Ramit Sethi: Ask Yourself These 7 Questions To Find Your Dream Job
Written by
Marc Guberti
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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Good preparation can help you secure a job you enjoy that pays good money. However, creating a good plan starts with knowing where you are and how you can improve.
In a recent newsletter, Ramit Sethi shared seven valuable questions to ask yourself in an effort to find your dream job.
Also here’s why Sethi calls resumes “job killers.”
What Is Your Dream Company?
It’s good to keep your options open, but you should also prioritize a small group of companies that you want to work for. A dream job gives you good pay while providing a healthy workplace culture. Comparing Glassdoor salaries, online threads from a company’s employees and your objectives can help you identify your dream company.
What Size Is That Company?
It’s also good to determine the ideal size of the company that you want to work for. Some people want to work for large corporations, as you’ll have more support from fellow employees. Corporations also make it easier to blend in, but they also provide opportunities to stand out, depending on your preferences.
Startups require more hands-on work and you have fewer people to turn to if you need help. Startups typically don’t pay as well, but you can get equity and set yourself up for high-paying career opportunities in the future. Some people thrive in a startup environment — especially ones that pay well, while others prefer working for large, established corporations.
Where Is It Based?
Do you want to drive an hour one way or would you prefer a 15-minute commute? Some people prefer closer locations, while others are happy to drive to the city, where they will likely have more vibrant social lives.
It’s also good to consider if you want to stay where you are or move to a different state. Some people look for career opportunities in big cities like San Francisco and New York so they can be around ambitious individuals and enjoy the amenities. Other people want to get as far away from those cities as possible and may look for a job opportunity in the suburbs or a rural town.
Do They Allow Remote Work?
Some people don’t mind driving to work each workday, but remote work is a critical component for others. Working from home gives employees more flexibility. They can move to areas with lower living costs and spend more time with their families.
However, other people prefer getting out of the house multiple times each week and having a social group that a dream job can provide. It all depends on your stance about remote work and if you want greater flexibility or an in-person community at the office.
What’s Your Dream Role?
Are you happy with your current position and salary or do you want something different? Your dream role should consider how much you want to get paid and what types of tasks you want to fulfill. Write down what tasks you enjoy doing the most and find jobs that give you the opportunity to perform those tasks more often.
What Do You Do All Day?
Knowing your dream role will help you gauge what you anticipate doing all day. However, some companies may offer the dream role but present responsibilities that deviate from what you enjoy. Being clear on how you want to spend most of your day can help you eliminate job offers that don’t align with your preferred lifestyle.
How Does It Fit Into Your Career Trajectory?
A dream job is the right opportunity for now, but as you gain experience and develop skills, more opportunities will become available to you. That’s especially true if you pick a dream job that has supportive employees who are also advancing in their careers.
In a healthy workplace, co-workers remember each other and can raise each other up as they take on better roles. For instance, a co-worker may go to a higher-paying job and then let you know about an opening a few months later.
It’s always great to receive help along the way, but it’s best to think of how to use your dream job to uplevel your career. The dream job may be a higher-paying position, give you the skills to get a better income in the future or come with additional benefits.
If you want to understand how your dream job fits into your career trajectory, map out how you want to advance in your industry over the next decade. Then, it will be easier to determine the optimal stepping stone that you should pursue next.
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