Why It's Almost Impossible to Find Your Dream Job

Robert, The old adage "find a job you love and you will never work a day the rest of your life" is so true. However, if have that job, and are successfu and happy, then you are offered multiple years of salary, lifetime medical and the ability to be consultant, to leave the company you do. Then you regret it until you can get back or find another, and there never is one as good.

I am 60 years old. Have had lots of "jobs" through the years. Let's get real here. Not to be negative but this whole perception that there is a "dream job" out there for all of us is totally unrealistic. However, I can tell you from experience that it is absolutely essential to find your niche early in life because the years slip away so quickly. Don't settle for something less when you are first starting out. Reach for the stars and dream while you can.... Don't be afraid to try something different while you can! Most of us end up getting "pigeon holed" into a career along the way because (guess what!) that is where our experience is. Make your mark early....take risks...because there will come a point when you can't set off in a new direction!! The old adage "find a job you love and you will never work a day the rest of your life" is so true. A lot of it is luck and being in the right place at the right time. My advice is simple: in the end you may never find that "dream job" but even the best "dream job" can't compare to the joy of relationships and family...trust me..it has taken a long time for me to finally understand that!

@Bryan, a dream job is a "dream" to you, not everyone else. For example, my dream job would be to teach. That is not a dream job for everyone and it does require education and experience. I have found fulfillment in other jobs throughout my life but my dream job is still to teach. One person's dream job could be another person's nightmare.

There is a difference between a job and a "dream" job. A job can afford you a living. I can get that anytime just by showing off skills but the quality of life is the primary concern. How much would I get paid? I would say jobs are everywhere but "dream" jobs are rare because whatever is good for the goose is also good for the gander. In other words, except in few cases, "dream" jobs are usually awarded to people who never had a dream simply because someone else wished they did.

This list is ridiculous. Of course it is hard to find a dream job. Jobs are like anything else -- subject to the rules of supply and demand. If a job is attractive because it is easy or satisfying or requires no education or experience, everybody is going to want to do it -- and there will be a large supply of applicants, which will decrease the pay for that position.

I am 59 years old and have worked since I turned 16. Although I've held a variety of positions, they have all generally been in the same field. Due to a series of life changes, I find myself starting over at this late stage in life. I have a Bachelor's Degree (from 1978). What I've found is that applicants don't get a chance to make a personal impression, since companies have outsourced applications to .com companies and quickly screen out the older applicants. When they ask what year I graduated high school, it becomes obvious. I continue to apply for jobs but have only had one interview, most likely because I knew someone inside that company. I moved to a new town in 2014 and don't have any other connections here. I press on, as I don't have any choice.

Reading advises about job' interview give me a little bit of security every time and how to better myself for future interview. Thank you.

I read many of the comments with great interest. But I agree with @Kris Miaco in asking the question - what exactly is a dream job? A dream job for me could be drudgery for the next person. For me, it's not really a dream job that I seek but a dream career. Most of us want more than punching a clock from 9 to 5. We want to be able to be part of something bigger than ourselves; to be appreciated and listened to and taken seriously. We want to be able to use our talents and skills in a way that gives us joy and helps our company succeed. We want to leave that "job" behind and get on with our dream "career".

Excellent Article and information. It gives me some clarity and guidance on steps to follow.

I'm a person that is very reliable. I'm very good with money and numbers. I'm an Assistant Manager for a gas station/store. I have been doing this job for 16 years. I used to enjoy it. Now a new company took over and I hate my job. I am looking to change jobs and willing to relocate. I would be happy doing bookkeeping/accounting for a company large or small. I graduated for automated accounting with an A average. I owned my own business for 18 years. I changed professions when I relocated to a different city. Any suggestions on finding a good job in this line of work would be helpful.

I am a very experienced guy who has worked for many years in numerous industries in varying roles. What I have seen happen, and it seems universal, is that tangible aspects of job performance have been become more of an indifference factor (fail and you are hurt, succeed and no major benefit), while intangible/culture fit aspects have become the leading factor in success. And communication has become less open and popularity matters more than truth and fair play. That makes it hard for people to have confidence and satisfaction in what they do, how they prepare and how they apply themselves, because while they can try to "fit in" more, they to some degree never clearly know where they stand or what they can do to improve perception. This breeds a lack of security and self satisfaction that historically were obtained through hard work, competence and a job well done. It's a perfect evolution for political types, schemers and low integrity folks and absolute hell for high integrity solid workers.

I don't have a dream job anymore. I know in my heart that I enjoy teaching and training. I taught for 4 years in public school (my dream job) but quickly realized that was not for me. I am now researching my options for teaching higher education or job training as I have a degree in HR as well. It has been hard making the TRANSITION. You are expected to already have a load of experience in the HR field. I wish back in undergrad they offered internships for this degree. I will pray God's guidance for others as I pray for myself as well. Thank you for the article, God Bless

I finally, at age 51, and after countless jobs before (some ok, some BAD) have my dream job! I put myself through college after high school, moved to several states with my jobs, was laid off several times and worked as a contractor with absolutely no benefits with a few jobs. But I'm finally at the place I will (hopefully) work until I retire!

I am a person who has 20+ years doing what I love best, and was recently laid off due to the company that I work for lost a valuable contract which sent over 200 people into unemployment. I am now facing looking for a job that is a dying industry and, for me, it has been a DREAM JOB, even though it may be considered a menial type job. Menial jobs to some, can be dream jobs to others.

Imagine working in a field you majored in and have a proven track record for over 15 years and then having to change careers all together because a few people accuse that person of something that was all verbal when indeed the person never made the statements in the first place. Furthermore, they had no solid evidence to prove their point, but because of political reasons, a judge who is connected with this state run organization agrees with them and your entire career or so called, "dream job" ends. Imagine spending years trying to hunt for work in other fields only to be told that your training isn't relevant in that new field. What is one supposed to do then? Therefore, sometimes "dream jobs" are not attainable due to unforeseen shortcomings which clearly couldn't have been prevented nor expected years before they occurred.

Are you serious with all the compromises we make on a daily basis to give up dreams sounds like giving up individuality, one more step towards mindlessness.

Yeah! I agree with what was said about having the right connections. Even though age is supposed to be a protected category under EEO, we all know that it is a factor.

this article is soo depressing.

It's all fine and good to say that we agree/disagree with the article, but let's not forget the elephant in the room--CONNECTIONS. I know full well that there's no one in my network that can provide an entrance to the hallowed halls of dream jobs/different social status. I'm aware of this, and have begun a brazen attempt to find these people.

To be honest with you, I find it VERY discouraging that you would even write an article like this and then post it. I understand you're trying to be realistic but should people wake up everyday and go to menial jobs, come home with anger and resentment and continue that day in/day out? Is that healthy? I don't think so. I believe a dream job can be a job that someone loves going to everyday, no matter what it is to anyone else. If they love working as an insurance salesperson, so be it. If they love delivering mail, great. I don't think people should settle. Most men nowadays follow the same suit - go to college, get a degree, get a job (that they think they're going to make lots of money with), convince themselves they're happy, date a girl, marry her, buy a home, have children, only to find themselves in the midst of a so-called mid-life crisis. Really? If they would've figured out what they wanted to do earlier on, a dream job per se, some of their problems wouldn't exist. People SHOULD go after their dream job, no matter how old or what circumstances they're in. I totally disagree with this article.

Appreciate these insightful comments. I am currently in the process of chasing my dream job. I have come to realize that if I am currently pursuing my dream job, I am actually experiencing it already. Life is experienced by both adolescents and adults. Life is life, whether living it young or living it a little older. The key is to enjoy the journey. Both the final lap, as well as the seemingly insignificant start, are both a part of the "dream job" pursuit.

How do you define a Dream Job? What parameters of bar you will scale with? Setting yourself to success or failure is one thing! and or Is a dream job a state of mind?

Today if you don't have all the university degrees and all the title and experience is hard to find a good job and if you add to that that you over 50, you're not good.

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I've been fortunate to have several dream jobs. But the World Trade Center attacks and the 2007-2008 recession have put a pall on hiring and we're still recovering. My advice is to get outside of your resume and approach human beings. Companies don't hire paper, they hire people. So if there is any way to build personal connections at a company you're interested in, whether through LinkedIn or professional organizations, that's the way to go. In Gregg's case, the shotgun approach doesn't seem to be working, so try narrowing your career choice to a specific area.