Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash
Many employees are reassessing their careers—whether by choice or necessity.
Instead of looking toward the ideal, we're considering how a job actually fits into our lives—including what we value, how we spend our time, how we want to move forward—and just about anything else in your life and career.
The Washington Post reports on "growing evidence — both anecdotal and in surveys — that a lot of people want to do something different with their lives than they did before the pandemic."
We're realizing that edifying a job doesn't work.
Table of Contents
- Where "The Dream Job" Came From
- RIP: Why the Dream Job Is Dead
- What Is the "Good Enough" Job?
- What Makes a Career Satisfying or Fulfilling?
- How to Identify Fulfilling Careers for You
- 5 Benefits of the “Good Enough” Job
- Is the “Good Enough” Job Right for You?
- How to Find Your "Good Enough" Job
Our devotion to our jobs didn’t keep us from being laid off. It didn’t keep away bad bosses and toxic workplaces. It didn’t help working parents—especially mothers—when they needed it most. And it didn’t keep us from feeling burned out and exhausted, among other things.
Where "The Dream Job" Came From
The shortcomings of modern-day work have been exacerbated by the pandemic.
I believe one of the biggest shortcomings to be unveiled is the myth of the dream job and our expectations for what our jobs should be.
Somehow over the last few decades, we've been sold this idea that work should be more than just a typical job. We expect our jobs to provide access to food, shelter, and other necessities, as well as be high-paying, fun, engaging, impressive, social, impactful, and driven by passion as we work out of professionally-designed office spaces.
But nothing in the world is perfect—and we know this—so why should we expect that our job will tick all the boxes for us?
Even if you know that dream jobs are a myth and following your passions shouldn’t be the roadmap used to make career decisions, you might still put a great deal of pressure on yourself to land it.
This is by design—because the myth isn’t just about a dream job—but also the dream life that accompanies it. Nobody can grasp it because it doesn’t really exist.
If we're constantly striving to achieve the dream job, it keeps us distracted from how we're missing out on our lives to try to find it.
Why the Dream Job Is Dead
The unicorn dream job is a great way to keep employees scrambling for that next big thing throughout 30-, 40-, and 50-year careers.
Companies continue to exploit our quest for a “dream job” with well-worded job descriptions, perks, and benefits. Society perpetuates the idea that dream jobs do exist (ideally after you’ve attended your dream school and got all the right “dream” internships).
If you don’t have one or if you're not working towards one, you’re losing in this “game” of life.
All of this has led so many of us to have our identities and self-worth tied to our job titles. It pushed us to believe that if you’re ambitious but not dedicating your life to work—are you really working that hard?!
Well-meaning quotes on Instagram encouraged us to "follow our passions" and "hustle harder"—basically do more than just work. Love your work.
This toxic positivity has left us drained and guess what...our dream jobs haven’t come to rescue us.
Also, the past few years have all but undone decades of progress for women in the workforce. We’re screaming into the abyss asking for more support, better leave, help with childcare—and we convince ourselves to be happy with the scraps we do get.
If you’ve read my book, Power Moves, you already know that I don’t believe dream jobs exist. In fact, I think believing in the myth of the dream job is what keeps many of us feeling stuck in the first place.
But we’re all so hardwired to believe in the pursuit of the perfect job that when I share this thought people respond with, “Then what should I be looking for?”
My answer is the “good enough” job.
What is the "Good Enough" Job?
When we envision these “dream” jobs, they never include absentee or toxic bosses, hellish commutes, manipulative coworkers, or feelings of impostor syndrome and self-doubt.
And, so, when we meet tough moments at work, we feel unprepared and let down. It would be much more helpful if we started to envision “good enough” jobs—and define what that means for you.
My definition of the “good enough” job is relatively enjoyable paid work that allows you to live comfortably but isn’t your entire world or identity.
It’s the job that doesn’t ask you for more—more than 40 hours of work each week, more fulfillment from the job than other parts of your life, or more passion for it than things outside of work.
The “good enough” job can mean different things for different employees—and even with different jobs. It might be a position with decent pay and great work/life balance. It might be a position in an industry that isn't quite "your thing," but that offers opportunities to learn and grow.
This job allows you to gently close your laptop at 5:00 p.m.—and leave it closed while you enjoy an evening with a family member. This job allows you to attend doctor’s appointments, to pick up your sick child from daycare, and lend them the love they deserve. This job fits into your life.
What Makes a Career Satisfying or Fulfilling?
Given how large of a role work plays in your life, it makes sense that many of us focus on finding a "good" job and consider how it impacts our overall happiness. But what makes a job "good," or "career rewarding," or even gives you a "sense of fulfillment?"
Most people naturally believe a fulfilling job equals the most lucrative job but research from Princeton has proved that salary isn't actually the most important factor. What they found was that earning more money only makes people happier to a certain point—around $75,000 per year—and after that, more money didn't equal more happiness.
So what is the important link between your job and your fulfillment? Well, it comes down to finding a job that checks the boxes for what personally satisfies you. I know you don't like that answer because it's unique to each person's preferences, tastes, values, and personality. What's not unique, though, are a few specific factors that research shows are common among the most satisfying jobs. To find a fulfilling career, focus on jobs that offer the following:
- 1. Engaging work that includes clear tasks, autonomy, variety, and feedback.
- 2. Work that helps others such as helping others achieve a goal, helping a community, and work that you know is making a positive difference
- 3. Work you're good at which gives you a sense of accomplishment and motivation
- 4. Having good relationships with colleagues, having mentors give you guidance, etc. is also a major predictor of job satisfaction
- 5. Work-life balance so you can have other things in your life that give you joy
- 6. Lack of major negatives such as job insecurity, a long commute, stressful/intimidating work, unequal pay, etc
- 7. Supportive working conditions including all of the above plus psychological, mental, emotional, and physical safety
How to Identify Fulfilling Careers for You
Now that you know the ingredients or criteria that go into creating a fulfilling career, it's time to identify the role that's a unique fit for you. Considering the list above, you could start by prioritizing the list by most important to you. For example, one person might know that who they work with is always going to matter more than work that's helping someone.
Once you know what's most important to you, you can start exploring career options. Here are some of the most satisfying jobs based on research that included satisfaction, median salaries, and growth potential like promotions
If You Like Helping People, Try...
- Teacher
- Special Education Teachers
- Pediatrician
- Physicians
- Dentist
- Physical Therapist
- Human Resources Manager
- Psychologist
- Firefighter
- School and Career Counselor
If Work-Life Balance Is Your #1 Priority...
- Substitute Teacher
- Web Designer
- Research Lab Technician
- Dental Hygienists
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Software Developer
- Copy Editor
- Data Analyst
- Strategy Manager
- Occupational Therapist
- Part-time medical professionals
If You Like Being Really Good at What You Do...
The goal here is to find jobs that use your skills. Consider what you're good at and what gives you the most energy. If you love building relationships, maybe consider sales. If you're a big thinker but don't love the execution, strategy roles could be a fit. If you love to organize, what about project management? If creativity is your top skill, what careers can you explore that use it?
If You Have Certain Dealbreakers...
Steer clear of long commutes, unfair pay, emotionally draining jobs, stress-inducing jobs, etc. An example might be emergency room surgeons or being an IT Manager at a large corporation that's 45 mins. away from your home.
5 Benefits of the “Good Enough” Job
The "good enough" job is practical, not perfect.
Here are a few more reasons why I’m supportive of the “good enough” job—and the reason why it can open up your career in ways you couldn't have expected or imagined.
1. It Gives You Time + Mental Space to Focus on Your Passions, Off the Clock
Our passions don’t have to be professional, and you don’t have to monetize every hobby or interest. In her piece, Why Passion for Your Work Isn't Always a Good Thing, writer Anna Medaris Miller argues that too much passion can lead to burnout.
She notes a series of studies out of BI Norwegian Business School, where Ph.D. student Ide Katrine Birkeland found that burnout and interpersonal relations are two big negatives when combining passion (or obsession) with your career. Birkeland explains, “If your work is everything to you, it’s easy to get blinders and just focus on what you need to do to meet your goals and lose perspective of everything else."
Keep your passions off the clock in order to enjoy them on your own terms.
For example, I have a friend who loves skincare. She learns about it, tries new treatments, watches videos, etc. and allows it to be 100% a hobby. Maybe one day she will try to work at a skincare company, but right now she’s kicking butt in her marketing job for a sustainability product.
The Good Enough Job for a Burned Out Employee
- Flexible work that is fulfilling but entirely unrelated to their passion.
- Less flashy title, but respectful and supportive coworkers
- Can clock out at 5:00 p.m. and expect zero communication
2. It Takes Your Career Out of Tunnel Vision
When you broaden the definition of what your ideal job is, you are able to explore way more options and work opportunities. This goes back to that whole “don’t judge a book by its cover” lesson we were all taught.
While the data analyst position at that financial institution might seem less appealing than the flashier position at a fashion company, you might be wrong. What looks great in your LinkedIn bio might be a nightmare IRL.
Spoiler Alert: In my experience, the worst horror stories I've heard come out of the "coolest" job titles at the flashiest companies.
One thing I’ve seen as a common denominator for fulfilled people at work over and over again? They like the people they work with, and they are good at their job. Notice it’s not about the job title or well-designed office they talk about? Expand your version of “ideal” so you’re more open-minded to opportunities.
The Good Enough Job for Someone Going Through a Career Transition:
- An entry- or mid-level position with tons of learning opportunities
- Less glamorous or "cool" coworkers who are sincere and helpful
- No frills office that is 20 miles closer to home (and you can work from home Mondays and Fridays)
3. It Takes the Pressure Off
Do you actually want that fancy job title or office? Or do you feel like you need it just to show off to others? Do you really need to put in A+++ effort into all things?!
There's this weird cycle that happens with ambitious women. Our ambitions fuel our drive to be the best and our society has definitely promoted individual achievement over anything else, but we're not supported.
That lack of support makes us blame ourselves and wonder what we've done wrong. When you let go of unrealistic standards for yourself and for your job, you remove a lot of negative self-talk.
Tess Vigeland and I chatted about this in depth. The reason we're so obsessed with having the most interesting job? It's usually the second question people ask you after "So, what's your name?"
Also, can we stop asking "What do you do?" as a way to gauge who is worth speaking with?
The Good Enough Job for Middle to Late Career:
- Interesting and challenging work, but with less pressure
- Not a ton of room for upward advancement, but great job security
- Good benefits and flexible working arrangements so that employees can tend to their physical and mental health
4. It Gives You Clarity
You are able to see your workplace as a place that provides you with a living. It is easier to say no to things, call out inequities, or even leave.
This kind of clarity allows you to see those red flags flying, without having to look through the "hindsight" lens after years of navigating a toxic environment.
It allows the self-confidence and wherewithal to know what you cannot (and will not) accept. The good enough job can also give you space to explore other opportunities—to step off the "career ladder" and hop onto the career jungle gym instead.
When your worth is not attached to your job, you can ease up, release all that upper back tension, and get your work done. After that? You can go home to your real life.
The Good Enough Job for Recent College Grad:
- Coworkers who are deeper into their career and willing to share their experience
- Lower entry salary, but a generous learning stipend to skill up
- A boss who is looking to help you get their employees' careers into place, without the expectation that they'll stay forever
5. It Gives You Space to Be Human
We receive tons of emails, DMs, and calls from our friends.
We hear some of the worst horror stories about babysitter-micromanager bosses, hostile workplaces, sexism, racism, and "microaggressions" that have us checking the timestamps on our emails. How do things like this still happen in the 21st century?
The good enough job, in this way, is actually great. This is where it matters the most. The good enough job allows you to be a human who has doctor's appointments, car trouble, or troubling mental health days. The good enough job will be there tomorrow—often with the support from the leadership who worked so hard to make it good.
The Good Enough Job for Working Parent:
- An entirely flexible schedule that allows employees to work when they are most productive
- Lower salary, but work that is entirely aligned with your desire to make the world a better place
- A generalized job title with opportunities to work cross-functionally on collaborative projects and events
Is the “Good Enough” Job Right for You?
Pursuing a good enough job isn’t right for everyone. Some people absolutely thrive off the 24/7 nature of a job or are in a place in life where they can—and they want—to dedicate most of their free time to a career.
Can we stop making people feel bad?
But if you’re finding yourself reassessing your career right now, let me dispel any negative talk that might be going through your head.
Choosing a good enough job doesn’t mean you don’t know your worth or value yourself.
It doesn’t mean you’re going to be bored at work or can’t work for a company whose mission you believe in. It doesn't mean you’re lowering your standards and settling. It means separating “the dream” you’ve been sold from what’s realistic.
How to Find Your "Good Enough" Job
If the good enough job sounds appealing to you in theory, but you can't put your finger on how it might look, we've got you. Here's how to cut through all the noise to determine what a good enough job can look like for you.
1. Hit Unsubscribe
Is there anything more gratifying than hitting the unsubscribe button to clear up your inbox? We're asking you to do this all of the expectations you've willingly (or unwillingly!) subscribed to in the past.
Choosing “good enough” can be your first step to unsubscribing from a system that keeps giving you an expectation hangover and feeling disappointed when those same incredibly high expectations aren’t met.
- A system that aligns ambition and job titles with fulfillment
- A system that demands perfection
- A system that constantly asks you to work harder because it’s your fault if you are not to the top with a capital T by a certain stage
Say goodbye to the system. It's not built to benefit you.
2. Identify Your Values
I’m asking you to celebrate and accept the good enough job by defining your values and aligning them with your work.
The good enough job will be the job that checks the most important boxes—the ones that actually align with your values. Rather than having an overblown salary, you can walk to work. Rather than a having a powerful title that has the CEO breathing down your neck, you have a more "relaxed" title, and you can spend time with your family.
To create a career that includes joy, identify your values. Here are some to consider:
- Balance
- Community
- Diversity
- Empathy
- Kindness
- Impact
- Work-life balance
- Self-motivation
- Collaboration
- Motivation to learn
- Loyalty
- Honesty
- Resilience
- Making a difference
- Showing tolerance
- Being accountable
- Helping others
I’m also asking you to purposely lower your expectations when it comes to your job, what it is, and what it doesn’t have to be.
3. Step Off the Ladder
If that seems too negative, can you deliberately break up with the idea that one job can fulfill all the ever-changing human parts of you? Can you open yourself to the idea of your career progressing like a jungle gym rather than a ladder?
Can you celebrate a job you enjoy (at least 50% of the time), that pays you, provides the benefits you need, and won't burn you out within weeks of being onboarded?
Can that be “good enough” for you?
