What’s your dream job?
The content explores the concept of a “dream job” and its implications for today’s youth. It discusses the challenges faced by individuals in pursuing their ideals. These include societal pressures, financial needs, and a lack of guidance. Historically, job choices were limited. Societal norms often dictated them. This led to frustration among those who couldn’t find fulfilling work. The piece highlights the evolution of opportunities over the decades. Today, youth have access to diverse career paths. They can cultivate their passions. Ultimately, it encourages determination and effort as key factors in achieving one’s dream job while contributing positively to society.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- The concept of a ‘dream job’ faces challenges due to societal pressures, financial needs, and a lack of guidance.
- Historically, limited job choices led to frustration; yet, today, youth have diverse career paths.
- Determination, goal identification, and diligent effort are crucial for achieving one’s dream job.
- While opportunities have evolved, modern youth still grapple with materialistic thinking and intrinsic problems.
- The changing scenario empowers youth to pursue their passions and even become job creators in various fields.
Utopian
Dream job? Well, does it have any meaning or sense? It doesn’t seem so. Using “dream” with a job suggests that it is very close to the heart. This means it has occupied the mind most of the time. It even appears in dreams! What an imaginary idea!
Pessimistic outlook?
It is a harshly pessimistic statement. To some extent, it is and questions the ability and zeal of a person pursuing a “dream job”. Apart from the emotional appeal of “dream job”, take a moment to pause and consider. This reveals that it is not what it seems. One often gets a dream job by chance. It stark reality.
Different “dreams”
People are different, so are their wishes and preferences. It varies from person to person. Some have a penchant for building construction, while some have a wish to become a performer. Some want to become an academician and some love the field of diplomacy. Choices and wishes to fulfil them are many. But, people often end up in a completely new job, altogether different from what they dreamed or wished. Lucky are those, who get their dream job and have excelled in it. (80,000 hours)
A perfect screw
Seemingly, every screw is a misfit. It is either too tight or it is too loose. Only the perfectly tight screw serves the purpose properly. Why this discrepancy? Let us see it in a bit of detail.
(1) Difficult to decide
Human life expectancy in India is a little above 72 years. Thus, ordinary Indian people live up to 72 years or more. Barring a few exceptions, the active life spans between twenty and sixty-five years. Before that, a teenager is in a formative stage. They easily swayed by many lucrative alternatives. It is difficult for them to decide on their dream job.
(2) Unprepared jump
A common thing across every section and individual member of society is money, comfort and status. They want them all instantly, without struggle. It is not possible. The teenagers swayed by the glam of fashion or the film industry want to join it. They try to jump on the bandwagon unprepared. It ends up in frustration. After self-evaluating ability and niche, proper preparation yield desired results. Most of the youths become confused and often directionless because of various reasons. The dearth of money and resources plays a crucial role.
(3) Practical knowledge
The result of plunging into a swimming pool without learning to swim is obvious. First things first. One has to have practical knowledge of swimming. That knowledge can be perfected after jumping into the pool. Now, the question is how and where to get basic swimming training. It is easy for those who live near a river. It is also easy for those whose families work in river-related jobs. For others, it is an expensive venture.
Determination is key
Determination is the key. It is not necessary that only the resourceful get the exposure. The have-nots, with determination can achieve the goals. It requires time, patience and hard work. It is time-consuming and requires a lot of patience. With approximately forty years of active work life available, most people become impatient. They face the significant challenge of earning a living for themselves. Societal pressure, scathing and jeering compel a youth to opt for other alternatives.
(1) Goal identification
Every individual is intelligent and has potential, but one can’t expect a fish to climb a tree. Individuals have their niches. The crux is to identify that and self-evaluate capacity and abilities. Any Tom Dick and Harry can’t climb Mount Everest. They should have preliminary capabilities. Dreaming according to it acts as a catalyst. Goal identification is followed by hard work.
(2) Diligent effort
Dreaming for a goal to achieve is good, but it is not enough. Excessive dreaming and no work can be detrimental in achieving dream goal and lead to daydreaming. The mantra is diligent work. There is no alternative to it. A “hawk-eyed” approach and undistracted unifocal effort bring close to goal.
Earlier scenario
The scenario was different seven decades ago. The job choices were limited. Social stigma and taboo hindered any work choice.
(1) Limited options
White collared job, especially a table job was considered respectable. People opting for a career other than the beaten one were few. They were mostly the prerogative of a select few, belonging to higher strata.
(2) Unaffordable luxury
In such a situation taming an idea of “dream job” was an unaffordable luxury. At the most, they could choose the path of competitive examinations, a portal for “covated” government jobs. The tough competition and the great number of aspirants were a great impediment. Many brilliant ones could not get through because of neck-and-neck competition.
(3) Lack of alternatives
The youth lacked proper alternatives and guidance. As a result, they often ended up in petty jobs. Compromising with the situation and accepting it as their destiny, they would half-heartedly do their work. Their talent was misused in non-productive work. They faced persistent problems. A disturbed family and work life often resulted in frustration. This sometimes led to an abusive relationship.
(4) Linear education
The education was linear and almost incongruous for the job market. A postgraduate in History or Physics lacked practical knowledge. They also lacked extra skills needed for a job. In the absence of any experience, they would struggle to get a decent job.
(5) Passion vs hobby
Passion for an art was a “hobby” during old days. It could not earn money for sustenance. A poet was considered hopeless who had no work. His poetries were considered rubbish pieces of paper. Similarly, barring a few, writers were also considered worthless. Earning a decent livelihood using writing or other such art form was impossible to imagine. It was difficult to live with a “dream job”.
(6) Far Cry
There was no scope for their dream job. During the interview, they were asked about their “hobbies” and grilled on that. Failing to answer satisfactorily, they were sorted out and deprived of the job. The interviewers mostly behaved unsympathetically. The result was exasperation and dissatisfaction.
Changed scenario
With changing times, the situation changed. The mindset changed as well. Things which were considered useless have suddenly become important. Kite flying and playing spinning top, for example, were considered play of brat children. It has now become an important cultural activity. Those who play them call themselves cultural ambassadors. Funny, isn’t it?
(1) Modern youth
Today’s youth have many avenues. They have a variety of subjects to choose from and ways to upskill themselves. It has opened a new vista for youth to pursue their dream job. Yet, the common thing stays the same, that is wish for more wealth.
(2) Intrinsic problems
The new scenarios brought a few new problems. It is the family disintegration. Nuclear families are the order of the day. Parental care is limited. Busy youths have no time for their children and aged or worn-out family members. A feeling of uselessness and being unproductive among the aged population is fast rearing its head.
(3) Materialistic thinking
To cope with the yawning demand of a costly lifestyle, more money is needed. Couples have no time for themselves or their progenies. Money is considered an easy solution to every problem. The materialistic thinking occupies the central stage. The mad rat race appears endless. Options are available but they brought many more complications. It was bound to happen and it did.
In the end
It is good that the situation has now changed. With proper training and learning, youths are gaining skills. They can pursue their “dream job” and earn a decent livelihood or even better. Time has gone that a poet used to live and die as a pauper. The right amount of effort in the right direction and diligent action can change the future of a youth. It can be any field like a start-up creation, building construction, Artificial Intelligence, computer graphics or anything under the sun. The future is bright and youths are energetic and enthusiastic. They are ready to take initiatives and calculated risks. They are not pursuing their “dream job” but also acting as job creators.
Further reads:
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