Last week my friend Sam asked my roommate Katie and I an interesting question: at what point do you give up pursuing your dream career and start pursuing a job instead?
Sam graduated from a great college this May and has always wanted to be a reporter. Like most 2010 grads, she has had a tough time landing a full-time gig in her desired field despite numerous internships, awesome grades and tons of campus involvement.
Katie’s response to Sam’s question was, “You never have to give up pursuing your dream job, but you may have to take a different path than you imagined in getting there.”
My response was that you never have to give up your dream career, BUT you may have to pursue it as a hobby rather than as a full time job. And hopefully someday you can make that hobby into a career.
The answer to this question is, of course, different for everyone. If you’re a recent grad who has pondered giving up your dream career, my advice is to set a reasonable time period for yourself in which you will continue pursuing your dream career. If after, say, 3 months you still do not have an offer, then start looking for a job- even if it is totally different than what you thought you’d be doing. Never stop pursuing your passion (even while working full time, and even if you don’t get paid for it).
What would YOU tell Sam to do?
Should she keep holding out for a job as a reporter or should she switch gears and take an entry-level job doing something else?
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If anyone can relate to where you're at in your career, it's Nicole Crimaldi: Nicole spent 5 years in corporate America, switched career paths, worked at a start-up, survived a layoff and is now self-employed. Nicole believes that career satisfaction is a huge part of overall happiness. Therefore, she started Ms. Career Girl to help other women get off the treadmill and onto a more fulfilling path.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Nicole,
I 100% agree with you, particularly on your point that occasionally the path to our dream career isn’t straight and narrow. I would add that sometimes taking a “day job” will shape our self-understanding to the point that our dream career changes substantially. I was pretty convinced once graduating college that I wanted to be a clandestine CIA agent (no joke!). But after taking a corporate job to pay the bills while I sorted out some family drama, I learned that I had both a head and a heart for business–and perhaps one day, entrepreneurship.
I also love your point about pursuing a dream career on the side as a hobby. I write a lot about that on my blog, which focuses on career design. Using “gigs” like part-time jobs, hobbies, and volunteer opps to flesh out a practical path to your ideal career is brilliant advice, although it does take some energy and initiative to work a full time job and still pursue activities on the side.
You don’t have to give up your dream just because you take a job that wasn’t in your original plan. Seriously, whose life ever turns out the way they had it planned? Boring!
I have far more respect for people who can swallow their pride and keep putting themselves out there than I do for the ones who call it quits when they realize a meaningful career isn’t something that you get prepackaged at Target.
There’s no shame in a) doing what you have to do to pay the bills AND b)volunteering/freelancing your talent in the meantime in order to meet people and get your foot in the door.
Don’t be afraid to show off how great you are, even if no one is paying you at the moment. I’m remembering a post Nicole wrote a while back about attracting customers/employers with “free samples” of your work – same idea here.
Keep hustling, Sam, and don’t get discouraged!
Loved your comment Rachel!
I think a lot of us initially thought getting into our desired field would be easier than it actually is. And, then there are those who pursue their field and end up hating it. Therefore, just START. SOMEWHERE. And it will all work out.
But never stop doing something outside of your day job- I call it career insurance. We insure our cars, but why don’t insure the one thing that pays for our whole lives- our career? VERY important.
Yes- the free samples theory post http://www.mscareergirl.com/2010/04/13/the-free-samples-theory-why-volunteering-could-get-you-hired/ and this post by Marian Schembari: http://www.mscareergirl.com/2010/04/19/stop-searching-start-working-2-things-you-should-do-while-unemployed/
I wholeheartedly agree with your advice Nicole! And I would tell Sam to definitely not give up… A book I really love that gives me the fuel to keep pursuing my dreams is by Gary Vaynerchuk and it’s called “Crush It”. I still work a full time job, but at least 20-25 hours a week I’m hard at work doing what I love
YES- Crush It! Is a MUST READ. I’ll have to give my copy to Sam next time she is over. Just reading it pumps you up and gives you hope.
I totally agree with all previous comments, especially reading Gary Vaynerchuk’s book “Crush It” . Now more than ever is the time to pursue your passions. Sometimes you do have to take a “day job” to pay the bills but with patience and persistence you can have that dream career. You just may have to take a different path to get there and it may not be packaged the way you want it. But it’s yours, if you are willing to put in the blood, sweat and sometimes a few tears.
I am still in the same boat. I am more lenient than I was over a year. When I graduated in May of 2009, YOU COULD NOT tell me anything other than what I wanted as a dream job. But given the economy and the numerous job applications and unsuccessful job leads, I am more comfortable with what I want now. I still don’t have a part-time job and I always glamoured it as a dream job. I said I was more lenient and I am but sometimes, dreaming about it keeps me sane.
As an Executive Recruiter I am often asked this question (usually by someone that knows me and has a niece, a daughter, a sister, a friend etc.) I say to give it a time frame to really, really hit it hard in your dream area. Of course, that time frame depends on your personal finances but generally not more than 3 – 4 months. Then take a role that’s in the same “world” if you can or utilizes similar skills that would easily transfer later on. Get involved in user groups, online groups, face to face associations in your dream space – have conversations with some of the people already there, if you can. You may even change your mind and go in another direction. One thing is for certain – no company you interview with is going to want to hear that you really want to do something else or how tough the job market is, etc etc.
Geri,
Great advice! Especially about getting involved in user groups, online groups and face-to-face associations. Interview professionals, go on lots of coffee dates and see who you meet and what you learn. Usually it’s those connections that come full circle and pay off months later.
And yes- please stop talking about the bad economy!!
Geri your firm looks awesome! We should chat- I always meet great candidates that you may be interested in!
Nicole
Nicole,
AS somebody who has taken about 10 years to land in the life of my dreams, I have got a bit to say on this. First, there is the issue of finances. If the path you are headed down is going to cause your bank account to dwindle, then it’s something to keep in mind. There’s no doubt that you might have to take a different path to get there, but if you get lost too far long that different path, then you might end up far from where you want to eventually be.
My advice would be to see if it’s possible to set your life in up in such a way that you can work on your dream while having a job. If you do not land in your dream job, perhaps the key is to find a job that will actually help you to live the life of your dreams at some point, even if it is not the dream job today.