In our society, we all have to work. So, for many of us, our jobs are a necessary evil. Sure, we might enjoy them. But how many of us work a job we love? Our dream job. Well, according to a study done by JobSage, it’s only 1 in 10 Americans. In fact, over half the people surveyed didn’t even think their dream career would fit in with the current economy. They’re some pretty sad statistics.
Recently in the United Kingdom, where the number of employed individuals has been consistently increasing in the first half of 2023. From February to April 2023, the employment rate was estimated at 76.0%, a 0.2 percentage point increase from November 2022 to January 2023 rate. This could only mean one thing – increased competition for jobs.
But does that mean we should just give up on landing the job of our dreams? And are we more likely to work in our ideal career or win the lottery? Well, you’re in the right place. We’ll ask the important questions (and more) about getting into your perfect career.
Understanding The Odds
There are thousands of careers you can pursue in a lifetime. You can be a baker, a professional recruiter, an author, a member of Congress, an astronaut, or a Youtube star. And that’s just scratching the surface. As previously mentioned, there is increasing competition across various industries.
But understanding the odds of whether you’ll become the next Anna Wintour or not comes down to a few key details.
- What industry do you want to be in?
- Your skills and qualifications.
- And how many people also want to get into the same dream job?
If you’re the only person in the world wanting your ideal career, well, perfect. The job’s a good ‘un. You can essentially walk into it. But if you’re one out of hundreds, a far more likely eventuality, those odds will change pretty dramatically. In fact, on average, each job opening in the United States attracts 250 applications. With the odds of landing a dream job like these, you need an edge to stand out in the market.
The Job Makes A Difference
So, you can see, what you want to do can make a massive difference in the likelihood of securing that big-time job.
If you dream of becoming a pro athlete, you’re far more likely to get into the pros in men’s ice hockey than basketball. And if you’re a woman, getting to the professional basketball leagues is significantly harder than for men. But none of that compares to the odds of making it in business.
Even with an MBA, you only have a 1 in 135,000 chance of becoming a Fortune 500 CEO. While you’ve got a better chance of launching a successful startup, 1 in 200, that isn’t a guarantee of lifelong success doing the thing you love. And don’t get us started on becoming the president of the United States of America. Those odds are 1 in 10,000,000. Yeah, pretty unachievable.
Dream Job vs….?
Let’s put it all into perspective. Why not compare the odds of landing the dream job with other improbable things?
And we’ll start strong with the lottery. While dreams of winning may entice us, statistics prove otherwise. The odds of securing a life-altering jackpot are infinitesimal. To put it into perspective, it’s about a 1 in 45 million chance. Now, the odds of a dream job aren’t anywhere near that, but they can feel even more daunting. It could be because the idea of winning the lottery is so detached that we can’t understand it. The numbers are way too big. Too incomprehensible.
The odd of successfully climbing Mount Everest are more in your favor than winning the lottery. And, depending on your chosen career, they’re also more on your side. As a confidence boost, you’re more likely to date a supermodel than you are to become a successful CEO. And while becoming a movie star has 1 in 1,505,000 odds, that doesn’t put you out of the awards running. Yes, you’re more likely to win an Oscar than you are to grace the big screen, standing at a 1 in 11,500 chance.
And your dream job isn’t just about what industry you’re in. It’s also about who you are. If you’re born into wealth, you’re more likely to see success. And if you’re already famous, well, you can do almost anything. Kim Kardashian winning the 2024 presidency sits at a 1 in 150 chance. Higher than some seasoned politicians. Go figure.
Finally, take, for example, the chances of becoming a pro-NBA player. Becoming a professional NBA player has a slim chance of 0.03% (1 in 3333). The San Antonio Spurs recently won the NBA draft lottery, also called the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes. It’s noteworthy that even as professional athletes, their chances of getting the top pick in May 2023 were only 14%. Despite this, they succeeded in making the No. 1 overall selection in the June 2023 NBA draft. This shows that even though the odds are slim if you put in the hard work, effort, and determination, anything is possible.
So, don’t give up. You may not be a Fortune 500 CEO or an Oscar winner just yet. Also, keep in mind that the odds we’ve sourced are based on getting to be the best of the best. The piece de resistance of your industry. Is that what a dream job is really about? And what if you don’t have a clue what your dream is?
Finding Your Dream Job
Comparing the chances of becoming an NBA star to Kim Kardashian becoming the president is all fun and games. But, in all seriousness, that’s not really what dream jobs are about, right? It’s not about always being the best of the best.
Did you know that the odds of landing a good salary increase when you change jobs? So maybe it doesn’t matter whether you land your perfect job immediately. Maybe it’s just more about getting on the right path.
Finding a dream job should be more about what makes you happy. So if you don’t know what you wanna do, where do you start? Well, here are a few key steps to finding your dream job.
Find Your Passion
Start by figuring out what makes you tick. The thing that you find exciting and aligns with what you want to achieve in life.
Research, Research, Research
Know what you’re getting yourself into. Read about industry trends, prospects, and any skills you might need to stand out.
Get Networking
Making friends in any field is an integral way to get ahead and make waves. Attend industry events, get on social media, and look for mentors.
Polish Your Skills
It’s time to put your student hat back on. Yes, you probably have skills in your chosen area anyway. But polishing them more won’t hurt your chances.
Get Out There
And it’s as simple as that. Get yourself out there!
Wrapping Up
So there you have it. You’re more likely to win an Oscar than you are to launch a successful startup. Who would’ve thought it?
Now, many of these stats and odds are pretty outlandish. But don’t let them hold you back from actually pursuing your dreams. There’s nothing more worth working towards than a job you love in an industry you enjoy being a part of.
When you begin your dream job and look forward to a better quality of life and higher income, it’s important to keep in mind economic factors like inflation. In the United Kingdom, it’s worth noting that from December 2022 to February 2023, there was a decrease in growth for both total and regular pay once adjusted for inflation. Total pay decreased by 3.0% and regular pay fell by 2.3%. So while your dream job may not be as profitable as you thought, it’s still worth pursuing!
