Dream Job

Source

While I was away at a Wedding in KC's family this weekend, I was admiring the photographer and realized how much fun she was having.  So I started thinking, if money, location and education were not a factor, what would your dream job be.  (I should say that this is nothing against my current job, which I do like, and I am so very happy to have a job!)

Only problem was, I couldn't come up with just one, so here are my top dream jobs (in no particular order).

1. Photographer - I would love to be able to capture people, their feelings and their memories.  There are so many different things you can see in a photograph it's amazing.   When I read photography blogs I get goosebumps at the gorgeousness of their photos.
   
2. Event/Wedding Planner - As I was trying to blog last night a friend was over at our place printing her envelopes for her wedding invitations (Outer, Inner & RSVP) and it made me think how much I enjoyed planning my own wedding.  With the Luau Shower not too far away, I'm working on planning out the food, decorations and everything that is going to happen.  I have a knack for paying attention to detail and keeping things organized (which is to my advantage for the most part).  I think this job would have endless possibilities and would never get boring.
   
3. Invitation/Stationary Designer - I don't think that I have shown my invitations around here, but I absolutely loved them.  They set the tone for the wedding and everything was carried throughout the whole thing (remember that attention to detail I mentioned).  As my friend has been planning her own wedding I've been helping her to tell her designer what she wanted and how she could explain it to him, most of the time I just wanted to do it so she could send him an example.
   
4. Website/Blog Designer - When I started my blog (on WordPress) I wanted to badly to make it my own, I decided to move to blogger for a bit more flexibility.  For now I'll be hanging around blogger because it allows me to customize things a bit more than WordPress and I'm not sure I want to commit to my own maintenance, etc.  I do like playing around with the look and would love to be able to create templates for bloggers to use.  (I say that and my own blog is someone else's template :-) )
   
5. Special Needs Children's Teacher - This is something that I've wanted to do since I was young.  I remember helping out in the classrooms at school and being a 'lunch buddy' to a student once a week.  It was one of the most rewarding things I did in grade school.  I just wish I had stuck with it a bit more.

Looking back at my list, I'm surprised by a few things.  They are not related to my current job (like at all).  Many of them are 'art/design' oriented, did I mention that I can't draw a lick and my whole house is brown.

What I'm not surprised about is that, none of them are 'fame-oriented'.  While I would love to be a famous actress/athlete/singer, being the center of attention would get to me quickly.

I'm sure I'm not the only on that day-dream about other jobs!  What are your thoughts?

**  This picture makes me laugh because when things are crazy at work, a co-worker and I will just say to one another "I love my job".  Gets us through the day! **

Career Satisfaction

Yesterday, I talked about a new opening at work but I didn't think I was going to get it (which I didn't).  I'm fine with that, well kinda, but I'm not really looking for sympathy or anything.  Actually, I'm struggling with where I want to go with my career.  I've been at the same job for 4 years now and I've come to realize that it's simply not what I want to do for the rest of my life.  But do I really know what I do want to do?

Do you ever look back on your college experience and wonder how did I get through that.  I was in a 'nerdy' major but I don't think I was a nerd.  I was just the girl who worked hard and got ok grades.  I most certainly didn't go out of my way or above and beyond, but I did well (graduated with Honors).  I wasn't the student who tried things out just to see how they worked.  But really, looking back, I can't remember anything.  I don't really even know if I want to keep learning about this stuff.  

With the ever changing technology industry there is always new things to learn, but I just don't have the desire to go above and beyond.  I did it for the first few years at work but then didn't feel like it was getting me any further so now I do the minimum ( and get great reviews).  And, frankly, it sucks.  Where's my motivation?  Where's my desire to excel?  What happened to me?  

I know that I'm not satisfied with my career and I can blame that on my manager, my teammates, my company or whatever, but really it's me, it's my fault.  So what do I do?  Part of me is ready to call it quits, head back to school and get a degree in something else (I don't know what though).  I feel like I could go in any direction.  I wouldn't mind going back to school to teach or work with children, but I also think that I might like management, just scared I wouldn't do well in that role.  The other part of me says suck it up and deal.  You have a job (for which I am extremely thankful), and it pays respectively.  Why shake things up and have to learn something new?  Or I could go out and apply for more jobs (which I've done).  Or I could try to build up a small at home business which I've always wanted to do, I'm just not sure in which direction I'd like to go.  

Kids are most likely in our not so distant future, or at least that's the plan.  So that puts a whole other card in the mix.  We've chosen to live a lifestyle, of a two income family.  I'd love to be a SAHM but not as we live right now.  I know we could, we'd just have to make changes and sacrifices.  KC is completely supportive of whatever choice I make.

The problem is, I'm just not sure what is going to satisfy me.  Somehow I need to figure out what's going to work for me, I'm just not sure how.  

So, has anyone made any major career changes?  Did you go back to school?  Become a SAHM?  Start your own business?  How was your experience?  

Career Counselor Tests

I saw this link to CareerPath Career Counselor and I thought that it was quite interesting.  I've never taken any career quizzes before, so I decided to do the "Color Career Counselor" to see the results.  The results were quite interesting, some were dead on and some were not..


Best Occupational Category: You're an ORGANIZER

Key Words: Self-Control, Practical, Self-Contained, Orderly, Systematic, Precise, and Accurate

These conservative appearing, plotting-types enjoy organizing, data systems, accounting, detail, and accuracy. They often enjoy mathematics and data management activities such as accounting and investment management. Persistence and patience allows them to do detailed paperwork, operate office machines, write business reports, and make charts and graphs.

Yes I definitely am.  I sometimes may categorize myself as having OCD.  While I don't perform any of the jobs that they suggested, maybe I'll have to look into the for the future.  :-)

2nd Best Occupational Category: You're a RESEARCHER

Keywords:

Independent, Self-Motivated, Reserved, Introspective, Analytical, and Curious

These investigative types gather information, analyze and interpret data, and inquire to uncover new facts. They have a strong scientific orientation, enjoy academic or research environments and prefer self-reliant jobs. Dislikes are group projects, selling, and repetitive activities.

I don't think that this one is as accurate.  While I fit the bill for most of the Keywords, I don't fit the description as well.

Have you tried any of these tests before?  How accurate was it for you?

I saw this link off of How About Orange to CareerPath and I thought that it was quite interesting.  I've never taken any career quizzes before, so I decided to do the "Color Career Counselor".  The results were quite interesting.