Your Dream Job | Pad Patter 08.02

[GlazeFamily3]

Growing up, I always wanted to be a teacher. The first memory I have of this is in second grade and it carried with me throughout school. In high school, I was heavily involved in music, playing multiple instruments and being involved in numerous orchestras and bands. I decided to pursue music education, going as far as to audition and secure acceptance to the school of music.

Very quickly, I realized this was not what I really wanted to do. I actually spent hours taking a test in my school’s career center to find out which job best suited me. I got graphic designer. My heart leapt because my secret dream job had always been to be a greeting card designer. But I got scared. I didn’t have a portfolio and therefore talked myself out of it. I skipped my appointment with the art department.

I went ahead with a degree in early childhood education, making that childhood fantasy job come true. During my program, we spent 1.5 years half working in classrooms and half taking classes before we could student teach. We were really immersed. I sadly realized all the reasons I had wanted to teach as a child were really nothing but fantasies and teachers had very little autonomy in the classroom.

Even though I knew this was not an environment I really wanted to work in, I stuck with it and completed my degree with honors. After graduating, my husband and I moved to another state where I ran an office until giving birth to my daughter. Since then, I have stayed home with her and just began our sixth year of homeschool. So in a round about way, I am using my degree, though I feel a lot of homeschool is really not what I was taught in college.

I am quite happy with where I ended up. I would say my dream job now is to write travel books.

Dream jobs... it is something a lot of people talk about but few people actually have. What is your dream job and are you lucky to be doing it now?

 

[littlekiwi]

Dream job.....in a lot of ways i’m still searching for the dream!


I went through a few phases when I was younger......travel agent was the main one before I turned probably 14 or 15, then it became something in the health sector.....originally it was as a x-ray technician but physics at high school wasn’t my strong suit so ended up starting many pre degree programs to gain entry straight out of high school (which I never finished). Then 8 years ago I decided Nursing was what I wanted to do, so redid the pre degree program, tried to get into nursing school twice and didn’t (long story but the gist is that someone close to me overstepped professional boundaries and said stuff they shouldn’t have, no one admitted it but when there’s only 5 people close to me it was pretty easy to piece it together). Fast forward to 2013, I changed “dream careers” again to human services & disability studies (closely related to social work and special education) and have been looking for work in the sector for just over 2 1/2 years.

The current dream is either service coordination with/for people with disabilities, creating plans with them to help realise their goals and dreams and help coordinate services to meet those goals or around policy development and planning at more of a government level - without strong policies, guidelines and plans , outcomes for people with disabilities won’t improve.

 

[jk703]

I want to be a nurse. Eventually, I will be.

In college, I worked at hospitals in the ER, Nursing Admin, Med/Surg, NICU, PICU, etc. But I was in school for Speech Pathology, and actually became bored in the classes. I was at a crossroads in deciding which way to head next, between Nursing and Psychology. I opted for Psychology. I also have a pretty good head for business, so I decided after my Psych degree I would get my Business & Marketing Degree. Did that.

After that I was going to get my Masters in Business Psychology. Then work for an organization that might need a Psychologist on staff. (Similar to a police psychologist, hospital psychologist, work force related clients). Well, I was moving along, got married, and had kids. Never went back for my Masters. It seems I chose the wrong path for myself, but I've learned a lot, and wouldn't be me without this path....

So, a few years ago, I decided that I really do want to be a nurse, but just have to wait it out. I will need one year of full time school to get an Accelerated BSN. That would be no working and a lot of focus - time and money. So, I need my kids to grow a little older and be in college, or working already. I've also toyed with working as a Forensic Technician or CSI, I tend to have macabre interests and can handle interesting situations. But... I do really think Nursing is a better fit.

 

[AnneofAlamo]

I drove my school counselors nuts. I wanted to be a mom. A mom to 12.
I blame this book, , not the movie with Steve Martin.

We had 7. I think I came close enough! lol
I would love to go back to school one day and do accounting, not because I love it, but because I can stay at home and do that! lol but
I live my dream job. I am a mom, and a wife and love being at home.
Now, add the fun of being a Polly. I live the life!

 

[Tree City]

This is a very interesting topic! I first entered college thinking that I'd get a degree in jewelry design and metalsmithing. I ended up with a degree in English. (I was kind of a duel major, but I focused on the language aspect and got a studio art minor.)

I'm a SAHM, but I've been thinking about getting a job. What I did after college while DH was in grad school wasn't anywhere near my dream job, but I kind of fell into it and was good at it. I don't want to go back to that.

Now for a statistic: did you know that on average, men apply for a job when they have 60% of the listed job qualifications, but women tend to apply only if they're 100% qualified? I'm trying to keep that stat in my head because I'm eyeing a job. It's freelance but the company is based semi-nearby, which is fantastic because we can't move (DH has his dream job) but I'd be able to visit the office every once in awhile. But I don't have one of the listed requirements, so should I even try? I'm trying to push past my hesitancy because this job sounds great for me. Plus, I love proving stats wrong.

 

[jk703]

This is a very interesting topic! I first entered college thinking that I'd get a degree in jewelry design and metalsmithing. I ended up with a degree in English. (I was kind of a duel major, but I focused on the language aspect and got a studio art minor.)

I'm a SAHM, but I've been thinking about getting a job. What I did after college while DH was in grad school wasn't anywhere near my dream job, but I kind of fell into it and was good at it. I don't want to go back to that.

Now for a statistic: did you know that on average, men apply for a job when they have 60% of the listed job qualifications, but women tend to apply only if they're 100% qualified? I'm trying to keep that stat in my head because I'm eyeing a job. It's freelance but the company is based semi-nearby, which is fantastic because we can't move (DH has his dream job) but I'd be able to visit the office every once in awhile. But I don't have one of the listed requirements, so should I even try? I'm trying to push past my hesitancy because this job sounds great for me. Plus, I love proving stats wrong.

Yes, try! Please! Don't doubt yourself, and give it a shot! You always need to be "promoting" yourself when job hunting. You are more than capable of doing the job, and they will teach you what you don't know. You have to go into the interview believing they want you - toot that horn for what you do have under your belt, not what you don't, and don't let that stop you! Ever.

 

[Tree City]

Yes, try! Please! Don't doubt yourself, and give it a shot! You always need to be "promoting" yourself when job hunting. You are more than capable of doing the job, and they will teach you what you don't know. You have to go into the interview believing they want you - toot that horn for what you do have under your belt, not what you don't, and don't let that stop you! Ever.

Aww, thanks for the confidence booster!

 

[Karen]

YES Sara! Go for it! I will say that a LOT of times companies almost prefer someone who is capable of learning over someone who already knows it all because then they can train you the way their company works best and not have to retrain you out of other methods or bad habits... know what i mean? Toot that horn about how you love to learn new things and go for it!

 

[IntenseMagic]

Gosh, I've had a lot of dream jobs LOL

When I was little I wanted to be a flight attendant, just so I could travel the world and fly in airplanes! I'd still love to do that, but it's a bit harder with a family haha.

I started college with the intention of being a pharmacist, but one semester of Chemistry did me in. I'm not a science person and not sure what I was thinking at that point other that I wanted to follow in my dad's footsteps.

In a lot of ways, teaching has been my dream job. Summers off, holidays with my kids...it's the perfect job for a mom and I have loved it for the most part. The kids are amazing but the other stuff with grind you down.

Now that I'm nearing retirement, I am thinking about new dream jobs...something I can do part time to supplement my retirement, but that will something I truly enjoy. If I had the resources, I would open a cafe to employ people with disabilities. I'd also love to be a photographer or travel blogger I think working in marketing would be something I'd love to do. I'm really up in the air right now, but it's kind of exciting to think about a new career path. I don't think at this point I can just retire and sit home. Sometimes I think it would be great, but other times I think I would go stir crazy lol.

 

[IntenseMagic]

so should I even try? I'm trying to push past my hesitancy because this job sounds great for me. Plus, I love proving stats wrong.

Yes, yes, yes! Go for it!! Confidence and a willingness to learn go a longggg way!!

 

[IntenseMagic]

After that I was going to get my Masters in Business Psychology. Then work for an organization that might need a Psychologist on staff.

Ohhh I forgot about Psychology!! That was my second love in college. If I hadn't gone in to teaching, I would have done that in a heartbeat! I took psychology courses as electives because I enjoyed them so much! People fascinate me! I love to analyze them

 

[Karen]

I kind of am working my dream job actually. I used to want to be a dentist as a kid, but I'm really glad I didn't go that route because most people hate going to the dentist and I don't want to be that person in everyone's life.
I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life when I went to college, but since I loved Chemistry in high school, I thought I'd give that a shot... I HATED my first chemistry class, but I still loved math and science so I just kept taking all the pre-reqs that were pretty much the same across the board and then I stumbled into a job during my first summer break that lead to me doing CAD (Computer Aided Design) work for a tool and die shop. Long story short, I looked into that for school and started taking those classes and LOVED it! When I got my first job out of college it was as a Mechanical Engineer for 9 years, but I really loved the CAD portion best and ended up getting switched within the company to that department and I just love it! I can't believe I get paid to do this job every day.

I often think oh it would be great to stay home and scrapbook and craft and paint all day and get paid for it, but i know that I wouldn't get the enjoyment out of it if I "had" to do the creative stuff on a schedule or whatever. Creative pursuits make me happy because I want to do them as my hobby.

 

[IntenseMagic]

The current dream is either service coordination with/for people with disabilities, creating plans with them to help realise their goals and dreams and help coordinate services to meet those goals or around policy development and planning at more of a government level - without strong policies, guidelines and plans , outcomes for people with disabilities won’t improve.

A girl after my own heart. I do that with students at the high school level and work with them in job seeking/employment skills. We even have a program where I take students to do real life job training in partnership with businesses. So much more needs to be done for them when they are adults, however. The policy development and funding issues are always a barrier.

 

[Karen]

but one semester of Chemistry did me in.

Ha ha ha ha You and me both!!

 

[dagi]

I am working my dream job as well . For a long long time, I've been wanting to work with mentally challenged people, and that is what I do - I am a social worker. Plus, I am a template designer too! Bang! So two dream jobs actually

 

[BevG]

It is crazy how dreams come and go and ...
When I was little I wanted to be a school teacher, until in high school I realized how much of the job is disciplining kids. Then for a short time it was interior design, but I soon realized I like concrete thinking better than abstract. So coming up with creative ideas was hard. I like boundaries on my creativity. I liked math and was good at it. Someone suggested Computer Science and so I did. I worked in that field for 20+ years.

But really, when I had my first baby, I wanted to be a SAHM. It was hard to go back to work, but we were a double income family and I made more than hubby. So I worked on. Six years later, along came kid 2, then 5 years after that we decided to adopt. Then I got laid off. We had talked about me quitting anyway, so it worked out okay. So I have been home since 2002.

So when DD turned 4, I started homeschooling her and I got to be a teacher. DS came home the next year (he graduated 3 years ago). This year is her senior year. It has been great but I am looking forward to the next phase of life. After this I will consider myself officially retired.

I love scrapbooking and photography because it lets me be creative, but I can still have boundaries if I want.

 

[Lor]

In high school I wanted to first be a psychologist and that morphed into a cosmetologist by the time I graduated, but didn't end up doing either. LOL! I went to college and became a Paralegal. I've worked in many lines of law but feel the most rewarding has been Elder Law and Estate Planning. Family Law and Litigation are the lines of law I despise! Is this my dream job? Well, it has been for many years, but my soul is happiest behind the camera. Gosh, would I ever love to be a photographer for a big resort or hotel chain, like Club Med, someplace in a warm and tropical climate. Maybe some day...

 

[Cherylndesigns]

I had my dream job for about 3 years, until DH got transferred to another state for his job. I was on a team of about 12 who did Human Resource Development Training. I loved every minute of it and we all used to joke about loving it so much that we'd "do it for no pay". We held local seminars almost every week, locally, and held "off-site" seminars every month or two. We worked SO hard - late into the night - ran on coffee and adrenalin but we got the job done. I had to leave because I moved out of the state, but I never forgot that job.

I was so taken by HR that I "encouraged" *cough cough* our oldest DD to get her degree in HR. Long story short, as most of know, HR kind of went by the wayside for a few years. But it's back - our DD didn't use her degree or even work for many years, but now she's the HR Director of ADP!

 

[GlazeFamily3]

Dream job.....in a lot of ways i’m still searching for the dream!
The current dream is either service coordination with/for people with disabilities

Jennifer- EVERY SINGLE TIME I see you post about a job opportunity, I hope and pray it will be the one. I know that perfect job is out there somewhere!

I want to be a nurse. Eventually, I will be.

I admire this so much! I think if my life depended on me being a nurse... I wouldn't make it. I am so squeamish... and not just with the blood. Yesterday at my husband's doctor's appointment I was just listening to the doctor and nurse talk and got squeamish.

I live my dream job. I am a mom, and a wife and love being at home. Now, add the fun of being a Polly. I live the life!

Anne, I am so with you. Being a mom and wife is truly a dream.

But I don't have one of the listed requirements, so should I even try? I'm trying to push past my hesitancy because this job sounds great for me. Plus, I love proving stats wrong.

YES YES YES! Go for it! My husband isn't actively looking for a job, but every once in a while applies for something. Some things he us 100% qualified for and others he isn't. BUT, you never know what could happen if you don't try. And what's the worst that could happen? You don't lose anything at all to at least apply.

When I was little I wanted to be a flight attendant, just so I could travel the world and fly in airplanes!

I could be on board with this, too... other than the never seeing my family part because that would never work. I have a ridiculous amount of wanderlust and planes amaze me no matter how many times I fly.

I kind of am working my dream job actually.

I think this is amazing! It's so awesome that you found something you love so much.

I am working my dream job as well . For a long long time, I've been wanting to work with mentally challenged people, and that is what I do - I am a social worker. Plus, I am a template designer too! Bang! So two dream jobs actually

TWO DREAM JOBS! That truly is amazing.

It is crazy how dreams come and go and ...

Yes, it truly is. Things that were so important and so amazing before can change over time. I think that's part of what makes life so exciting.

Gosh, would I ever love to be a photographer for a big resort or hotel chain, like Club Med, someplace in a warm and tropical climate. Maybe some day...

This sounds amazing! You never know-- maybe some day it will happen!

I had my dream job for about 3 years, until DH got transferred to another state for his job.

Even though you had to move, I am glad you got to have this amazing experience while you did.

 

[michelepixels]

YES Sara! Go for it! I will say that a LOT of times companies almost prefer someone who is capable of learning over someone who already knows it all because then they can train you the way their company works best and not have to retrain you out of other methods or bad habits... know what i mean? Toot that horn about how you love to learn new things and go for it!

Go Sara @Tree City

And thanks for saying this Karen. I'm trying to figure out what my next job/career will be and what you said is very inspiring and encouraging.