, and it's completely okay if you choose to work somewhere because of something you value like financial stability or flexibility. I think what's important is getting clear on what means the most to you when it comes to your career, then being in tune with when you realize you're right where you need to be while you're on your journey. I hope that's somewhat helpful :)!

8. Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume WriterNovember 3,2021 at 1:42PM UTC

   Sometimes people think of their dream job in terms of a specific job title. While this works for some, for others it can be a source of frustration. When I am working with clients in this situation, we break it down to the specifics: tasks you love to do and are great at, what is important to you in an employer, a boss, a work environment, etc. Then we look for jobs - irrespective of the job title - that fit the client's requirements.

   “JOIN THE SEASON OF SHARING: 1. Find three different members who are seeking advice and share your wisdom. 2. Post your burning career question or a workplace scenario you need advice on and then copy and paste this to the bottom of your post!”

9. Marjorie KalomerisNovember 4,2021 at 10:29PM UTC

   This is a great question. First off, I think there is a huge myth around having one "Dream Job." It can be a huge source of anxiety for a lot of people, who think that if they just search hard enough, they will find that magical ONE. But I don't believe that's true! I'm sure there are many jobs out there you would enjoy and be great at.

   So what if you shifted to thinking - what can XYZ job help me learn about myself? See what you feel mildly inclined towards, try it, and if you don't like it....you try something else! It's like a treasure hunt, each job gives you clues into what you like and dislike.

   I would also recommend trying out some short-term contract jobs to get a glimpse into different worlds, and essentially "try before you buy".

10. AnonymousNovember 6,2021 at 3:13PM UTC

    Is a dream job really out there? Focus on what you are good at, and what makes you happy. This will help you align to a career that could be your dream job one day!

11. Sarah DyeNovember 6,2021 at 8:14PM UTC

    I am a lifelong learner so I always like to be learning new things and trying new things. You can often find me either learning things from an online course or trying a new skill to see what I think. When I wasn't sure what I wanted, the best thing I did was just stopping and doing some reflecting on my interests, skills, etc. Just doing this while keeping out the noise of other people trying to tell me what to do gave me a lot of clarity.

    I recommend you check out the book What Color is Your Parachute by Richard Bolles. This book guides you through the flower diagram. The flower exercise is what I used to help me figure out what I wanted and what my dream job is.

12. TaraNovember 7,2021 at 9:45PM UTC

    I had a dream job I was working towards and was checking things off the list working toward it. Then...I was no longer happy with what I was doing and I made a pivot to a new role. It was hard to adjust when I no longer wanted that dream job and was a little lost and confused on what I was working toward; it took some time, but eventually, I realized it's okay to set aside the focus on the dream job and take things day by day. Find joy in my current role and take the time and space to explore what could be next.

13. J AcharyaNovember 8,2021 at 3:16PM UTC

    In my opinion the idea that everyone has a dream job is a fallacy. For many (me included) the "dream" is to not have to work at all, to have enough money to cover expenses and travel or spend time with kids or just enjoy life without a job. Obviously this isn't possible for most people (again, me included) and in that case the best bet is to find a job you enjoy enough to do it as long as you have to. I'm in a field that I find interesting, a role that utilizes my natural skills and fits my personality, and I work for a company and boss that gives me the flexibility I want to work remotely half the time. It's not a dream job - my dream is to not work - but it's a job that I enjoy and don't dread doing every day!