Article 5: Understanding what your dream job really is

There are quite a few personality tests that claim they can help guide us in identifying our careers due to our natural tendencies. I find most of these tests fun, and a few even enlightening.  However, I would never choose my dream job strictly from a personality test result. There are too many variables in my life to trust a test to define the type of job I would find exciting and challenging.  I do, however, take these tests into account, along with other variables when I reflect on my dream job.

For example, when my children were younger, work-life balance was critical in defining my dream job. Today, I can commit more readily to a dream job where there may be times I have to work weekends, although I would probably stay away from those that required working most weekends. A personality test will probably not pick up on these types of nuances and could have led me astray from my real dream job. Dream jobs consist of so much more than just our natural tendencies.

Below are questions that are meant to get you outside of your current comfort zone when reflecting about your dream job. We do have to be somewhat realistic when working through these questions, but I want you to let go of preconceived conceptions about what you should do and explore what makes you excited and gives you energy, rather than draining you by the end of the day. No decisions are being made at this stage, so let go and let’s see what comes out of answering these questions. You might surprise yourself!

Challenge yourself to discover and answer more questions that are relevant to your dream job. What I have found is that once I work through these types of brainstorming questions, my dream job pops out at me.

By the way, there is no right or wrong answer to these questions, but I do want you to be honest with yourself. And have fun! Stick your neck out there and see where you end up. You don’t have to share your answers with anyone, so dare to be great!

•          If you could do your dream job anywhere on the planet, where would that be?

•          What industries do you find exciting to read about?

•         What industries do you want to stay away from as they are against your personal belief system?

•         What companies have you researched that appear to have your same values and vision for the future?

•         Of these companies, who in your network could help get your resume in front of an HR recruiter or a few hiring managers? List out the names here.

•         Close your eyes and see yourself giving a presentation to a group of people who are very engaged with what you are saying. Now, as you stand in front of this group of people, think about the following:

a.      What are you wearing?

b.     Are you giving a technical briefing or an executive overview?

c.      What types of questions is the audience asking you?

d.      Are they colleagues or superiors?

e.      What’s your role with the audience? Are you their manager, a technical expert, a consultant, or…

f.      When it’s over, see everyone coming up to you to ask questions and congratulate you on a great presentation. How do you feel? Empowered or relieved it’s over?

•         Do you want to travel? If yes, how much?

•         Can you work evenings? Weekends? Do you want to?

•         Do you enjoy leading or being more of a team member? Think back on projects and where you felt like you fit in due to your role and contributed your very best.

•         What skills do you currently have that you’d like to apply to your dream job?

•         What skills do you need to qualify for your dream job? (Remember, you don’t have to have all the skills stated on the job posting. You can be in the process of obtaining some of them, which you share in your cover letter.)

•         Which job descriptions excite you the most and why?

•         How does your dream job impact your family?

•        What is your greatest achievement to date and why? Is this something you want to duplicate in your dream job?

•        Are you interested in non-profits?

•        What’s your commitment level to finding your dream job? 1-10, 10 being 110% committed.

•        If your dream job pays less than what you are currently making, what can you do to decrease your financial commitments?

•        Would you do this job for free if you did not have to think about mortgage, college educations for your children, food, clothing, shelter?

•        Do you feel energized when thinking about your dream job?

•        Why are you selecting this particular dream job?  What draws you to it?

•        Do you see yourself retiring from this dream job, or are there additional dream jobs you want to experience?

•        What’s the salary you are seeking? How flexible are you with this?

•        What certificates or degrees are required in your dream job? Do you need to obtain any of these to be considered a serious candidate?

                                      From here, we can start crafting the stories that will help you move          
                                                   from visualizing your dream job to landing it!