1.12.2012

Thinking about that dream job

As I sent off another resume today (bringing the total for the last three days to four resumes sent), I started thinking about all the jobs I've had since graduating from college way back when. Why in the world was I on this stroll down memory lane? Because my dear readers, it just seemed like the thing to do at the time, as I read over my resume one more time. (Really, it had not changed since I looked at it yesterday).

When I graduated from college I moved far away from home to become a newspaper reporter. I thought I was on my way. Well no. I was on my way to a small town in eastern Pennsylvania and a news editor from hell. Oh and add in a dash or two of "why am I doing this job?" and after six short months - and a few headlines about an escaped python - I moved home. To attend law school.

Sure that was a good experience. And I have the fancy degree to prove that I did, in fact, graduate from law school. But I'm not a lawyer. There are several reasons for this, the biggest being the damn bar exam. So, I decided to go back to my "first love" - writing. Sort of.

My first "real" job after law school was association management. It was a good job, but well...it didn't end well. I'll leave it at that. Then I found something I loved - teaching. I taught Journalism at a local college for nearly two years and it was great. I loved challenging the students - although I'm not sure how much the loved my AP Style quizzes.

And then...

I started a job that, to this day, is the best job I've ever had. I was part of a marketing team at a local university - editing, writing, media relations. It was fun. My coworkers were great. And my boss? Hands down the best boss EVER. We are still friends. Sadly, that job was a victim of the 2008 recession and on a very sad day in June 2009 I walked away from a great job.

I still miss that place.

And so that brings me to today. And the many resumes I'm sending out, in hopes of finding "the one." The job that is the right fit for me - doing what I love to do, working with people who respect me everyone. I really don't think that's too much to ask.

To have a job you love.
Working for people who understand the concept of civility and respect.

And so I ask you - what is the BEST job you ever had?

Are you doing your dream job?

Are you able to say every single day - "I am happy" ??

If not, what are you waiting for?

5 comments:

  1. I am doing my dream job of being a stay at home Mom. Now that both my kids are in school, I get to watch some of the teacher's kids. I get to be here for the kids in the morning, sick days, afternoons, delays, closings, summers, etc. AND I get some extra cash too!
    When my days of being a stay at home Mom are done, I have NO CLUE what I will do with myself. Kinda scary to even think about really.

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  2. Wow, my first job was at a small town newspaper too! I didn't mind the "small town" stories and for the first month it wasn't bad either, but then the editor that hired me moved on and it all went downhill from there including two women publishers that were way TOO involved in the day to day of the newspaper. I lasted eight months total - their were two last straws that happened in the same week - one day I was told to write a story on deadline based on some letter the editor received from a lawyer about a court case - I refused to publish a story within an hour with my name on it when I the courthouse wasn't open to look at the filings and I couldn't reach the opposing council (because it was in the early morning hours) - there was just no way that I was going to write a story based on a letter when I was pretty sure these people running the paper weren't going to rush to my side to defend me if I was sued because of a slanted story and then the next day when I caught an error on the flats I was told "You care way to much about accuracy." And that was it - what I always thought was my dream career was done. I wish I could find my dream job too. I haven't been there yet. Actually my "extra" job teaching dance came the closest for me.

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  3. I'm going to pretend that I intentionally made an error in that above comment to give your editor eye a test ;)

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  4. ...I worked for Disney for awhile, and I thought that was my dream job. I loved working for the mouse, and am really glad I did, but it turned out not to be my dream job. I would have to say that right now, I am finally (after almost 20 years) working my dream job. I work one-on-one with a special needs preschooler. I love working with preschoolers in general, but I really feel like special needs was my calling. I am hoping to go back to school to get a degree in Early Childhood Special Education.

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  5. Thank you ladies for your comments! And Jen...I did see the "intentional" error (always editing) :) LOL.

    Here's to dream jobs.. finding them and keeping them!

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