On Animal Planet there is a reality docu-series called Finding Bigfoot. This program has been on the air since 2011. ***HUGE MEGA-SPOILER ALERT*** It is now 2020, and they still haven’t found Bigfoot. ***END OF SPOILER ALERT***
Of course if they would have actually found such a creature, it probably would have already been on the news long before the program actually aired with all of the editing and production that goes into putting such a program. However, this is one of the highest rated shows on Animal Planet. So why are people so eager to tune in to a show with a questionable premise for 9 years where no one has bagged a Bigfoot?
Sometimes it is not the end of the quest, but it is the quest itself that is the most exhilarating. The thrill of the hunt, getting there is half the fun and the joy of the pursuit. Even for a quest that is impossible, there is always that hope that Bigfoot enthusiasts and job seekers alike feel as they wake up every morning ready to pursue the hunt in hopes that they will today find the mythical beast. Wait, job seekers? Yes, I am not talking of Bigfoot, but I am talking of “The Perfect Job.”
First of all what is The Perfect Job? Let’s dive into that adjective “Perfect.” You could have a perfect spouse, or perfect kids, or a perfect neighbor. Neighbors of serial killers often describe them as “perfect” neighbors as they are quiet and meticulous in how they keep their garden. When people find out their friends are divorcing they always say “I just don’t understand, they seemed like the “perfect” couple.
Perfect is subjective. What is perfect for one may not be perfect for another. To an impartial observer, they can marvel at someone taking a perfect dive off a cliff into the water below, however if the diver does not know how to swim and they accidentally slipped off of a cliff, then the dive is probably not perfect for them.
What my examples show above is that perfect is often the description made in the 3rd person. If I declare one day that “I am perfect” you are probably going to think I am a perfect asshole.
There can be perfect games attained in baseball which is done by pitching 27 outs with no opposing batters reaching base). But how perfect is a perfect game in say, baseball? Should the pitcher get 27 outs on 27 pitches? 27 strikeouts in a row with no balls thrown? Again, perfection is a subjective measure and it can be taken to excruciatingly anal-retentive lengths.
So what encompasses a perfect job? Everyone says they are looking for it, yet few have ever seen such a wild beast. Here are some examples of what might comprise the perfect job:
- Doing something they love or are passionate about every day
- Getting paid shit-tons of money to do it
- Feeling appreciated (this is actually the #1 things most people want in their job – fun fact!)
- Close proximity to home with a short commute
- Working for a successful company with long term success and staying power.
- Doing something challenging and rewarding
- A job that does not include endless and overly frequent meetings
- A solid benefits package for my family and me
- Growth and earnings potential
- Retirement Benefits
- A good culture that fosters and rewards individual growth
- A good work-life balance
- A job that helps me further my education by contributing to it financially
- Working in an awesome work environment with cool people and an open beer tap in the break room
What I would suggest doing in evaluating a job, either a current one or one you are seeking is to make a list of all of the things that are important to you. It doesn’t matter how far-fetched or reaching for the stars you want to go. Then, rank the list from most important to least important from 1 to 10. As you evaluate a job, place a check mark next to each number for each one that applies. Add the score. Compare scores across several potential jobs. The one that has the highest score is probably a best fit.
Ah, but what if you don’t know the answers to if these things are provided? If you have interviewed at least 2 times and you don’t know then you probably have not been asking the right interview questions!
You’ll never know if you never ask. These types of things can also come into play during a salary negotiation – especially if you have competing offers.
In conclusion, you probably are never going to find the perfect job. Either perfect for you or for anyone else. But, you can find a job that you enjoy with a few things maybe you don’t enjoy, but one that checks the boxes for what are most important for you. You may not end up completely 100% satisfied, but hey, nobody’s perfect!