The journey toward your dream job can be a long and brutal one. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun along the way. Half the fun is getting there, isn’t it?
As I realized when I didn’t fall into my dream job after graduation, it takes a long time to reach your goals. I was able to see the benefit in what I was currently doing which made everything more fun than I expected.
There were some things I knew I didn’t want with my job (whether it was my dream job or not):
- I didn’t want to be that person who dreaded waking up and going to my minimum wage job.
- I didn’t want to hate the customers I interacted with.
- I didn’t want to resent my boss for who he was.
- I didn’t want to be the person counting down the days until I could get out of there.
Instead, I wanted to do everything I could to stay positive and enjoy what I was doing.
It’s important to realize that the steps we take and the experiences we go through make all the difference in the world. These jobs we’re working now, do matter.
It isn’t just a temporary fill in our lives to make money and get by, it’s part of the journey. They don’t call it “working toward” something for no reason.
So on that note, here’s how to have fun with work before you find your dream job:
1. Own your position.
Wake up everyday knowing you are going to rock it. It doesn’t matter what your job entails or how much you get paid. Just own it. Do everything to the best of your ability, go the extra mile, be kind to everyone around you, make their lives easier in any way that you can. It won’t go unnoticed.
Owning your position shows through your work and in your character. Employers will admire your hard work and will respect you for the pride you take in it.
Regardless of what your position is, it always matters. Even the simplest of jobs make a huge difference in the company overall. If you take your job seriously, people will take you seriously. I shared some tips I use to be the MVP in my office here.
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2. Get creative.
So maybe you don’t have the most exciting job, but there are ways around the dull and dry aspects of it.
Cultivate ways to improve the atmosphere. Come up with ways to contribute to small changes in the system. Take time to get to know the people you interact with and learn why they choose to be where they are, whether it’s a fellow employee or a customer. Make every day worthwhile by learning something new.
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Sometimes certain positions prevent you from making changes like this if any at all, but it’s worth a try. It just takes a little self-confidence and determination that you want to make things better.
With improvements for you, your coworkers, and the company–a little creativity goes a long way.
3. Make friends.
Embrace the people you meet in the workplace. Accept the culture and become a part of it by making friends and good memories.
This is most definitely possible to do at work, you just have to open up a little more and prove that you’re worth getting to know. Your co-workers have skills and experiences worth learning from too.
It’s easy to fall into a daily routine of work with little interaction, but don’t let it. Work friends can be inspirational and shouldn’t negatively affect your work, but perhaps enhance your motivation and sense of purpose for being there.
4. Build your resume.
The journey toward your dream job is the perfect opportunity to gain valuable experience and stack up that resume.
Work experience in numerous fields or years of experience in one will benefit your skills tremendously when you are finally ready for the job you’ve always wanted. Education is reliable, but the experience is what gets you the job.
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Don’t be afraid to try new things or put yourself in positions you aren’t used to. Nothing is ever as bad as it seems and you’ll always end gaining skills you weren’t even aware of.
Make sure whatever you do, it’s always worth your time and you’re getting the most out of it. Your resume is what will prove your worth.
5. Study.
Never stop learning! Research the field of work you want to go into. Study what goes on around you, how customers react, what clients want, what bosses seem to favor and actions that make the most difference.
Absorb all that you do and you’ll be amazed everyday at what you can take away, even from the simplest of tasks.
Taking extra classes and challenging yourself during this experience will only enhance the results, as well. Take time to decide what skills will benefit you most and what you need to improve on.
There are so many classes, books, YouTube videos, and even social media accounts that will educate you on your chosen career. Open your mind and explore what your options are.
6. Enjoy the ride.
Things won’t be like this forever. Dream jobs come with success and satisfaction but they also come with hard work and stress.
Take advantage of your job now, because it won’t always be this way. You won’t always work with the people you do now. You won’t always talk to the company customers or clients and help make their day better. You won’t always be in the position you are now.
You may even find yourself missing it. And the only way to miss it is if you truly make the most of it while you still can.
Stay positive. Laugh it off. Encourage others to do the same. You’ll be remembered when you’re gone and you’ll be praised once you finally land that dream job.
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