The problem with your dream job is that if you're searching desperately for it, you may be missing out on your dream life. I had a quick email exchange with a friend yesterday. She wanted some input about her job hunt. She's happy where she is (it has its ups and downs), but saw an opportunity that she might not love, but could be a good challenge.
She asked if I thought she should apply.
For starters, it never hurts to apply for jobs and go on interviews. As long as you're not using time that could be better spent elsewhere, applying and interviewing at any point in time are great practice.
Secondly, I asked if this open position was her dream job, or if it got her closer to her dream job. Ultimately, it was neither. She can easily and happily stay where she is a bit longer.
This back and forth made me reflect on the state of our working world. So many of us get caught up in the hunt for a dream job. This is a problem.
Most people I know who would say they have their dream job went and created it. So, unless you're willing to be an entrepreneur or a creator of some sort, you're going to be looking a very long time until you finally find it.
The other problem with your dream job is that its search may be happening at the expense of your dream life. No one talks about living the dream life. They just talk about working a dream job. What a narrow focus.
You have to work to pay the bills, but if that's the modus operandi if your life - to wake up, go to work, earn money, come home, watch TV, go to bed, repeat - then I have a hamster cage and wheel that you'd be perfect for.
I say stop searching for your dream job. Find something you can stomach and then start making a list and dreaming about your life. What are your life's goals? You want to get married? Visit Africa? Adopt a kid? Run a marathon? Write a book? Make great beer in your kitchen? Your dream job has nothing to do with these.
Stop searching for your dream job and start living your dream life.
Photo from Flickr by Daquella manera