A job is a job. Or is it?

There are two schools of thought in today’s world, or rather there are many schools of thought, but they can be put in two broad categories. One that believes that a job is just a means to an end and all “real life” is outside of work, and the other that define identity by what you “do”. Which side are you on? Regardless of which school of thought you subscribe to we all have to agree that career matters! The extent to which can be debated, and many companies now-a-days are focusing on creating policies and programs which can support their employees in having a more balanced lifestyle. However, regardless of how much we love to work or hate our jobs, we all desire to have the dream job that promises a “high” and happiness in what we do.

Have you noticed when people meet each other for the first time, more often than not the first question is “So, what do you do?” Those that love what they do answer that question with enthusiasm and excitement, and the rest trivialize what they do, even if its a dream job for others. So, what defines the dream job, what defines satisfaction and happiness at work? We reached out and talked to our friends, family, extended professional network, students, job seekers and anyone else we could find, to find the perfect answer.

We found that people care more about their career than their job at any point of time. People view their career as having an extended timeline, including where they have been, but primarily focused on where they are going, and what opportunities they have for their future. But how does one maximize the opportunities that you have in the future? Ironically, by maximizing their present. By making sure that their current career is setting the foundation for where they want to go or may want to go. How do you do that? By ensuring that no matter which job you are doing right now, you are developing your career and making yourself marketable for your dream job!

Some of us are lucky enough to have found our path to our dream career, but many have not as we continue our journey to our ultimate dream. Make sure whether you are in the former or latter group, you are growing in your career and getting a chance to learn and prosper so that each day leads closer and closer to you loving what you do.

The principle that everyone can find their dream careers and jobs, seems a tad far-fetched! However, we have seen many people convert their jobs into dream jobs by sheer force of will, and achieve what they wanted to in their careers. Here’s wishing that everyone reading this, is able to do so as well!