Most career moms have that dream job. A job that has all or most of everything one wants in a job. This is mainly in terms of pay, benefits, field, and desired company among others. But what do you do if you are offered something else?
Should you currently accept a job even if it is not your dream job? Would you accept or reject that unattractive and imperfect job? What are the reasons that you should or should not?
“It is not bad to accept a job offer and keep looking for your dream job. There are several reasons you should accept a job even if it is not your dream job. It exposes you to employment opportunities, offers on-job learning opportunity, develops your work experience, grows your networking circle, and enhances your resume.”
Reasons To Take a Job that is not your Dream Job
1. The Job Exposes you to Other Employment Opportunities
Many people get access to their perfect dream job through their current jobs that they consider imperfect and unattractive. Such lowly rated jobs are a perfect door to the perfect dream job one desires.
Therefore you can go for a job even if it is not your current ream give. It is a stepping stone to better jobs and ultimately your dream job.
As such even if you are not in your dream job yet, treat it as a stepping stone to another job. It especially helps if the new job offer will be in a related field with your dream job.The work you will be involved in will expose you to many opportunities that can link you to your dream job.
Read: How to Go Back to Work from a Career Break
2. The Job Offers On-Job Learning Opportunity
Every job/work is a learning opportunity for you that will help you later in landing your dream job. Through work you are always learning new things every day. Many companies have a very good learning opportunity for its employees.
If your new imperfect and unattractive job offers this opportunity, take it. Many people have taken a job they were not excited about from the start only to realize it had so much learning potential. This is one the reason why you should accept that job, even if it is not your perfect dream job just yet.
The learning experience you will gain is very beneficial to getting and growing in your dream job. It enhances your current skills you may already have.
In addition you learn new skills on the job that enhances your skill set. This gives you a competitive edge later as you draw nearer to your dream job.
Read: Why you Should Consider a Career Step Back
3. The Job Develops your Work Experience Qualification
No time spent working is lost. Any work you do relevant to your field is a plus to your work experience. It is especially critical because your perfect dream job may require that you have a certain level of work experience.
For instance your dream job in accounting may demand that you have at least 7 years of experience, which you do not have yet.
To get to the required level of working experience, you may need to work on other low letter imperfect and unattractive jobs prior to this. For this reason,accept that job, even if it is far from your dream job.
Accept that new job offer now even if it is not your dream job as you are yet to acquire the right work experience qualification. It is especially so in jobs that gives you the right exposure and experience that adds weight to your resume qualification.
Read: How to Choose between Career Goals and Financial Goals
4. The Job will Grow your Networking Circle
Every job has networking opportunities ; some rich than others. Through work, you have the chance to work and interact with different colleagues, clients, and other companies that are a great network worth.
The more contacts you have in your network, the higher chances you have to get to your dream job. You are more likely to find your dream job when you have more and highly credible contacts backing you up. Therefore consider accepting that imperfect and unattractive job offer if you see this potential in it.
Further, you can consider this as a plus to your social life. You will be able to meet and work with a lot of amazing people. Some colleagues may even become part of your friends circle.
As such the job enriches your social circle which is an integral part of your professional circle. They both complement each other and make your development all round. Even if the job offer is not your dream job yet, it is great for work-life balance and will lead to your perfect job later.
5. The Job will Enrich your Resume
Working greatly enriches your resume. Even the imperfect unattractive job will ultimately add to the richness of your resume by having additional qualifications. The time you spend at the new job offer offers a work good experience on your resume that will further make you credible in your future application.
In addition, you may have the opportunity to partake in training or leadership projects on this job that enriches your resume. In future you will have an added advantage in getting your dream job.
You will also have a chance to add in new referrals. The people you meet, work with, and interact with during this time can be your referrals in future job openings. They will be able to give in a good word for you that add to the credibility you need to get your dream job. Therefore accept the current offer that you have as it is taking your closer to your dream job sooner.
6. Take A Job that is not yet your Dream Job for the Pay
Even if it is not your perfect dream job, it is a job. And you are getting paid for it. It hence helps you sustain your livelihood for the time being as you keep looking for your dream job.
You may need a steady paycheck right now. You can accept the job offer as you wait for a job that offers a benefits package that you want. Even if the pay is little, it is best at this moment to look at it as a skill enhancement investment.
In addition, it avoids you staying idle and having an unexplained gap in your resume. It is one of the reasons you should consider that job offer even it it is not your dream job just yet. You will appear more credible to your employer when you have been active in the workforce consistently.
Top Reasons to Reject a Job Offer
1. Poor Pay
Reject a job offer if the payment is not worth it – it may not sustain you or be worth the resources you spend on the job* Reject a job offer if the payment is not worth it – it may not sustain you or be worth the resources you spend on the job
2. Poorly Aligned with your Skills
Reject a job offer if it is not aligned with your skills/field- won’t add to your work experience qualifications
3. Toxic Work Environment
Reject a job offer if the work environment is not enhancing/toxic
4. No Learning and Growth Opportunity
Reject a job offer if there are no learning opportunities/ opportunities for growth
” You can choose to decline a job offer if the pay is insufficient, has no learning opportunities, has a toxic work environment, or is not aligned with your skills/field. You should hence wait for something better rather than accept the job offer. “
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