Find a Job That Works for You and Be Happy

If you are either at crossroads in your career or still figuring out what 'ladder you really want to climb', a dream job may well be just what you should be looking for. Yet, many people unprepared to contemplate the idea - well, it's just a dream, isn't it?

The short answer is - it is entirely up to you, but I can guarantee that the job you yearn for is somewhere out there waiting for you to find it. First you need to know what it is you are looking for, otherwise you can keep looking aimlessly and, after a while, give up saying that 'it is simply not there'. Once you know exactly what your dream job is all about, you can then establish the steps you need to take to get there - do you need new skills, qualifications, experience?

Often, it can be a question of really know that whatever you have done with your life so far can be useful in a field you never thought was possible. For example, if you want a career in banking, that's a good start, but doing what? The banking industry is vast - in fact, there could be an argument here that whatever your background, you are probably well on your way to making your mark in the banking industry, even if you don't have the most obvious credentials. Someone with a background in anthropology or international development, for example, could make a great candidate for the industry's corporate social responsibility sector.

If you are a carpenter and your dream is to make films, the same applies. You just need to look at any film's credits to find out the range of skills needed to make that happen.

The journey to a dream job maybe bumpy, but that's doesn't mean the road is not there. If you need support, career coaching can help you define your career goals, plan your career path and make a realistic assessment of what you need to get there.

There may well be challenges ahead, but the easy road is not always the right road. A few months ago I attended a training course and was quite surprised to learn that about 80% of the people in the room - aged between 20 and 50 - felt they had made a bad career choice. Many had spent time and quite a lot of money building a career they later found to be unfulfilling. Many wished they could turn the clock back while others felt that, after all the effort they had put in, they had to bite the bullet and get on with it.

It is a matter of individual choice but it makes me question - what is worth more than waking up every day knowing that, even in a bad day, your job is something you enjoy, excel at and has meaning to you?

Tips for finding your dream job

• If there were no limitations or barriers, what would your perfect job description be? Be as specific as possible and don't think about labelling your job yet - many jobs with the same title can be quite different. What would you be doing? Where would you be working? What would your work environment look like? Would you work alone or in a team? What would your colleagues be like? How far would you commute? What would be your every day activities? What would be your achievements? How much would you work?


• Divide a piece of A4 paper into three columns. In the first one, write down everything you are naturally good at; in the second one list all the things you enjoy doing; and in the third one write down everything that's important to you. Don't think about it too much, just put your thoughts down on paper. There is no right or wrong, or indeed possible or impossible. Now look at the three columns and try to find a common thread. It may not be obvious at first. If that's the case, put the paper way and look at it again another day. You will realise there is a theme which runs through some your answers, which may point you in the right direction.

Searching for a job in Singapore, you can search a list of latest jobs at jobsbank sg.

A recruitment article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment coach that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.