What's your dream job? Do you know what you want to do? Have you always known? Or have only just recently discovered it?
I was a typical child. I had a big imagination, and used to think about and imagine all sorts of things. I'd thought and dreamt of doing all sorts of jobs. I wanted to be a singer (I'm unbelievably tone deaf! Like those bad singers on X Factor that says they're the next Whitney Houston, except I actually know that I can't sing), a writer (absolutely loved books, being creative and I wrote a lot of stories), a designer (my sister and I used to draw dresses. She's a lot better than me. I just drew big, O.T.T. princess dresses), an actress (had a big imagination and thought acting was an escape from normal, mundane life) etc... Yeah, I was a really weird and random child. Now I'm a really weird and random adult ...It wasn't until High School that I decided and committed to one job idea; to become a teacher. It was the only idea I didn't find any faults or lose interest in. I liked school, I liked helping and teaching my friends, I loved interaction and being creative, and still do. It made sense to me. I understood the need for good, capable teachers and the importance of them. I had some lovely teachers and I had some bad ones. I had a few that had a big influence on me and one in particular changed some of my views on life. Those teachers are why I wanted to become a teacher. Teachers can really have a big impact on a kid's life.
Unfortunately it's only now, 10 years later, that I've discovered that while I love teaching and I'm good at it, it's not a career path that I want to pursue.
So lately I've been asking myself: "What kind of career do I want?" "What career path do I want to pursue?" Dangerous and mind-boggling questions that everyone asks themselves. I've been searching for these answers for a really long time now. I had doubts before coming to Korea, and now I'm certain I don't want to be a History teacher anymore. I've gone through various trains of thoughts.
First I just looked at different teaching options as it was my original plan and it seems to be the only thing I'm qualified for. It's what I've wanted to do for so long that all I did was gear my experiences towards teaching; leadership course, communication module, mentoring, tutoring, teaching English as a foreign language ...
However, it's not something I can imagine myself pursuing and sticking to, or even enjoying. These are three really big deal-breakers for me. While I think everyone has to do things (small jobs and actual jobs) they don't like out of necessity, I'm not willing to pursue a career I won't follow because it isn't necessary. Yes, I need a job. Yes, I need money. Yes, I need to work out what I want to do with my life. But no I don't have to pay and do a post-graduate in something I don't intend to use enough to get my money's worth out of it. No, it won't be financially beneficial. No, it won't make me happy. No, it's not my only option.
So I started to focus on my interests. I want a job that I'll enjoy so I started thinking about jobs that revolves around things I'm interested in. Although combining your hobbies with your job works for some people and sounds ideal, I can't really imagine it for me. My interests aren't necessarily something I'm good at or
Now I'm focusing on job descriptions. I have a rough idea of what I want in a job. I don't mean salary, working hours, location or anything like that. I mean, I've worked out what it is that I love about my current job, what tasks and roles I'd like to do in a future job and what I'd be good at. I'm thinking more about what a job would entail, and if I fit the description and want to do those things. Rather than trying to find a 'dream job' and trying to fit myself into that role, I'm looking for a job that fits me and my personality.
I will write again if my method actually works, and to write about the outcome. Knowing what jobs you're capable of doing, what's your dream job and achieving it are all completely different things.
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