Practical considerations are the last thing you want to be bothered with when accepting your dream job

Like most people, you probably have an idealised vision of what you imagine your dream job to be, and whether it’s something related to the field in which you currently work, or something completely different, having this dream, and taking steps to achieve it, can be a great way to drive yourself forward in search of the career that is right for you.

But, the reality of life is much more complicated than this simple dream allows for. No matter how perfect a job may seem, there are certain practical considerations, which can, if not catered for correctly stand very firmly in the way of you and the job satisfaction you have always dreamed of.

For many roles the most significant factor that people tend to take into consideration is the salary, but in the case of a ‘dream job’ practical aspects like this can sometimes be swept under the carpet, outweighed by what you believe to be the more important issue of career satisfaction.

Whilst we don’t wish to be wet blankets, nor rain on your ‘dream job’ parade, if you find yourself in the enviable situation of being offered a position that you consider to be a ‘dream job’ there are a few practical considerations that we would urge you to consider before accepting.

Dream Job- Practical Considerations

Salary

Money isn’t everything…but it is a whole lot!  Being blissfully happy at work will be small consolation for not being able to put food on the table when you get home. Okay, perhaps that’s a little dramatic, but over time you may well realise that having your dream job is tarnished significantly by the pay cut it required.

Take stock of your outgoings and make sure that in accepting a dream job you are not impoverishing yourself to the point that it has a detrimental effect on your wellbeing.

If your dream job happens to come with a matching dreamy salary, then good for you!

Your Expectations

Do you have a truly representative expectation of what the job will be like, or is your decision-making process being clouded by your idealised notion of it?  Have you thoroughly researched the day-to- day activities you will be involved in, and the responsibilities that will be placed on your shoulders?

Career Progression

Have you considered that your ‘dream job’ might well prove unsatisfactory further down the line?  If this turns out to be true, does the job you have been offered provide a good launch pad from which to progress within the company? Likewise how likely is it that you will be able to transition smoothly from this company to another?

Before making any decisions, it can be very useful to put together an exit strategy, which will give you an escape route should you decide that your ‘dream job’ is not so dreamy after all.  Take stock of the skills and experiences that you have and make note of a few specific roles that you think you would be qualified to work in. Having a plan like this in place can be helpful no matter what role your are working in.

It is always comforting to know that you have some options open to you.
Stability

Depending on your individual circumstances, the level of stability that you require from a role will vary significantly, but if you are a person who places quite a high value on job security does your ‘dream job’ offer you this? This question is particularly important if you are planning to leave a steady job. You must thoroughly assess the likely level of career stability you can expect within a role, and consider carefully whether or not this is acceptable to you. If the answer is no, then the search for your dream job must continue!

The company / organisation culture

It can be an incredible disappointment to begin what you believe to be your dream job, only to find that your values and expectations don’t match up with those of your new organisation.

Company culture is one of the most important contributing factors to employee satisfaction, and it’s no exaggeration to say, that if judged incorrectly the results can be disastrous. It can be difficult to gauge what a company’s culture is like before you begin working there, since most companies have a certain image that they (correctly or incorrectly)  like to project to the public.

To try and avoid such a situation occurring make sure that your research is as comprehensive as possible and that you try and gain your information from as broad a range of sources as you can.

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