Knowing What You Want

Are you faced with identifying what you want out of your ideal job? Do you know what you want? Do you find it a lot easier to answer the question in terms of what you don’t like or what you don’t want?

While attending a training workshop, an icebreaker exercise was to write down the worst possible job you could ever have. We were to describe the atmosphere (smell, furniture, lighting, etc.), managers, employees and the job’s description. People quickly jotted down their information.

When asked about the worst possible job, people easily responded about poor lighting, dingy old buildings, incompetent managers and employees, and meaningless work. We joked that it seemed as though we were so clear in our descriptions of the worst possible job, that it was as if we had already experienced it – and for most of us, we had.

The next part of the icebreaker was to write down our ideal job. Again, describing the atmosphere, managers, employees and the job’s descriptions. Many people weren’t as quick to write this information down. Answering this question took people some time to think about what their ideal job looked like to them.

As people presented their information, the instructor commented on the lack of imagination people had for their ideal job. Some didn’t mention money, the ability to travel around the world; work reduced hours while receiving full-time pay, or have amenities with the job like car service, access to jets and helicopters. And while the instructor wasn’t trying to criticize, she just pointed out how detailed we were with what we didn’t want, but not very clear, even limited in asking for what we did want.

This icebreaker was used to point out the fact that, if you have never had your ideal job or never thought of it, it was hard for some to picture. The first step towards actualizing your dream career is to know what it is. Knowing the intricacies of your dream career will help you quickly filter out what you are no longer willing to accept.

You can use your ideal job detailed descriptions as a tool in your job search process. Look at the job description, does it line up with what you would do in your ideal job. Research the company, does the company offer a benefits package that would fit your life/work balance. When going to interviews, you can quickly identify if this is the type of atmosphere you would want to work. Once past the human resource army, ask the reporting manager about their style of management, are they hands on, do they micro manage, etc. Ask about the employees and their work ethic, is it team oriented or every man for himself. Try to find out as much as you can about the responsibilities of the position and perks.

Once armed with detailed information about a potential position, compare it to your ideal job. Do they match perfectly? If not, in what areas are you willing to be flexible, which areas are you not willing to be flexible? Knowing what you want, first, will help you quickly realize what you don’t want instead of the reverse.