How do you come to terms with a job that isn't your dream job?
I know there's a whole process of experience grabbing and so on, but as someone who's extremely passionate about having a specific career choice, it's difficult putting my resume and portfolio down for a job that doesn't completely fit my itinerary of a job I want.
What are some things you do to get yourself to take those types of jobs without forgetting what you want to do in the end? I think my biggest concern is that I might miss opportunities if I set myself down for a different sorts of job. Is this just something a person grows out of or takes a leap of faith with?
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Replies14
- I think what is important is to have a strict plan.I was working in different places only because it was slightly related to the career I was pursuing.What I found myself in: I was able to start working on the projects I was truly interested in only on the weekends, because I was working full time. I also couldn’t just quit the place, because I was getting money, so I was able to pay the rent and bills. As a result, I found myself caught in that “temporary job” for years.What I am trying to say is that each person is different anyways, and someone could do way better than me in this situation. But I truly suggest to plan everything from the beginning, give yourself a timeline and stick to that no matter what.Btw, all the connections that I have gained during that time doing nothing to me.
- Hello AlexI used to deal with this alot. I have had lots of different jobs in my time whilst still working on my dream job.The thing about a job that isn't your dream job is....you need to identify what the returns are and be open to what extra value it can give you.Eg: You are there for the money. So its solving a problem for you - financially. Now the added value is building your social capital so before you leave your network is very solid as you may not know who knows who.Eg.2 : Use this moment to develop your personal skills. (Eg: dealing with people, time discipline. project management etc)Peaople are connected in a very interesting way and your current job might play a huge role in your dream job.All the best.
- Hey Alex - I think it's brilliant that you have clear dreams and ambitions! You may have to temporarily seperate short term income streams from long term dreams, and if you do that, as long as you keep your dreams close in mind you'll move towards them. A job may come up which feels like a slight sacrifice in some ways but if it's connected to where you want to go it might also introduce you to different people and skillsets that ultimately help you on your path. Alexandra x
- Hey Alex,I actually think it's a great thing that you want to be purposeful about your career choices! What I would say in 'how to come to terms' is by understanding how another job that while isn't your dream, can still take you one step closer towards it.Such as:Will you be expanding your networkWill you be developing a valued skill setWill this experience set you apart from everyone else's CVWill you be taking on more specialised projects or challenges which are valuableIs there opportunity to be mentored / learn from othersWill you have an opportunity for growthFocus on what you can gain in the experience of taking things that are not your dream job and in return you may naturally want to do well and create value in it until your dream opportunity presents itself.You never know - once the dream job actually comes along in the future, you may actually have a new dream!
- 'Be careful what you wish for: dream jobs rarely stay dream jobs'.Chungaiz has a fair point!I'd completely agree with plenty of folk here about 'reaching for the stars' but I'd be realistic too.There may be plenty to learn from whatever envrionment you're in now - even if it's 'I'd not do it like that!'There have been position's I've taken in the past, that weren't perfect on paper, but I've made good connections there, got great experience and used it as as some kind of spring board.My response regarding making the work you want to make in an environment where that may not be possible is...Do it yourself, work on that personal project, create the work your folio is lacking or you think it's lacking... It'll be there to show off when that 'right' opportunity comes along.
- Hi Alex,Great to hear the ambition you have for your creative journey. In my journey I had simular questions and I honed in on two things:1. Can I make the work I want to make where I am? And if I can't..2. Then which place can I make the work I want to make.With this I've hopped about a far amount but it means I never allowed my dreams to sink and I've always learnt something at each place I've been. It's not always easy to leave but if you truly feel you need a bigger challenge or the culture of the workplace is a barrier of sorts then I'd encourage to take a leap of faith. A creative career is meant to be an adventure. Best of luck, Jade
- Hi Alex,On top of what already been said I would mention an old style teaching tale.The little fish asking the big fish:- Hey, could you help me where is the ocean?- You are in there, in the ocean right now.- No, it's just water i'm looking for the ocean...I hope you get the idea. Feel free to check out my work on https://www.instagram.com/annadoralascsik/
- So much great input here already. My advice would be: no matter what your role or company, try to find problem(s) in that role that you can fall in love with solving, and good people that you can build strong relationships with.It's also great to think of career moves as a climbing frame rather than a ladder. Sometimes you might move sideways, sometimes you might even drop down - but it's great to retain an open mind and flexibility, as these days there's rarely a straightforward, simple ladder that takes you from where you are to where you think you want to go.Good luck!
- Hi Alex, hope you are well.I was very lucky to get what I thought was my dream job early in my career. What I realised when I was there was that professional relationships are far more important than the criteria I used to describe a dream job, which was well known or cool clients.The best work you will do will be with people that value your skills and encourage creativity and growth. Find those people and you'll find your dream job.And in the meantime if you feel like you are losing touch with the types of projects you want to be doing, start a personal project and do it in your own time.
- Hello,this happened to me, I started taking jobs that were not what I wanted in the long run or were not alining to my dream carrer. After few years I started feeling miserable, with no motivation, no will or passion for what I was doing. I love animation and design, but my professional life was drifting somewhere else. I got to the point that I was almost there to drop everything and accept that, that was going to be my working life.Then one day I decided to risk everything and invest what I had for 1 year on a single project that I felt represented by, that had meaning for me and for others, where I could try all those ideas that clients always rejected.That project the year after opened the most important animation film festival, and it changed my life.I don t know if you ever heard "fortune favours the bold”, it is not simple, I feel the only leap of faith should be in ourselves.What would your life look like doing a job you don t like for the next, 1,3, 10years? What it would look like doing what you love everyday?Cheers.A.
- Be careful what you wish for: dream jobs rarely stay dream jobs; and sometimes it's far better to no meet your idols. That said, fight for what you want and keep your goals clear. In the meantime, if you are somewhere you are not totally happy at remember and think on the positives of the Situation: you're being paid, you have a job, you can make connections and grow your network, and you're learning something. That's a good place to be in right now!
- You have a passion but that doesn't mean your job has to fufill every single avenue of that passion for you to be successful or feel fufilled! Identifiying the areas your job doesn't meet your satisfaction and finding other ways to achieve them outside of your job (freelance, side work, hobby) isn't a bad thing at all.Finding a job that can be a platform for another more suitable job is also not bad. It might not be exactly what you want but it's an end goal and you can find enjoyable and fufilling parts of most jobs. I'd try to focus on them rather than what the job isn't, but you can still aspire for more :)
- Usually I see the less desirable jobs as a step on a greater path - an opportunity for growth. Even if the job is entirely unrelated to what it is you want to do, (or as in my case, is often corporate work that isn't quite so creatively fulfilling) you'll find that there's value in learning how to deal with people and tackle projects. Fact is, I think even when you land your dream job, there will ALWAYS be points in your career where you have to make compromises.Another thing I've found is that a seemingly boring job doesn't necessarily have to be! Sometimes you get out of it what you put in - if there's some way you can inject it with something only you can bring to the table, offer up your passions as something of value in ways that might be unexpected - it could make the job not only more fun for you, but might even allow you to grow your skills to better tackle the jobs that you want later on in the line!
- In your spare time keep making your own work for you and keep looking for the next step!! You have got this!
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