Can’t Find A Job : Should You Settle For Less Than Your Dream Career?

Sep 30, 2015
2 min read

If you can’t find your dream job you are not alone, a recent survey showed that 70% of workers dislike their jobs. Ideally you would wait until you got the perfect job but unfortunately circumstances can force you into a position where you have to temporarily settle. From the survey it sounds like 70% of the population may have already settled, but does that mean you should?

Below are a list of the key factors to consider when in this dilemma:

Money – This is probably the biggest driver, if you have unlimited resources you probably wouldn’t need to apply for a job in the first place. But with bills to pay you may not have the luxury of waiting for the dream career. You must perform an honest financial assessment and decide how long you can hold out for the right job.

Get something close to what you want – If you have to settle for a job then find something that is as related to your dream career as possible. This will make it easier to transition to what you actually love as you will acquire skills, experience and connections that will make you more competitive in your job search. Don’t wait till you are desperate before you apply for these jobs as they may also be competitive to get into.

Don’t place yourself in a desperate position by waiting too long to apply for a less than dream career

Don’t give up - There is nothing sweeter than waking up in the morning and being excited to go to work, it also has a significant influence on your personal life. If you have to temporarily settle for less than your dream career ensure that you don’t become complacent! Continue to apply for your dream job and educate yourself so you don’t lose relevant skills.

I once settled for a job that was less than ideal and each day I felt like I had wasted my education and wasn’t living up to my full potential. It was also demoralising seeing my classmates making more money and with better jobs than I had. I was able to use this frustration as fuel to push me to keep searching for another job. It can be easy to throw in the towel and completely give up on your dreams after you have settled in a position but don’t do this. I know many people who have successfully transitioned to the job of their dreams even after 3 years working in an industry they disliked.

Let your frustration be the fuel that lights the fire within you to find something you love