What exactly is a dream job?
I’m sure you have your own definition or thoughts about what it is for you.
For me a dream job is one that combines these elements:
passion + purpose + fun + flexibility + the right environment + enough money
The first three (passion, purpose, and fun) are the universal elements of a dream job. Doing what you love, making a difference in the world, and enjoying what you do afford the deepest level of satisfaction when it comes to a career.
My career as a coach, blogger, teacher, and writer (all part of my online business) provides all of these things. I love the work I do every day, and it fulfills a greater purpose for me as I get to help and serve people all over the world.
Every day presents something fun and interesting, and I get to connect with amazing people all over the world. I work on my own schedule from the comfort of my home, and I make enough money to support myself and enjoy life. Without a doubt, I have a dream job.
In my research for The Path to Passion course, I’ve come across many jobs that would fit the bill as a dream job. They all combine the first three elements of my personal equation above — passion, purpose, and fun.
Here are six dream jobs you might want to consider for yourself:
1. Personal or business coach ($35,000 – $100,000+)
I’m leading with this because, hey, it’s what I do! A coach is a personal trainer for your life, your business, or your work. A coach is a positive change facilitator who helps you define what you want, leads you to create action steps to move forward, challenges you to stretch yourself, and keeps you accountable to your goals.
Coaches partner with emotionally healthy people to focus on changing the future rather than untangling the past. Coaches aren’t consultants or advice-givers, but they do ask you pointed and challenging questions to help you find your own path and come up with the answers for yourself.
Coaches also help you pinpoint and address roadblocks and limiting beliefs that hold you back from your vision for your life.
Coaches can specialize in a variety of different areas including personal coaching, executive coaching, wellness coaching, coaching for writers, sales people, or artists. My coaching niche is a life passion coach. The beauty of coaching is your ability to create a focus based on your own past experience or career. If you were previously a lawyer for example, you could specialize in coaching lawyers or other related professions.
Becoming a certified coach requires some training from a reputable coach training school. It takes on average about six months to two years to complete the training depending on your schedule and the particular school’s curriculum. I’d strongly recommend training with a school accredited by the ICF (International Coach Federation) which has solid standards of excellence.
An excellent school is Coach Training Alliance which was one of the very first schools ever to receive ICF accreditation. They offer a certification program, as well as graduate programs for various niches and additional training.
2. Massage therapist ($18,000 – $71,000+)
If you enjoy working one-on-one, like hands-on work, and you desire to help others improve their health and well-being, your dream job might be as a massage therapist.
The field of massage therapy is quite large, with therapists performing a wide variety of techniques and bodywork from basic Swedish massage to sports massage, Shiatsu, reflexology, and trigger point massage.
Massage therapists can work full-time or part-time in a variety of settings — spas, wellness centers, health clubs, doctor’s offices, and even cruise ships. The vast majority of massage therapists are sole practitioners.
To become a massage therapist, you must complete a training program at a massage therapy school that will qualify you to practice in your state. Licensing requirements vary from state to state, and most states require a minimum number of hours of training, passing an exam to demonstrate competency, and continuing education to practice. (Here’s a listing of states with massage practice requirements.)
3. Tour guide ($17,000 – $38,000)
If you are a people person, love to share information, have a passion for adventure and travel, and enjoy art, history, or geography, then you might want to be a tour guide. You also need to be great at organization and detail-oriented.
A tour director is the one responsible for logistics, confirmations, planning, damage control, and group dynamics. They also give commentary on art, history and culture.
Although training isn’t essential, you stand a better chance of landing a job if you get trained and certified at a school for tour guides, such as International Tour Management Institute (which offers a two-week training program in San Francisco). These training schools can help you find a position as a tour guide.
Once you finish training, consider getting a job at one of the larger tour companies which can offer more work and more varied travel opportunities. You’ll likely be an independent contractor, even if you work for a tour company. If you want to travel overseas, be sure you get a job in your home country.
4. Congressional Aide ($30,000 – $120,000)
Have a passion for politics and a desire to implement positive change in the world? A congressional aide or legislative counsel assists a legislator at the state or federal level. Congressional aides have first hand input on policies and meet with powerful people in the nation.
Congressional aides respond to calls and answering emails from constituents on behalf of the legislator. They also meet with lobbyist and assist in researching and drafting bills.
Congressional aides provide assistance and information to the public while performing clerical tasks.Legislators generally maintain two offices — both a local office and one at the capitol. An aide works from one of the two offices and is responsible for scheduling and attending meetings on behalf of the legislator.
They also take notes and conduct research to advise the legislator on the appropriate actions to be taken on a current bill — this is vital in drafting bills put forth by the legislator.Congressional aides are required to have a college degree.
No specific degree is required, but a major in political science or journalism is helpful. Graduate degrees are also a plus, especially in law, but are not required. It often helps to have experience volunteering on a political campaign and other political experience as the competition for these jobs is high. Personal connections with politicians is also a plus.
5. EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) ($20,000 – $53,500)
What if every day you had the opportunity to save lives, bring babies into the world, and help people in need? EMT’s are the first responders for medical emergencies like car accidents, childbirth, and heart attacks. They work with other emergency personnel (fire fighters and police) to stabilize and transport patients to hospitals. There are three levels of EMT — basic, intermediate, and paramedic.
According to South Carolina EMT Nate Dionne, “EMT-Basics can take vitals, splint broken bones, bandage wounds, and administer oxygen. At the EMT-Intermediate level, you can do all of that plus start IV’s, administer fluids, and medicine to help diabetics whose blood sugar dropped too low. Some Intermediates are allowed to push certain cardiac medications and defibrillate (shock the heart). EMT-Paramedics do all of that, plus intubate (place a tube in the trachea to secure an airway), push more medications than I can possibly list, use a cardiac monitor to determine a heart rhythm and treat accordingly, and so on. With higher certification levels come more capabilities, and more responsibility.”
You can train to become an EMT at most technical colleges where training time ranges from a few months to about two years depending on the level of training you desire. Job growth for EMT’s is much faster than most other professions, so finding a job once you’re certified shouldn’t be difficult.
6. Mediator ($42,000 – $99,700)
A mediator works with people to facilitate negotiation and conflict resolution through dialogue. They also resolve conflicts outside of the court system by mutual consent of parties involved. A mediator is hired by courts, families, couples, unions or other organizations to provide non-biased negotiation for all parties involved in a dispute.
Each state has different requirements for mediators such as licensure, registration or certification, but most mediators complete a 40-hour basic course and a 20-hour advanced training course. Some people receive training by volunteering at a community mediation center or co-mediating cases with an experienced mediator. You can also complete an advanced degree or certificate program in conflict resolution at a college or university.
What are the elements of your dream job? Have you found it yet or are you still searching? Please share your journey in the comments below.