3 Steps To Finding Your Dream Job

Deborah Brown-Volkman

Are you tired of being unhappy at work?

It's difficult to say, "I'm unhappy at work." After a while you start to believe that you are trapped and cannot do anything about your situation. The negative feelings start and over time they become stronger. Negative feelings do damage. They can affect every area of your life, including your relationships, motivation, physical, and mental health.

So if being unhappy at work does so much damage, then why do we stay in jobs that make us unhappy longer than we want to?

Mostly, because we are afraid. We worry that the grass is not greener on the other side. We wonder if we will be able to pay our bills. We worry that we may make another mistake. We know we are unhappy, but the known is better than the unknown. Actually more times than not, we go along and hope that things will get better on their own. Not only do we suffer emotionally, but our spirits and self-esteem diminish while we are waiting.

Is being happy in a job really that important? Shouldn't we just be grateful for the job we have versus wishing for a dream job we'll never get? It depends on the quality of life you want for yourself.

Did you know that:

• 75% or more of our time is spent working.
• When we are doing what we love to do, we are happy, ecstatic, excited, we have lots of energy, we feel complete, and we are proud of ourselves.
• When we are happy at work we get to live our purpose, we have meaning in our lives, we are focused, and we are doing something that impacts the people around us in a positive way.
• If we love our job, the other areas in our life skyrocket too.

Moving from a job that makes you unhappy and going into a job you love (I'll call this your dream job) requires action. The goal is not to jump quickly and make a bad choice, but to discover what you really love to do so you can make smart choices to get there.

So How Do You Get There? Follow These Steps Below:

1. Get Inspired

Right now is the hardest part. You are discouraged, tired, and frustrated. You can turn this around. Put your disappointment behind you. Realize how much it is holding you back. Write down your vision on a piece of paper and look at it every day. Recall times in your career when you were inspired and draw upon this daily. Promise yourself that things will get better and you will not give up.
2. Get Informed

What other types of jobs are out there? How much are they paying? Find out what's available and what you are worth so you can make a case for why your skills, experience, and salary requirements are a match for your dream job. You also want to locate the best environment that fits with your personal goals and values.

How do you locate this information? Get on the Internet. Look at salary sites, company web sites, annual reports, trade publications, newspapers and magazines. Go to the library and ask for help. Librarians are a great source for taped and untapped resources. Your goal is to do what you love for a living and it's important to make sure that your dream job is both financially sound and rewarding.
3. Get A Plan

Once you know what you want, it's time to make it happen. Develop concrete goals that you can achieve in your job search. This will be vital to your success. Create a plan. Incorporate your goals and include what you want, when you will have what you want, and what steps you will take to get it. Be as specific and detailed as possible. Decide what obstacles you will overcome, what will keep you motivated, and how you will reward yourself. You will be working hard and it's nice to know there is something waiting for you at the end.

So, what do you say? You only have one life to live so it might as well be a life you love.