You Had Me At Hello -- Finding Your Dream Job

It's no secret that a lot of people are unhappy in their jobs. Given all the hours spent at work, wouldn't it be better to do something you enjoy rather than stay in a job where you're bored or unhappy? "Yes, but I need to pay my mortgage and this is no time to change jobs." You'll always have financial obligations and there's no guarantee your current job will be there tomorrow.

Now how do you go about finding that new exciting career that brings you back to life?

1. Use Your Current Job As a Starting Point -- Even if you hate your current job, there might be aspects of it that can lead to your dream job. Let's say you're a brand manager and know you want to make a change. What part of the job do you like best? Is it the packaging, advertising, promotion, or market research? Maybe you decide it's the market research. Do you like the qualitative side or the quantitative side? If you prefer the qualitative side, your new career could be a focus group moderator or someone who runs ideation sessions (this sounds like fun), or generates creative for a naming company, just to list a few. If you like the quantitative more, maybe you should go into risk management, become a go-to-market strategist, or a business consultant. There are many potential paths you can take that will enable you to do the aspect of the job you love most.

2. Listen to What People Say You're Good At -- Your co-workers, family and friends sometimes see you differently than you see yourself. If you hear people saying "oh, you're great at staying in touch" consider opportunities that involve sales and networking. People might say "you're good at giving advice." Then ask yourself is there a teacher, trainer or coach lurking in you?

3. Make a List of What You Like Doing -- Don't filter your responses. Make a laundry list of what gives you joy including things you used to do as a child. As a child, did you like to build things, write stories or perform? In addition to what you like to do in your current job, how do you like to spend your off hours? Next to each item on your laundry list, ask yourself what about the activity gave/gives you joy. See what epiphanies might occur and how you can translate these into your next job.

4. What's Your Personality Telling You? -- Some personalities are suited for certain positions. For example, if you handle rejection well and enjoy constantly meeting new people, sales might be right for you. Knowing who you are is a big part of finding the right career. Would you like to be a big fish in a small pond? If so, you may be cut out to be an entrepreneur (if you're okay taking risks) or take a bigger role in a smaller company. Conversely, you may want the resources and cache of working at a large company and are willing to deal with multiple layers of management. Do you like being in a leadership role or a support position? Do you like working independently or in a team? Do you like project work or positions that require on-going building? It's so important to find something that meshes with your personality. Otherwise, you're a square peg in a round hole.

5. Be Open -- Be open to ideas which can come from anywhere: when you're reading books, newspapers and magazines; watching TV; talking to your family friends and co-workers. What ideas do you spark to? Being open means being inclusive -- every idea is worth considering.

If there are a few career options that you have identified and need to know more about, go on informational interviews. If you're still unclear as to what career suits you best, there are many great books like, What Color is Your Parachute? or career coaches (like us) who can help.

It may be scary at first to think about changing careers, especially if you've been at it for a long time. But isn't it better to face the fears than to stay in a job that's not focused on what you enjoy doing most?

Yes!

Fred & Gladys
Whelan Stone
www.whelanstone.com

Follow Fred Whelan and Gladys Stone on Twitter: www.twitter.com/gladys29

Comments

[drjmac]

Very thorough advice. I'm not currently looking for new work but this is the formula I followed when I last changed careers and it worked for me. I am where I should be. This is worth passing along.

[Social Construct]

"The glass is half full or half empty" has never been an area I've concerned myself with. To me this is an irrelevent statement and the real concern is, "How do we fill the glass up?"
Although it has been five years of trying to break into my preferred type of job with very little result and no resources to enlist the aid of professionals, I keep at it with little regret for myself. However, I've taken the people that are dearest to me along for this ride and it has been of little benefit to them. Even when I feel the result of my efforts as fruitless and disheartening, my loved ones stand with me and provide the strength I need to keep going.
Thanks for the advice and inspiration.

[Fred Whelan and Gladys Stone - Huffpost Blogger]

Having the support of your friends and family is key. It sounds like you have a wonderful support system.

Hope 2009 brings you the realization of your dream job.

Thanks for commenting.

[theaterdoc]

Thank you for this much-needed and timely piece. I am 44 years old and stuck in a job where everyone is so deeply unhappy (abusive employer, entrenched bureaucracy, etc.). I have an idea for a business that I am slowly pursuing that combines my passion with my expertise, but everyone around me is quick to remind me that I am no longer young, I am lucky to have a job, and I should remain in this kind of depressing, emotionally stagnant state. I realize now that pursuing my dream does NOT mean that I don't feel deeply for those who are languishing in poverty. I truly do. But I cannot be the productive, healthy person, professional, and mother I want to be when I feel my job is a one-way ticket to financial stagnation and emotional and physical crisis. Yes, our economy is in shambles, but that is no reason to jettison our dreams.

[Fred Whelan and Gladys Stone - Huffpost Blogger]

44 is still young!

To give you some perspective:
Julia Child didn’t start cooking until she was 37 years old. Vera Wang didn’t start designing wedding gowns until she was 40. Sidney Sheldon wrote his first book at age 52. Anna Mary Robertson “Grandma Moses” didn’t start painting until she was in her 70’s.

Go for it!

Thanks for commenting

[carrieanna]

I quit my job of 10 years in March and am taking some much needing recuperation time. I've been considering taking a paycut with my next job so that I can do something that I love, something that is enriching for myself and others and maybe tap into some of my latent talents.

One other suggestion I have is for someone considering a change is to find some music or a book or even a movie that pushes you to take a risk. For myself, I fell in love with the movie "The Hours" a couple years ago. After watching it multiple times, I felt that it really spoke to my inner dreams of doing something with my life, not just doing what I felt was expected of me.

[Fred Whelan and Gladys Stone - Huffpost Blogger]

Like your idea of getting a source of inspiration. For me (Gladys) it was the movie "Working Girl" I loved how Melanie Griffith followed her instincts to get her dream job. Hopefully, others will find their own inspiration.

Thanks for commenting.

[dhweinberg]

As a person currently 'in transition' after 19 years I would say that there needs to be a point 6. Accept the fact that there is often a tradeoff between happiness and income. If your dream job is outside your specialized area of expertise, particularly if you are a 'seasoned' employee, you may have to decide whether your happiness will be greater with a less-than-ideal job plus high income or 'dream job' where you have financial stress. It doesn't always go that way, but it's naiive to assume that the choice never needs to be made and people need to give it serious thought.

[Fred Whelan and Gladys Stone - Huffpost Blogger]

Great comment. As with most things, there usually exists a "middle ground", where your financial needs are met and you are able to do something that you truly love. If the "dream job" is not going to result in an income that meets your financial threshold, you might choose to pursue another position within that area of passion that will generate the income you need. For example, if you love to write and would like to be a novelist, but cannot make enough money through that avenue, you might consider working at a newspaper/magazine or as a copywriter in an ad agency in order to create the financial security you desire.

[deannaglory]

Sounds like sound advice, and fun too!

[Fred Whelan and Gladys Stone - Huffpost Blogger]

There's no greater satisfaction than doing what you love.
Thanks for commenting.

[Printingguru]

i have my own company -that's living the dream. I worked in advertising for 15 years. Loved the industry but got burnt out. Finally, i said, I've got to make a change. Have never looked back since.
Even though it was scary to quit a steady paycheck.

[Fred Whelan and Gladys Stone - Huffpost Blogger]

Kudos for taking the plunge.

[MaryMacRap]

Haven't heard people telling me what I'm good at. Maybe I should ask :)

[Fred Whelan and Gladys Stone - Huffpost Blogger]

Don't be shy about asking! Sometimes we have to be more proactive about getting feedback.