This is a guest post from Alexandra Levit. Alexandra writes Water Cooler Wisdom, a career advice blog. Her new book, How’d You Score That Gig? A Guide to the Coolest Careers — and How To Get Them, has just been published.
Do you have a job that’s just like everyone else’s? Are you looking for a nine-to-five…but wish you weren’t? Do you wish there was another option, one that would lead to an exciting, unique, and fulfilling line of work?
I recently interviewed more than 100 people who currently hold their dream jobs as research for my new book. These individuals — who are travel journalists, event planners, fashion designers, forensic scientists, interior decorators, internet business owners and more — have one thing in common: persistence.
As unattainable as a dream job might sound, with the right amount of forethought and preparation, you can make the move as well. Here are six tips to get you started:
- Learn about yourself. Take time to do a self-assessment of your values, how you like to work, and what you’d be compelled to do even if you never got paid. Research careers and industries that map to your skills and interests. Hit the Internet, set up informational interviews, take relevant coursework, and arrange to go onsite at a company in your chosen field.
- Don’t be deterred by a lack of experience. In developing a resume and other promotional materials for the field you want to pursue, think about how your current skills and talents apply to the responsibilities you’ll hold in the new job. For example, knowledge of project management, client relations, information technology, and sales will take you far in most types of careers.
- Ease into a new career one foot at a time. Perhaps this means earning a paycheck at your current job while doing a part-time internship in your new field or taking an adult education class or workshop on the weekend. The only way to find out if you’re passionate about something is to try it – ideally with as little risk as you can manage.
- Remember that any progress is good progress. Even confident people stay in unsatisfying jobs because they feel safe, and because they’re afraid of making a bad decision. But in the quest to uncover a source of meaningful work, though, your worst enemy is inertia. Make an effort to do one thing, like e-mailing a networking contact or attending an event – that moves you a bit closer to your big picture goal.
- Start early. Twenty and thirty-somethings have more flexibility when it comes to test-driving different careers. The process of self-discovery is much easier when you’re unencumbered by family responsibilities and substantial financial burdens, and when you haven’t yet reached a level in a career where it’s tougher to turn back. That said, it’s never too late to pursue your passion. More and more baby boomers are leaving the world of traditional employment for alternative career paths that will fulfill them well into retirement age.
- Have realistic expectations. Even if you’re lucky enough to hold your dream job, there’s no such thing as the perfect work situation. Every job has its ups and downs, and aspects we love and aspects we don’t love. And dream job doesn’t mean “cushy” job. As your mom always told you, anything worth having in this world requires some effort. There will be some days you feel like shutting the alarm off and going back to sleep, but many more where you feel more energized by the prospect of work than you ever thought possible!
J.D.’s note: My wife taught high school chemistry and physics for many years. Though she loved teaching, she eventually left to pursue her dream job. Alexandra’s six tips closely match how Kris approached her career change.
译文:
六个小贴示帮助你找到梦想的工作
这是来自亚力山德拉利瓦依特的宾客宣传单。她在一个职业咨询博客中写文章。她的新书刚刚出版《如何取得远大的目标—一本指导职业的书籍教你如何获得你想要的职业》
你是否和其他人一样拥有一份工作。你是否在寻找一份朝九晚五的工作，但内心却又不那么渴望得到。你是否希望可以有另一种选择，能够找到一份有激情、有成就、感独树一帜的工作呢？
为了创作我的新书，我最近对100多位目前拥有自己梦寐以求的工作的人士进行了采访和调查。在这些人群里，有旅游记者、项目策划人、时尚设计师、法学专家、室内设计师，互联网上经销商等等，但他们有个共同点，就是具有持之以恒的精神。
也许一份梦寐以求的工作听上去有点可遇而不可求，但如果你具有相当正确的先见能力，并且做好一定程度的准备工作，你是可以朝着自己梦想的工作方向靠近的。这里有六个小贴示可以帮助你起航。
1） 了解自己。花些时间进行自我价值的评估，了解自己喜欢什么样的工作。了解有什么样的事情即使没有报酬，自己也会义无返顾地去完成。调查各职业和工业领域并详尽罗列自己的技能和兴趣。上网并建立信息平台，参加一些相关课程培训，同时也可以对自己选择的行业领域内的公司进行实地考察。
2） 不要因为缺乏经验而却步。为了进入自己渴求的领域，你要制作一份简历和一些推销自己的材料，这时你可以思考自己目前拥有哪些技能和才能，可以帮助自己更好地承担责任、胜任新工作。比如说项目管理知识、客户关系、信息技术和销售渠道可以帮助你在许多职业领域走得更远。
3） 用一只脚帮你平稳通过新工作。也许这意味着你一边在这份工作上打工挣钱，一边在另一个新领域做兼职，或者利用周末参加成人课程班、学习小组学习。要想知道你对某个事物是否真正具有热情，唯一的验证方法就是在自己尝试这个事物过程中给自己制造一点能够应对的小麻烦。
4） 记住任何进步都是好事。甚至有些充满自信的人仍旧工作在自己不满意的岗位上，这是什么原因呢？因为他们感到安全，因为他们害怕做出错误的决定。但是在追求寻找有意义的工作过程中，最大的敌人是拥有惯性的思想。努力去做一件事情，比如发一份电子邮件进行在线联系或者出席一次活动，也会帮助你向你宏伟的目标跨近一步。
5） 起步要趁早。在对不同职业领域进行尝试时，对于一个二三十岁的人来说则会有更多的适应能力。当你不受到家庭责任和物质负担牵制，当你没有因为已经在某个职业领域有所成就而难以回头时，自我探索的过程相对比较容易实现。当然追求自己的梦想永远都不会为时已晚。越来越多婴儿潮出生的人们离开传统的岗位，寻找别样的职业道路，这些职业道路会另他们到了退休的年龄仍会体会成就感。
6） 拥有符合实际的期望。即使你足够幸运能够在自己梦寐以求的岗位上工作，但是世上没有十全十美的事情，工作也是一样。每份工作都有潮起潮落，有你喜欢的一块，不喜欢的一块。梦想的工作并不是你可以轻而易举攒到钱的工作。就像你妈妈常常告诉你：世界上任何有价值的东西都是需要一些努力去获得的。有几天你也许会希望关掉闹钟继续睡觉，但是更多时间你所拥有的工作散发出灿烂的前景会比你想象中更激发你前进。
J．D的注释：我妻子在高中教化学和物理已经好几年了。尽管她非常喜欢教书，在但最终选择离开老师的岗位而去追求自己梦想的工作。亚力山德拉的六个小贴示与克瑞斯如何处理她职业变迁的事情非常贴切。