
What’s Your Dream Job? 4 Steps to Figure it Out
The search for that “dream job” starts very early in life. Adults often ask children, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” Common responses are basketball player, doctor, ballet dancer, astronaut, or even President. Often, it only takes a split second for them to reply with excitement.
Kids progress through school, figuring out their strengths and interests, and then in college, a new question is posed, but reminiscent of the first question: “what do you want to major in?” Instead of split-second responses, many reply with, “I don’t know.” What happened to the decisiveness and excitement? At this stage in their lives, they realize there is much more at stake. The outlook of a career’s practicality, financial stability, and overall satisfaction influences these responses. Students at this point are at high-stress levels, thinking that their choice of major is the end all be all. Same goes for non-students already out in the workforce. Some may have started a career but now feel regret in their decisions or dissatisfied with the job. The concept of a dream job starts to feel more like a pipe dream.
There seems to be precious little guidance for those in high school and college to help narrow down those choices, and that’s a shame. There are actionable steps you can take to help narrow down choices when it comes to pursuing a major or even begin a new career path that better suits you. With a bit of research and some self-reflection, the dream job that combines what you love with what you’re good at can be a reality.
Step 1. Create a Dream Jobs List
Think about the types of jobs that appeal to you. Not jobs you can do right now, but any and all jobs that look interesting to you. Include a broad spectrum, especially different industries and fields. Look at the list you’ve created and identify patterns. You may look at the list and see that a similar thread runs through them all. What is it about these particular jobs that call to you? What is it about these types of jobs that give them that Dream Job “thing”? Are they all out of doors? Do they all use high-level math? Are they all in positions that help other people? Do they all use a skill you excel at? Look for the common thread(s). Write down what you find.
Step 2. Deepen Your List of Occupations
Research careers that target the common thread(s). When reviewing this list, take note of any and all occupations that look interesting to you. It’s likely you will discover positions you have never considered or even heard of. For example, if you really love philosophy, you can use that interest in the private sector as a Management Analyst or Art Director, or take a public sector job as a Post-Secondary Teacher or Arbitor. Write down every job that requires your common thread. After you’ve completed this preliminary list, make a note of the top three to five occupations that you want to delve into further.
Step 3. Take Some Career Tests
There isn’t a magical test out there that can tell you the exact occupation that is meant to be your dream job, but assessments can direct you to occupations that you have the highest potential in succeeding, based on personality, work ethic, and interests. Personality trait assessment is beginning to be much more important in the recruitment process. For example, think about your personal characteristics. Are you outgoing? Did you convince your parents to buy you a car when you were 16? Maybe you would be good in a sales position. Career tests can help you combine what you’re naturally good at with what you’re interested in.
A few tools worth trying:
123 Career Test — helps gain insight into career paths and work environments that suit your personality.
Keirsey Temperament Sorter — helps you determine and understand your personality type and type of temperament that can influence career satisfaction.
Review the results of your findings from these tools and jot down the top occupations.
4. Make a Pros and Cons List
Take your short list and make a pros and cons list for each prospect. Figure out and document the requirements, certifications or education levels necessary for each occupation that resulted from this exercise. What will that level of education cost to obtain? Are internships available? Collect data on average pay at several stages of that career. What is the average career length? Only you know which metrics are meaningful for you, so do your research and record what you find. This will help determine whether the path for each occupation is worth your time and effort. For example, from this exercise, becoming a Dentist is one probable occupation that I could excel in; Pro: higher than average pay, Con: additional 4 years dental school after earning a bachelor’s degree. Based on these findings, I ask myself:
• Am I capable of making the required grades in college to pursue dental school? Did I make the grades to apply to dental school in undergrad?
• If so, am I willing to take on another 4 years (financially and mentally)?
• Is the Return on Investment in pay worth the cost of this degree?
• How badly do I want this?
I will either continue to consider becoming a Dentist or strike it from my list based on the answers to these questions.
Once you’ve narrowed down to the top 3 occupations, you will be in a much better position to pull the trigger on deciding your career path.
Though we really want to encourage our younger readers to sit down and do this exercise, you don’t have to be fresh out of school to do it. It’s never too late to make a change that will allow yourself to be the best version that you can be.
