We’re all sold this idea of the "dream job."
It’s that perfect role at the perfect company where every day is fulfilling and your skills are perfectly utilized. For many, it feels like a myth. For years, I thought it was too.
But today, working at a Top 5 Bank in a role I love, with a supportive team and meaningful work, I can honestly say I've found it. The surprising part? It took me three decades of what most people would call detours, setbacks, and mistakes to finally be ready for it.
My journey wasn't a straight line. It was a series of lessons, often learned the hard way.
Lesson 1: Proximity is the First Step.
After graduating with an engineering degree in England, I couldn't get a job. I sent out handwritten letters and typed resumes for months with no luck. I told a senior member of my community about my struggle, mentioning that all the jobs seemed to be in London, England. He looked at me and said the simplest thing: "So, why don't you move to London?" I acted on that simple advice, and within a short time, my career began. The lesson wasn't about London; it was about putting yourself in the proximity of opportunity.
Lesson 2: You Must Know Your Own Worth.
In one of my first jobs, I was asked to take on the duties of a senior manager who had left. I worked twice as hard for six months on the promise of compensation that never came. To add insult to injury, the manager who left was hired back as a consultant to do the same job. I never saw a single penny. It was a painful lesson, but an invaluable one: You have to advocate for yourself, know your worth, and be willing to walk away when you're not valued.
Lesson 3: Your Well-being is Non-Negotiable.
I once took a job working the night shift, from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. I did it for five years. While it served a purpose at the time, I saw the toll it took on my health and the health of my colleagues. One security guard told me he’d done it for 25 years and would get sunburned on a cloudy day! I realized that no career is worth sacrificing your fundamental well-being. That experience taught me to recognize and walk away from unsustainable situations - a skill that later helped me leave a toxic job in just two months.
Lesson 4: Your Past Experiences Are Your Future Strengths.
When I decided to move to Canada, I had to sell my house in London and leave a secure job to start over in a country where I knew no one. It was a terrifying leap of faith. But every challenge I'd faced before - the initial job hunt, fighting for my worth, navigating difficult environments - had prepared me for that moment. I landed a job in a short time because my past "mistakes" had forged the resilience I needed.
The "dream job" isn't a destination you find on a map. It's a place you can only reach after you've journeyed through the difficult terrain of your own career.
Every uncompensated hour taught me about value. Every difficult manager taught me about emotional regulation. Every toxic environment taught me about self-respect. Every night shift taught me about sustainability.
The perfect role I have today isn't perfect because the job itself is magical. It's a great fit because I, through 30+ years of wins and lessons, became the right person for it.
So if your career doesn't look like a straight line, take heart. You're not lost. You're just taking the scenic route, collecting the experiences and wisdom you'll need for the destination you're meant to reach.
Because in a career, there are no losses. There are only wins and lessons.
The perfect role I have today isn't perfect because the job itself is magical. It's a great fit because I, through 30 years of wins and lessons, became the right person for it.
Your journey is no different. Every challenge you're facing today is preparing you for the role you'll value tomorrow. Embrace the lessons, because they are the building blocks of your future success.
Sarfraz
P.S. If my story resonates and you feel like you're on a long, winding road without a clear map, let's change that.
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