Member-only story
The Real Reason Why You Haven’t Gotten Your Dream Job
And how to go about getting it!
“Have you found your dream job?”
I don’t know why, but I have a strong curiosity about people’s careers. In the midst of a 1:1 meeting, I asked my colleague that question. She looked at me puzzled but then replied with an unwavering certainty, “No, not really.”
Over the past decade, the above conversation replayed many times, with different people, at different places, but the answer was almost always the same —
No, not really…
Now, I can hear you asking me, “Dear Isabel, have you found your dream job?” My answer is “Yes, many times…” It’s not a short and sweet answer. Let me explain — I’ve found my dream job many times in my career. My dream job ten years ago was certainly not what I am doing right now. Likewise, my dream job right now will not be my dream job in a decade time. Because I know for a fact that I will grow out of my current job and will be ready for something different in the future.
The reason why you haven’t found your dream job yet is pretty simple — you don’t know what your dream job is. The use of the word “dream” have us fooled, it leaves us in a crippling place, optimistically and wishfully waiting.
