Are you one of those people who think that happiness and a successful career are one and the same? If so, you may already be in the dream job nightmare . . .

 

The dictionary definition of ‘career’ says that it is: ‘an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person’s life and with opportunities for progress’. Some people strive for work since their youth, others neglect this part of life for various reasons. However, what I’d like to talk about are the people who regardless of their employment status still chase after that so-called dream job.

If I attempt to define what a dream job is, I would say that it’s a job that brings a person plenty of money but also pleasure. If a person is educated with interests in a particular area and manages to secure a position in that field, they are arguably amongst the luckiest people on Earth. Just imagine: a person spends on average around eight hours a day doing work. During that working day one has to perform various duties and meet different types of pleasant and unpleasant people: another words, one has to be useful and productive.

A person who works for the company of their dreams enjoys the working hours and probably doesn’t mind adding some extra ones. If this work also brings in a high salary, they might even love their job and dedicate their life to it. The reality however, is that there are few examples of such a dream combination of pleasure and a high salary actually occurring. And everyone should realise this.

But some people are just so caught up in an endless loop of wanting to find that perfect job, that they reject all the other jobs on offer. They tell themselves that certain positions are not good enough for them, that they’re not even worth thinking over. Such stubbornness usually has unfavourable consequences. These people either end up working in places they hate, having little motivation, or they remain unemployed — waiting for a magic turn of events to rescue them.

Statistical data shows that in modern Russian society there are just over five per cent of unemployed people. I wonder how many of them are simply waiting for their fairy tale dream job to come along, allowing them to live happily ever after?

Of course, there is another situation. Some people are not just waiting for their dream job, they work hard but remain unnoticed by their bosses and end up in the deepest depression. Their thinking usually goes like this: I work hard but I’m not successful, therefore I’m a failure and incapable of doing something outstanding. If such thoughts ever enter your head — run. Run from your current job, co-workers etc. A career is important, it can help us to have a more fulfilling life. But it cannot absorb a person completely, and it certainly shouldn’t win over your private life. Your career shouldn’t end up blotting out every other value you have. Don’t let it become an obsession! Otherwise, it will drain you entirely.

So what’s my point? Only that society teaches us to place a high value on having a successful career, so much, that many people build all their future expectations on this one goal. But this is real life and things don’t always work out the way we plan them, however much we desire something. So my suggestion to you is, find somewhere where you at least don’t mind working and strive for something better, but for goodness’ sake, don’t make this your sole aim in life!

If you’re still not convinced, here’s a famous Marilyn Monroe quote: ‘A career is wonderful, but you can’t curl up with it on a cold night’.

There are other important things in life. Appreciate what you have now, because dream job or not, it still won’t give you everything you need.

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