How
to Select the job of Your Dreams
There
are lots of guides that will tell you what future fields will be hot.
Don't believe them. Often they are wrong because managers tend to
overestimate future needs. Schools want to attract students so they
often exaggerate the demand for the professions they teach. Besides
that, no one can predict the future or the impact of technology.
The
best thing you can do is pick a field that you have a passion for
working in. People are spending more and more time on the job, so
doesn't it make sense that you should be doing something fun?
What
is your dream job?
Surprisingly
many of us don't know where our passion lies. Also our interests can
change from decade to decade and even from year to year. Here is
some help.
Name
five things that you would do, if you had the next year to do
whatever you wanted. People are not made to sleep in the sun. Those
who do it are castaways without a choice, or they are on vacation. If
you had unlimited time, you would stay busy. What would you do?
Rebuild cars? Walk dogs at the animal shelter? Play guitar in a bar?
No answer is too ridiculous.
What
did you like to do as a child? I loved swinging and daydreaming and
I make my living being creative. Sometimes, even today, I walk to
the park, sit on one of the swings and daydream for awhile. It
releases my creative energy and I walk home full of ideas. \\\\
Look
for people who have unusual jobs. John Keene bills himself as
Sherlock Bones and he has made a career out of finding lost pets.
Others become food critics, ice cream tasters or video game testers.
Check
out newspapers and magazines for articles about people who are doing
jobs that you think you might like, Clip the articles, Contact the
people in these jobs if they live near you.
I
found one article about a woman with a knack for decorating rooms.
She lacked the credentials to become an interior decorator, so she
started decorating garages. She makes them look good enough for a
home and garden magazine.
Other
individuals write mystery scripts for murder weekends, become disc
jockeys, bridal consultants, mystery shoppers or clowns. People who
love second-hand treasures might be able to earn a living on e-Bay or
with a resale shop.
One
man became a pizza farmer. With just a small parcel of land, he
planted a slice of his property in tomatoes, green peppers and
onions. He raises chickens and pigs and shows them off to visitors.
The animals don't even have to be killed. He makes his money by
charging visitors or a tour of the pizza farm.
A
woman gives business seminars in manners – no, not Miss Manners.
A
71 year old woman became a runway model.
A
woman who had no place to teach her exercise class arranged for
sessions at a tavern. An entrepreneur started a web site that
recommends local restaurants, gives hours, menus and ratings.
Just
reading about people like that fills me with hope and with ideas.
Start
thinking about your likes and your talents. Put together a list of
things you would like to do.
