“Part 1: We reviewed over 60 studies about what makes for a dream job. Here’s what we found.” by Benjamin Todd

We all want to find a dream job that’s enjoyable and meaningful, but what does that actually mean?

Some people imagine that the answer involves discovering their passion through a flash of insight, while others think that the key elements of their dream job are that it be easy and highly paid.

We’ve reviewed three decades of research into the causes of a satisfying life and career, drawing on over 60 studies, and we didn’t find much evidence for these views.

Instead, we found six key ingredients of a dream job. They don’t include income, and they aren’t as simple as “following your passion.”

In fact, following your passion can lead you astray. Steve Jobs was passionate about Zen Buddhism before entering technology. Maya Angelou worked as a calypso dancer before she became a celebrated poet and civil rights activist.

Rather, you can develop passion by doing work that you find enjoyable and meaningful. The key is to get good at something that helps other people.

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Outline:

(01:24) The bottom line

(01:44) Where we go wrong

(04:17) Two overrated goals for a fulfilling career

(05:14) Money makes you happier, but only a little

(09:59) Don’t aim for low stress

(13:07) What should you aim for in a dream job?

(13:45) Work that’s engaging

(14:58) Work that helps others

(16:12) Work you’re good at

(17:04) Work with supportive colleagues

(18:28) Work that doesn’t have major negatives

(19:05) Work that fits with the rest of your life

(20:22) Should you just follow your passion?

(24:10) Do what contributes

(27:42) Exercise: Apply this to your own career

(29:16) Conclusion

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First published:
August 7th, 2014

Source:
https://80000hours.org/career-guide/job-satisfaction