This article was last updated on March 14, 2022
Ask around what people think the recipe for a perfect life is and most of them will reply good health with a side of happy family and a dream job for dessert. Studies back up the idea that working in a pleasant environment and earning enough to afford a couple of vacations a year plays an essential role in achieving what we like to call a perfect life. But hunting down that dream job and is easier said than done. Then again, if it was that easy, career coaches would be out of jobs. To check if you are on the right path and you are shooting for the right stars, read our list for an inkling into what might be stopping you from finding your dream job.
10 Things Keeping You from Finding Your Dream Job
There’s no life beyond your comfort zone
When’s the last time you tried out something new? People who don’t like to take risks are bound to be pinned down by fear and anxiety. They don’t say that “life starts at the end of your comfort zone” for nothing. By constantly working on improving your flaws or trying out new things you don’t like, you’ll manage to build a stronger personality, learn various things and meet all kind of interesting people. Not great at socializing? Why not host the next board games night at your house? You’ll be more comfortable on your own territory, but still dipping your toes into a brand new situation.
Too scared to stand up for yourself
One of the biggest mistakes that might be keeping you from finding your dream job is the fear to stand up for yourself. Next time you prepare for a big interview, pay as much attention to your speech as you do to your suit. Go ahead and jot down your strongest skills and act out the interview in the mirror until you sound so confident you would hire yourself.
Your passion won’t pay the bills
We’re all familiar with the famous quote “choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life”. But what if you kept your passion separate from your job? This way, you avoid turning a hobby into something you have to do every day and which you might end up hating. The wisest piece of advice is to incorporate your passion into your job, striking the perfect balance between a comfortable salary and an exciting working day. Sometimes, that’s easier said than done, but you can always use the help of professional recruiters to match your skills to the requirements of a job that would fit you like a glove.
Your middle name is master procrastinator
Why leave it for tomorrow when you can do it today? Yes, it’s incredibly tempting to postpone tedious tasks for the next day or even next week, but breaking bigger projects down into smaller assignments will help. Finding the ideal job doesn’t only involve knowing what you like and dislike. It also requires determination and discipline.
Unwilling to go the extra mile
Going out of your way to fine tune an important project or help out a colleague who’s swamped in paperwork goes beyond making you feel better at the end of the day. Understand your office environment and earn respect by choosing the correct battles. If you get used to always going the extra mile and give 100%, you’ll find it easier to pinpoint what you like, what you want to do and how you could accomplish that. As a bonus, you’ll earn a few allies on the path to success.
The thought of failure is paralyzing
Psychologists have come to the conclusion that getting fired can be as depressing as losing a close family member. With that in mind, it’s easy to see why some think defeat is horrendous. But there’s no way to sugarcoat it: not taking risks won’t take you anywhere. We’re not advocating for rash decisions. But sometimes, a leap of faith is all you need, and it might even land you your dream job.
Organization is not your strongest skill
We’re not all great at Excel charts or Power Point presentations. However, it’s not rocket science to draw up lists with to dos or draft up pros and cons. To increase your productivity levels, try out phone apps that will help you keep track of your activity and all your projects. Not managing to cope with the workload? A priority system will not only help you restore order among chaotic tasks, it could also enable you to identify your career priorities and steer you in the right direction.
Ruminating over mistakes is your favorite pastime
Everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone holds onto them for years, wishing they could go back in time and do things differently. This would only damage your self-esteem, and nurture a negative outlook on life. So what are we supposed to do with a mistake? Acknowledge it and try to see if there is anything you can still do to mend it. Learn from it and prepare for future similar situations. Then, it’s time to let it go, forgive yourself and set out to do better next time.
Overly eager to please everyone
It feels great to please everyone, but you shouldn’t do it at the cost of your own well-being. No one really wants to admit this, but you should put your needs above others. This shouldn’t translate to extreme selfishness, but rather to a balance between being kind and generous with other people and striving for your own goals at full speed.
Terrible people skills
Finding your dream job should be about making friends in the process. You don’t have to befriend everyone on your way up, but let’s face it, social skills never hurt anyone. There’s no shame in honing your people skills and you can start small. Hold up the elevator doors for your colleagues and bring muffins to your workplace every now and then. Who knows, maybe Larry from Acquisitions heard about a great job opening at his wife’s firm that happens to be your dream job.
Photo source: Ben Stanfield via flickr
