Does the idea of a dream job exist anymore?

A dream job can evolve over time

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30-year-old Charlene*, who works in 3D visualisation, believes that everyone’s dream job is different and it’s something that keeps changing over time.

“I think everyone’s needs are constantly changing as their life, mindset, priorities and the world as a whole evolve,” she says. “For example, some millennials might have prioritised passion over money or work-life balance in their 20s, which influenced what they felt would be their dream job. But as they moved into their 30s and transitioned into a different stage of life, their priorities could have shifted to control over their own time and earning a higher income, thereby evolving their perception of their dream job.”

As someone who enjoys wearing multiple hats, Charlene appreciates how her current full-time job grants her flexibility of time and autonomy in decision-making. With it, she has some form of stability, while having the freedom to build something of her own on the side. Passionate about her side hustle, she is happy to put in the additional hours because she finds it fulfilling to learn and grow – stepping out of her comfort zone by participating in public speaking and consulting work.

Nicole*, 34, who’s a student and going through a career change, says, “Jobs invariably should change with what we decide is best for us in the here and now. In the same way that people's lives and needs change over time.”

“I also feel strongly that whether people thrive at work depends on other people — their colleagues, their bosses, people whom they serve. You could love your job scope, but if you answer to a boss you disagree with, it's hard to stay happy. The reality is that people are unpredictable. To hold the definition of a dream job to a factor as changeable as people seems impossible,” she says. There are also other external factors that could influence your job and career progression, such as the company’s financial health, the economy and the state of your industry.

While Nicole wouldn't agree with the idea of a conventional dream job that is specific and finite, she does believe in striving for a job that fulfils you at where you are in life right now.

A dream job can be your passion or enable your passion

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As she is about to embark on her career search, Nicole says, “I almost feel like I would work backwards – rather than thinking about what I can do to get the career, I would think about what I want for myself, and then find a career that suits my needs.” As someone newly married and who does not work from home, evenings together with her partner are precious to Nicole. If an attractive job offer were to come her way, but present the possibility of working weekends or overtime, she would not consider it.

Seeking a career that makes your dream life possible is a sentiment shared by Kate*, 48, associate director. “As a student, I would pull an all-nighter to get a good grade, but the older I get, the more that I prioritise taking care of my health. More than making money, I value my physical and mental health,” she says.

Kate admits that when taking on her most recent role, she prioritised one she knew she could perform well at while having that work-life balance for “me time” and pursuing interests outside of work. It didn’t matter that the job title was less prestigious than her previous rank. Financially, she and her husband are comfortable with their shared financial responsibilities, and they have instilled in their children the value of money so that they don’t feel compelled to spend beyond their means.

Even when you land your dream job, not every day will be perfect

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Anna*, 27, was thrilled when she landed her role as a product manager in tech. But she recognises that it’s not without its challenging days.

“While I love doing user research and designing new features, I’m also learning to prioritise and build what’s important first with a shoestring budget, tiny team and ambitious stakeholders,” says Anna. “Work can get stressful and overwhelming.” Thankfully she has also figured out what helps: talking to others in similar roles and learning how other teams have resolved a problem to tackle similar challenges at work. Interestingly, when Anna sounded out some of her own friends, she was surprised to learn that no one identified themselves as having their dream job and maybe there’s something to be said about how it’s human nature to be constantly wanting more than what we have.

With her eye on the prize is Julie*, 31, project leader, who says it feels rewarding to know that she has climbed up the career ladder to be in a managerial role and has more than doubled her starting salary. She might work weekends but having a strong work ethic and knowing she’s delivering her best work makes it feel worthwhile. On most days, she finds herself excited about work because she’s buzzing with ideas that she can’t wait to share.

A part of this confidence stems from being sure of herself, but a part of it is also having a line manager willing to give her space to prove herself in new areas and offer guidance, as she represents the team solo in client meetings despite being the youngest person in the room. “I am thankful for all the opportunities I’ve had since I started working, but over the years, I’ve also been in positions where I eventually walked away because I didn’t feel respected or quickly resigned because I didn’t feel like it was a good fit for me to grow my career,” she says. The current opportunity she has isn’t one that she takes lightly.

That doesn’t mean it’s always been sunshine and roses, especially not when she has to give negative feedback to her team, tell her line manager that she finds someone else’s work to be sub-par, or cancel workout plans to prioritise work emergencies. But Julie believes that a lot about career building is about knowing what you want, being able to make these difficult decisions, and working hard. Right now, she is confident that if she continues to prove herself, she will be able to snag the promotion she wants and be a team lead. “I think I work twice or even thrice as hard as everyone else but it shows in the quality of my work and to me, that’s worth it.”

There’s no one dream job

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I still believe dream jobs exist – just maybe not in the exact way I once did: purely rooted in passion. A dream job to one might mean doing something they are interested in and gaining recognition for it – scoring promotion after promotion, as is the case for Julie. But to another, a dream job could be something that enables them to sustain a particular lifestyle or to fulfil their passion elsewhere. For instance, if someone transitions from a full-time role into part-time in favour of managing her household and taking care of her young family, that part-time role itself could be the new dream job.

Miranda Priestly famously said, “Everyone wants to be us”. But the reality is that not everyone wants the same thing.

Dreams can also remain fluid and ever-evolving. There’s no end to exploration.

*Names have been changed.