You owe it to yourself to find out as much as you can about the job you're going after before you go after it. One of the best ways to do that is to talk to someone in the same career.
Please don't think of yourself as an imposition. Take it from someone who's constantly interviewing people about their work. The more they love it, the more they love talking about it. Their families and friends have heard these stories before. You're a new audience. They'll appreciate the reminder of how much they've pulled off.
Remember to ask them what they don't like, as well. Brian Kurth of VocationVacations says you may decide to pick a new dream: "Isn't being an innkeeper just the most romantic-sounding thing...until you're scrubbing toilets? Being a winemaker is dreamy, too, until you're schlepping case after case of wine into a shipment truck. And owning a bakery? I hope you like getting up at three in the morning."
It's an acid test. Can you handle the drudgery that's part of even the most glamorous jobs? Will you do that happily, and consider it a small price, for your dreams?
Hired!
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The Career Clinic
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... This is a great point, Anne. One of the biggest mistakes I think job hunters make is seeking advice from people who aren't happy. It's my guess that someone who is really happy, who loves what he or she does for a living, will overload you--but not with negatives! So you're right. The quality you're going for is enthusiasm. |
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Anne Headley
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... I find that most people being interviewed about their jobs will overload you with the negatives. It can be hard for people to even get to the positives. I coach my clients to take it all in and then apply some perspective to what they've heard. Many unhappy workers will tell you that they'd never go into this line again. In that case, you have to keep looking for enthusiastic people who are willing to share their stories. |
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