Are you in your dream job? If not, what's in your way?

solange · 01-22-2007, 11:29 AM

My current job fills most of the dreams or ambitions that I had in school - great company, competitive salary and perks, upward mobility.

As I've gotten older, I've realized that although these things are great, they are sometimes not as fulfilling as it seems from the outside. I like what I do and do it effectively, but I am truly passionate about it??? Probably not.

I am now really interested in giving back, spending more of my time volunteering. I do this on a limited basis now and find this to be extremely rewarding. I guess this would be my "new dream job."

What's holding me back would be my financial obligations. I'm saving very agressively for my children's education and an early retirement.

What about you?

Springcurl · 01-22-2007, 11:35 AM

I'd say I'm in my dream job.

The only thing that could possible make it better would be for it to be 9-5. Otherwise, I pretty much love everything about it.

automaticflowers · 01-22-2007, 11:38 AM

My job as a reporter is just a means of being steadily paid to write. Though I don't hate my job (just the people), it's not what I really want to be doing for the rest of my life.

Eventually I'd like to be an author. Have to write a book first, though.

DominicanaHeat · 01-22-2007, 11:38 AM

Nope. Lack of experience is in my way, but I'm working on developing that through freelancing on the side while working fulltime at my "regular" job.

tgreyz · 01-22-2007, 11:42 AM

I'm currently unemployed so I'd say thats as far away from my dream job as I can get. And my first two jobs out of school have also been very far from my dream job.

What is getting in my way? The area I live in and myself. I don't deal well with people, have low confidence and pretty much fear everything. I try to conceal it but it is probably evident in interviews.

mazey · 01-22-2007, 11:51 AM

I make a good living but my heart isn't in it. I haven't figured out what I want to be when I grow up, but when I do I will act upon it.

MizKerri · 01-22-2007, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazey

I make a good living but my heart isn't in it. I haven't figured out what I want to be when I grow up, but when I do I will act upon it.

This is me too.

Resume Writer · 01-22-2007, 12:06 PM

I am now. However, it took me not-so-right positions (which I thought were what I wanted) to get me here. In hindsight, I see them as necessary building blocks. It's interesting to see how people end up in their professions--either by chance or choice.

PartyHair · 01-22-2007, 12:10 PM

I don't really have a dream job, unless you count being filthy rich. Which isn't ever going to happen, so there you go.

I'm just content with being relatively happy in my job and having halfway normal coworkers.

CurlyMireya · 01-22-2007, 12:11 PM

I'm definitely not in my dream job. I do clerical work, and I hate it. I don't know what my dream job is. I grew up thinking that people just got jobs to pay the bills and that no one really liked to work or wanted to. I do my job for money and to avoid boredom (little good that's doing - I'm on here). I really want to settle down and start a family. I'm not getting any younger. So, I'm focusing on that. I'm in a good relationship, and he wants the same things I do. I don't know how to really prepare for this. I'm reading about childbirth and trying to learn more about the lives of SAHMs. It's tough because no one I know does that any more. People assume since I want to, that I'm just lazy and don't want to work outside the home. That's not true; it's just that no job I've had really "fits," and when I ask myself what do I want to do, nothing comes to mind except being a mom and housewife. It's strange because I'm pretty independent and was always a really good student; people expected big things from me and are disappointed when they learn that I don't have huge career aspirations.

iris427 · 01-22-2007, 12:30 PM

I'm not in my dream job, but the two jobs that I do work are really fun and interesting (I am a birth doula at a local hospital and an educator at a local zoo). Although they don't pay that much.

What's standing in the way of my dream job is my lack of a graduate degree in that field. Which is why I am taking community college classes right now so that I can apply to a graduate program and eventually get my dream job!

CocoaCoily · 01-22-2007, 01:20 PM

Well, I'm not in my dream job, although I do enjoy what I do.

If anyone decides they want to pay me to be a professional language student and traveler, I'll have my dream job!

Who Me? · 01-22-2007, 02:02 PM

I don't love the phrase "dream job". I mean, I think my "dream job" would be a pop star or own the trendiest nightclub in town or something.

But in real life, I'm in a field I absolutely love, and working my way (though education and experience) into a job that I will enjoy and find satisfying. So in that way, I'm definitely on my way. I mean, it's not like I'm actually working towards becoming a pop star.

LavenderCurls · 01-22-2007, 02:28 PM

Being that I have to work, I'm in my dream job, but not for reasons that you'd think of when it comes to a "dream job".

I'm not, never have been, never will be a "career minded woman". I loved staying home with my boys and was able to for the better part of their lives. Even though they're grown, I still look forward to when I don't have to work any longer.

That said, I have a job that is perfect for me. I love being on the computer and this job allows me to surf - alot!! When my oldest was in Iraq, I could surf all day before going home and get glued to the t.v. Aside from creating our work website, I got interested in making graphics and have created two personal graphics websites (mostly while here at work!).

I live 13 minutes from home. I can wear jeans, t-shirts, sweatshirts and sneakers everyday. Everyday here is Casual Day

. Don't have to deal with the public - after working retail, this is SUCH a plus!

I have THE best boss in the world. I can take off no questions asked when I need to. The first time we got a big job as a result of the website, he stuck $300 cash in my hand one day. If we get alot of money for scrap metal, he'll just hand me $50 or a $100.. When my son was overseas, anything I needed to do he supported. Boot camp graduation? Go. Deployment? Go. Coming home? Go. When I had an ectopic pregnancy (resulted in emergency surgery), I could take all the time I needed before coming back. He pays all of our health insurance, gives generous Christmas bonuses, and boy, I could go and on

.

I've been here over 8 years and plan on staying until I don't have to work or retire, whichever comes first

.

It's not a "career" by any means, but it's a dream job for me

.

deezee02 · 01-22-2007, 02:33 PM

i;m getting there..

i already have one degree, worked in the field for 3 years, didn't love it so i am going back to do what i have always wanted to, special ed for elementary kids, not to well paying, bt i know it will be worth it!

Rheanna · 01-22-2007, 04:10 PM

I can't really say. I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do after HS, but I knew I liked English and writing. I wanted something more "steady" than being a writer. I didn't want to go into journalism. I didn't want to teach. I did want to stay in my area, where that was pretty much my only options with an English degree. I went, on a full four-year scholarship, one semester to a nearby private university, declared English as my major, realized I would end up in a clerical position considering what I knew I DIDN'T want to do (and that being my only options in my area) and transferred to a community college. Everyone thought I was stupid. My parents wanted to KILL me. I got my associates in science in an administrative program after 2 years and within 2 months of graduating, I started the job I have now. It was, at the time, my dream job, especially compared to the full-time retail position I held while I was in school. I do payroll, taxes, book-keeping, filing, A/R and A/P for several companies owned by the same people, and out of the same corporate office. The pay is not as good as I had hoped/thought, but the rest of the job is great. Very casual office. I have my own little quiet office. I'm left mostly alone to do my job without anyone constantly questioning me (for the most part anyway

). I set my own hours, etc. That part is great, but I feel like I'm not living up to my potential.

So I am going to go back to school - probably this fall - at the very school I didn't stay at before. I can't complain about how it has all worked out though, because I'm going back for accounting - something I would have NEVER considered until I got this job and realized that I liked it and was pretty good at it.

So in a way, I am in my dream job, and in a way, I'm still working for it, so I voted for #3

Also - this may sound silly, but after I have kids, I plan on being a SAHM. I'd love to find a way to work from home part-time at that time, and it's really important to me to have experience or a degree in something that can be flexible. It may sound silly, but I think that would really be my dream job, although it isn't considered a "career" by a lot of people.

Eilonwy · 01-22-2007, 04:23 PM

It's very rare to find a job that's truly emotionally fulfilling. People shouldn't choose their careers with that expectation.

mayim · 01-22-2007, 04:33 PM

i couldn't disagree with you more, eilonwy.

i had a great career that was fulfilling in many ways, not the least of which financially, but the stress of it was making me physically ill. i had to leave, and do some soul searching.

i never would have thought that my current profession would be my 'dream job,' but it is. i wake up every morning thrilled at the prospect of spending the next 8 hours doing what i do. i feel like it is important work, and that i do it well. more than that, i gain so very much from it with regard to my spirit. my previous job was sucking my spirit into a black hole.

i actually have a job that is an avocation, and i couldn't live any other way. i think that everyone should at least make an attempt to look within themselves to find something they can make a living at that matches their skills and joy and brings them fulfillment.

m

edited for spelling

Eilonwy · 01-22-2007, 04:39 PM

Well, I said "rare"

solange · 01-22-2007, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eilonwy

It's very rare to find a job that's truly emotionally fulfilling. People shouldn't choose their careers with that expectation.

I think that there are some who are fortunate enough to find that niche for themselves where they love what they do so much that they'd do it for free.

Obviously, I am not a part of this select few, hence this thread

.

Ideally, my kids will be grown and the house paid for when I am still relatively young so I'll be able to pursue something in the non-profit sector.

In the meanwhile, I have become active with a couple of well run non-profits and I'm trying to learn all that I can.