Your First Job Can Be Your Dream Job

I remember that after I graduated, I didn’t have a job. It was very devastating because I knew that I was smart and capable of doing the jobs that I was looking for. I have many theories as to why nothing worked out at that time, but that’s not what this post is going to be about. This post is about how your first job can be your dream job.

A year after I graduated, it was Summer. A couple of friends and I were sitting outside, eating ice cream, and I mentioned how sad I was about the whole thing. Keep in mind that I was still going through post-grad depression at the time, even though everything had worked out for the better. Well, one of my friends told me that my first job isn’t going to be my dream job anyway. This got me wondering! Why can’t my first job be my dream job? It’s been quite some time since that conversation and I still believe your first job can be your dream job.

I recently came across a blogger who shared the same sentiment. In fact, their post was something along the lines of, “Your First Job Isn’t Going To Be Your Dream Job”. I don’t buy this. I think people who think this way are selling themselves short. Honestly, I think people who say things like this are far too talented to even think that and it’s amazing how they feel like they can’t do any better the first time. I definitely think they can and are fully capable to do so. But perhaps I am naïve or too optimistic?

The thing about job hunting is that it takes time and most of us are too impatient to wait for our dream job. So, we take a job that is just okay and stick with it for a while until we find something we really like. However, what if we strengthen our skills and wait until we can find that right opportunity?

I have friends who are just okay with their jobs right now. They don’t have any passion when they talk about them and they focus on finding happiness in the other forms like hobbies or vacations. This is one of my biggest fears because I think what happens often is that we become complacent in these jobs. These jobs aren’t our dream jobs, they are just jobs that we’re good at doing and it’s just okay.

Perhaps it’s the perfectionist in me, but I want more than just okay. I want more than the idea that this is the best I can do right now. Why should I have to settle when I’m capable of so much more? Why can’t I wake up in the morning and be happy to go to work and be happy to do my job? We think we can’t have that for a first job? We think that we must grind and grind and grind until we get our first job? But perhaps we should work hard the first time and get our dream job the first time.

You also have the other side, right? The side that thinks that their first job is their dream job and soon realize that they hate what they’re doing and who they work for. I think this is terrifying for me but after some time, I’ve realized that paying attention and really listening to what people say can help you determine if a job is right for you.

On the other hand, I get it. Not everyone is fortunate to wait for that dream job as their first job. I can’t pretend that money isn’t an issue because it is for many people. I get that sometimes we do have to work hard before getting that dream job and we have to do some not so glamorous things before getting there. There are so many factors that go into the whole job process where yes, your first job isn’t your dream job. It happens and it’s completely realistic to not get your hopes up. But make no mistake, your first job can be your dream job.

So, with that, I will leave you with some links:

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