On dream jobs
While giving a talk on career counseling tools, I asked the audience to define what a dream job is. I also suggested that they outline the differences between a profession [ in the meaning of vocation] and a job. The answers were rather vague. Which, frankly, was not surprising, as the entire audience consisted of job seekers.
So what is a job, and how is it different from a profession? I am convinced that everyone who is set on choosing a perfect career for themselves is supposed to know a precise answer to this question.
A profession is essentially a declaration of one’s occupation. The word is derived from the Latin ‘profitero’, which literally translates to “what I publicly declare [as my occupation]”. A job, on the other hand, is merely a structural unit of an organization. When we speak about “finding a job”, we mean joining an organization.
The confusion between these terms is explained by our preoccupation with our own vested interests. When thinking about a perfect career, I envision myself being successful. And I am sure that the reader does likewise. Indeed, hardly anyone dreams of working in harsh conditions for a minimum-wage salary, in a hostile office environment and with no prospects of career development.
Instead, we all aspire to derive joy and self-fulfillment from our job, and hope to be valued professionally and remunerated accordingly. While some are driven mostly by reputation and public recognition, others want it all, like the protagonist of RocknRolla
People ask the question… what’s a RocknRolla? And I tell ’em — it’s not about drums, drugs, and hospital drips, oh no. There’s more there than that, my friend. We all like a bit of the good life — some the money, some the drugs, other the sex game, the glamour, or the fame. But a RocknRolla, oh, he’s different. Why? Because a real RocknRolla wants the fucking lot.
But one should understand that in real life a career is more about a rational exchange — I give something and ask for something in return.
A job requires us to give up our time, effort, emotional resources, and sometimes even our youth and health. But nothing else. A job doesn’t need your talent, experience or expertise. It is a simple exchange of work hours for money and certain benefits. And one should always bear this in mind.
On the contrary, when choosing a profession, we start to think about our likes, wants and competences. Not about the office location and various perks that go with the job, but about self-fulfillment in what we aim to devote our life to.
The chosen profession pays for our expertise and knowledge with self-fulfillment and a sense of meaning. Only the profession can bring recognition and respect of our colleagues. Only about the profession you would say:
- “Damn, I love it”.
So it all boils down to psychology. Any misinterpretation of what the career exchange is meant to be leads to disappointment, as we start demanding high pay and perks from a profession, or get upset when a new job does not reveal our true potential and doesn’t earn us respect of the peers.
After having learned to separate these two terms, I now understand that getting a new job is unlikely to bring on major life changes by itself. And I advise that everyone motivate their choice of profession by going for what they truly love. I wish you a fulfilling career!
