How to Find Your Dream Job

Posted September 21, 2015

Driven by a particularly hard day at work or a passionate disagreement with a co-worker - we've all thought about doing what we really want to do.

The good news is: Whether you're just starting out on your career path or a grizzled veteran in your field, there is no wrong time to give serious consideration to pursuing a dream job in a different field.

Unfortunately, there's no short cut or quick way to switch to a completely different field. It's typically a long process that takes years of dedication. However, if the pursuit of a dream job is driven by passion - the journey can be a rewarding one.

Zeroing in on a dream job

Some people know exactly what their dream job is. Starting a food truck that churns out your family's secret recipes, for example. However, many people have a tough time figuring out what they might love doing. They just know they are unhappy right now.

If you're in the latter category, consider drawing on your own knowledge and experiences to get a sense of your innate desires and talents. What have your co-workers and friends said you are naturally good at? What do you like about your present job? If your supervisor gave you more freedom, what would you do with it? Answering these questions should give you insight into your natural tendencies.

You can also look to those around you for inspiration. Maybe one of your friends or family members has a great job, or maybe there’s a particular field you've always been fascinated by. If theirs is a job or field you are really interested in - talk to someone in that position to see how they got there and what their day-to-day responsibilities are.

Following through

Once you have a sense of what you'd like to pursue, you need to follow through and track down that dream job.

A good first step is to convince yourself that finding a job you actually like can be done. Everything seems impossible until it isn't, and you need to realize people do what you are trying to do all the time. The trick here is to be realistic about your ultimate goal. For example, you may want to be a world-famous journalist, but getting paid full time to cover topics you like is a very attainable goal and should be just as fulfilling.

Also, be realistic about your finances. If reaching your dream job requires you to put in a lot of hours as an unpaid intern, make sure you still have a way to keep a roof over your head and food on the table.

Finally, surround yourself with people who support what you are doing. If someone around you is telling you that taking classes to pursue your dream job isn't worth the investment - for example - spend less time with that person.

At Ambassador, one of the leading employment agencies in the South, we want everyone we work with to land their ideal job and we can be a great partner in that pursuit. Contact us today, and we can discuss any opportunities that might help you on your way.