What’s your dream job? If you’re like many of us, you’re not sure how to answer that question. To help, ETE compiled a list of 43 questions to help you find your dream job—including all those little forgotten details.
What does your dream job look like? For some, it might involve working with their hands, while others might prefer to work with their minds. Perhaps you dream of running your own business, or maybe you just want to find a career that allows you to make a difference in the world.
Steps to finding your dream job
Whatever your dream job may be, experts generally agree and suggest a few key steps to help turn your vision into reality.
First, it’s important to get clear on what you want. What are your goals and objectives? Is there a certain type of work do you enjoy? What kind of company would you like to work for (if you want to work for one at all)? Once you have a good understanding of what you’re looking for, you can start to identify potential opportunities.
Next, it’s time to do your research. Learn as much as you can about your chosen industry and field:
- What are the current trends and challenges?
- Who are the key players?
- What are the best companies to work at?
- Have you looked at the Occupational Outlook Handbook?
Finally, it’s essential to take action and put yourself out there. Network with people in your chosen industry and let them know what you’re looking for. As you gain more knowledge, you will be able to determine whether or not a particular opportunity is right for you.
I’m still unsure, so what do I do?
For some people, the advice to “just follow your passion” or “research your field” can be problematic. It’s easy to say but not so easy to do when you don’t know where to start. Perhaps you’ve always had a passion for music but don’t know how to turn that passion into a career. Or maybe you want a complete career change but are unsure what your dream job is.
The point is, it can be tough to figure out how to put your passion into action.
Moreover, we don’t always know what’s available to us or what would make us happy because we’ve never considered alternatives. Sometimes, all that research won’t springboard you into your dream career. Not everyone has it figured out. But that’s exactly where the details of your desires come in.
Let’s get down to the nitty gritty of your dream job
When we start considering a change or our next move, we must take it to a granular level. We’re going to get selective and highly specific. We’ll precisely pick apart what we want in terms of our career and how our dream jobs can benefit us personally—and in every aspect of life.
In this section, we’re not going to instruct you on endless steps to take. But we will introduce you to a variety of views for you to consider. How? By exploring 43 questions that will help you become more aware of what you want and don’t want. It’s time to meet your dream job question list:
- What is your ideal salary?
- Would you like to work remotely or in-office?
- Do you commute? If so, how much time does it take from your day?
- Are you self-employed, or do you work for a company?
- What do you enjoy doing that doesn’t feel like work?
- What’s important to you?
- Do you take a lunch break? If so, for how long? With who?
- How many hours a week do you want to work?
- Are these hours flexible, or do you want a fixed schedule?
- If you are a parent, can you pick your child up from school or take time off when they are ill?
- Can you go to a doctor’s appointment without taking a vacation day?
- Does your job entail travel? How much of it is feasible?
- Would you like to travel and work from anywhere in the world?
- What time do you wake up?
- What time do you go to bed?
- Do you want to exercise, meditate, read, etc., before work?
- How does your calendar look?
- Do you mind taking after-hours calls? How about being on call?
- Does this dream job support continuing education?
- Will you have the time to expand your skills?
- In what areas would you like to upskill?
- What vacation time is available to you?
- Do you have sick days?
- What comes naturally to you, or where do you excel?
- Do you have any skills that set you apart from others?
- What are the things that others recognize and say you’re good at?
- Do you prefer to work alone or on a team?
- What are your strengths?
- In what areas do you need improvement?
- Would you classify yourself as an introvert, extrovert, or ambivert?
- What professions or fields excite you?
- Do you want a steady income, or can you handle fluctuations?
- What is your ideal work-life balance?
- Do you want to relocate or stay where you are?
- Do you need specific education or certification?
- Are you happy?
- What are your values?
- What is your personality type?
- How do you feel about technology?
- What is your ideal workspace?
- In your work, do you need a sense of purpose?
- What lessons have you learned from past mistakes?
- Is there anything you absolutely do not want to do?
The next step is to answer the above questions to start your journey toward finding your dream career. And when you’re finished, be sure to check out our website for more tips and advice on leadership and professional development. We can’t wait to hear about what you discover—and remember, it’s never too late to start!