Dream Job Dreamer

[David Sandusky]

Would you take a pay cut and accept other risk to pursue your dream job? Many people are - I see results in that direction often these days and articles like the following from AIRS everywhere.
Do you have a story to share about your journey through the transition?

A recent poll conducted by job board giant Monster finds most workers would pursue their dream job even if it meant taking a cut in pay.

Seventy-six (76) percent of all respondents answered yes to the question, "Would you take a pay cut for the job of your dreams?" Monster polled employees in 19 countries in North America and Europe.

Workers in Ireland are most inclined to go for the gusto as opposed to the cash; 84 percent would sacrifice income for greater job satisfaction. Workers in the United States, Italy, and Switzerland are a close second, however, at 82 percent.

In commenting on the survey findings, Norma Gaffin, director of career content for Monster, said, "It's interesting to note that despite some notions of a skittish economy, U.S. workers are still willing to be compensated less for a job that they are really passionate about."

Not all workers worldwide would follow their heart's desire. Employees in Hungary, France, and Germany are not as willing to sacrifice pay for a dream job. Workers in Hungary are the least hungry when it comes to pursuing their life's passion, with 38 percent answering "no" to the question. Thirty-four (34) percent of workers in France had the same response, as did 27 percent of employees in Germany.

What do the poll's findings suggest? That, for many people, money isn't the chief driver of job satisfaction. Nevertheless, it's also worth noting the term "dream job."

What exactly is a "dream job"? For some people, it may be an idealistic opportunity that will never come to pass, as in, say, playing professional baseball or belting out a tune on Broadway. On the other hand, realists recognize the term "dream job" for what it is: a desire to have the best possible working situation in waking life.

It's impossible to know how the more than 34,000 people responding to the Monster poll interpreted the question. It's interesting to consider that the poll was on the Monster homepage and, as a result, reflects the answers of people who voluntarily participated.

Still, with the understanding that a dream job is in the eye of the dreamer, it's valuable to step back and assess the jobs for which you're recruiting in this context. Granted, not every job has "dream" potential; yet, even those that don't may put a person on the path toward his or her ultimate job.

It might just be a winning approach, especially when you look at how important the term "dream job" seems to be to workers. A Google search on the term reveals books, companies, surveys, and more, all focused on employee dream jobs.

And it appears that dreaming has no age limit. Last September, AARP, the membership organization for people 50 years of age and older, sponsored a "My Dream Job" contest. It received more than 7,300 essays.

If recruiting candidates has turned into a nightmare, why not focus on matching people to their dream jobs?