Finding Your Dream Job

2 minute read

When I first applied for jobs out of college in the accounting industry, there was one firm that I had my heart set on. They were perfect and I wanted in - bad. My mentor at the time advised me not to put all of my eggs in one basket. So, I didn’t. I applied to about 10 different accounting companies, still hoping my dream company would reach out and hire me. 

When I started hearing back about my applications, my dream firm was the first to respond - they declined me. It was devastating. I spiraled into despair, convinced I’d never be as excited about another company again. Despite my disappointment, I kept pushing forward and ended up landing interviews with all the other firms I applied to. In the end, I was fortunate enough to choose from several full-time job offers. 

In all the twists and turns of my professional career, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. This experience taught me an important lesson about keeping an open mind when applying to companies. It’s essential to understand what qualities interest and excite you so that when an opportunity presents itself, you know exactly what you’re looking for to make the best and most informed decision possible. 

For example, I recently had a client who was job hunting within a specific company. After understanding their motivation for switching roles and companies, I asked, “Why this specific company?” For this client, the company seemed to embody everything they were looking for in a new position. While I appreciated their enthusiasm, I was concerned they were putting all their eggs in one basket. 

As an exercise, I asked them to list all the reasons why that company was exciting. Was it the culture? The size? The types of clients? The professional development opportunities? Once we had this list, they could start looking at other companies that might fit that criteria - companies they might not have considered otherwise. While I didn’t discourage them from pursuing their dream company, I did encourage them to expand their scope. Sometimes the best fit is one you have yet to discover! 

Looking for a change in your work life and don’t know where to start? Let us know!