DREAM JOB:

DECODED
Debunking the myth of
one-size-fits-all

Vaishali Shorey & Rupali Pandey

Preface

Introducing "D̶ r̶e̶a̶m̶ Job: Decoded:

Penned by passionate recruiters,
debunking the Myth of One-Size-Fits-All.
Through thought-provoking insights and
real-life examples, the authors emphasize
the need for individuals to discover their
own unique elements of a dream job.
With actionable exercises and thoughtful
prompts, this insightful companion helps
you align your passions and values with
your career choices.
Your dream job? It's not just a dream
anymore – it's your next chapter!
 Table of Contents

1. D̶ a̶y̶ Job Dreaming

2. Shelf Life
3. Stress me Not
4. Money Plant
5. Relationships
6. Safety Net
7. Where The Magic Happens!
8. Elements of Job
1
 D̶ a̶y̶ Job Dreaming

"Follow your dreams," they said. "Find your

passion," they urged. I thought my dream job
would be like a magical land where everything
was perfect. A world where all my passions and
talents just fit together like puzzle pieces.

Remember back to your childhood, when you were

asked, "What do you want to be when you grow
up?" The answers were often fantastical and
boundless. One day you wanted to be an
astronaut exploring the cosmos, and the next, you
aspired to become a daring firefighter saving
lives. Your dreams were ever-changing, evolving
as you experienced new things and learned about
the world around you.

But then, life happens and drops a major truth

bomb on you: there's no one-size-fits-all dream job.

2
And then we're like, "What? No way!" I mean,
We've been told our whole life that we just
need to find our passion, and boom, dream
job unlocked! But now they're saying it's not
that simple?

You might have pursued engineering,

medicine, arts, or any other discipline that
captivated your interest and suited your skills.
Your understanding of the world has
expanded, and your dreams have likely
evolved with it.

It's not like finding a treasure map that leads

you straight to the perfect job. Everyone is
different, and what's a dream job for one
person might not be the same for another.
Let's try and understand it better.

3
4
Meet Jai
Jai found contentment in his job at Routine
Corp. He valued the simplicity and stability of
his work, finding fulfillment in the balance it
brought to his life. The predictable tasks and
9-5 schedule allowed him to prioritize quality
time with his family and friends. While others
sought challenges and advancement, Jai
embraced the tranquility of his routine and the
security it provided for his expenses. He
understood that success was not solely
measured by external achievements but by the
joy and harmony he found in everyday
moments.

5
6
Meet Tanya
Tanya thrives in the fast-paced world of her
job. Opting for an unconventional placement
during college, she joins a small team that
keeps her on her toes, constantly solving new
challenges. Motivated by her passion for
innovation, she tirelessly brings fresh ideas to
the table. Her days are tough, filled with
hustle and hard work, but they are also
immensely fulfilling. Tanya's unwavering
determination keeps her going, even during
the most demanding moments. She finds
fulfillment in pushing herself to the limit and
contributing to the growth of her company.
With each challenge she conquers, Tanya
embraces the rewards of her relentless
pursuit.
7
8
Meet Malti
Malti is a workaholic personality. She is
working in a Hedge fund. Malti's
motivation to wake up every day and go to
work is purely monetary. She sees her job
as a means to accumulate wealth and
attain a luxurious lifestyle. Malti is always
the first to arrive at the office and the last
to leave. She takes immense pride in his
productivity and consistently exceeds
targets and expectations set by her
superiors. Her colleagues view her as highly
dedicated, efficient, and capable, but they
also notice that she tends to prioritize work
over building meaningful relationships
within the workplace.

9
All 3 of them seem to be happy in their jobs.
They are totally cool dream jobs, but they're
totally different!

It can be overwhelming 'cause it's like, how are

we supposed to figure out what our dream job
is? Are we supposed to try everything out
there until something clicks? It's not like there's
a map with a big "X marks the dream job"
spot.

As we read through this journey together, let's

debunk the myth of the singular 'dream job'
and redefine what it means to find meaningful
and fulfilling work.

But first, are you enjoying what you're into

right now?

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If it entertains you now but will bore
you someday, its a distraction. Keep
looking.

11
 Shelf Life
I bet everyone was super excited when your
family got their first phone. Well, I used to
wait for my father to come back from work
so, that I can play snake.io on his phone.

Now let me probe you a little -

Do you remember which was your first family

phone?
Mine was a Nokia keypad phone, can you scribble
down yours?

...........................................................................

Which phone is in your hands right now?

.............................................................................
12
13
Do you think your family phone stands a
chance against your current phone?

.............................................................................

The phone that was all the rage in the early

2000s has become obsolete and has been
surpassed by the latest technology. Once
considered the epitome of coolness and
technology gradually lost its luster. The latest
innovations emerged, offering sleek designs,
powerful features, and unprecedented
capabilities. Sadly, Nokia, the company
behind this beloved phone, struggled to keep
up with the ever-changing landscape of the
market and got washed out.

14
The phone that was all the rage in the early
2000s has become obsolete and has been
surpassed by the latest technology. Once
considered the epitome of coolness and
technology gradually lost its luster. The latest
innovations emerged, offering sleek designs,
powerful features, and unprecedented
capabilities. Sadly, Nokia, the company behind
this beloved phone, struggled to keep up with
the ever-changing landscape of the market and
got washed out.

15
There was a time when our country needed
better buildings and roads, and Civil
engineering was like the coolest kid in class
that everyone wanted to hang out with.

Then, there was another time when the

country wanted to change the way things
were made and get really good at using
machines, and that's when Mechanical
engineers became super popular.

Later on, came a big technology boom, and

everyone wanted to be a part of it. It was
like the latest fashion trend, and being a
software engineer became the new cool
thing to do!

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And who knows, there might be something
even hotter waiting around the corner, ready
to take the place of the software
engineering field.

It's like a cycle of new and exciting things

taking the spotlight over time!

While certain jobs may be currently in high

demand and deemed "hot," it is essential to
look beyond the present and anticipate how
technology advancements may impact those
roles in the future.

Learning skills that last a long time is like

having superpowers that help people adjust
to different situations and stay important in
a constantly changing world.

17
 I would leave you with one thought -

Which skill you would like to hone in your

job that can help you thrive in this changing
world.
-----------------------------------------

18
19
Stress
Me
NOT

One common thread binds us humans:

Evading Discomfort.

When things get tough, our natural instinct

is to seek comfort and safety, often opting
for the easier path instead of confronting
difficulties. This inclination significantly
influences our decisions and actions.

20
Often we associate "Stress" with negative
effects, but its important to know that stress
can also have multiple forms -

Eustress-
Motivates, focuses energy.
Is short-term.
Is perceived as within our coping abilities.
Improves performance.

21
Distress-
Causes anxiety or concern.
Can be short- or long-term
Feels unpleasant.
Decreases performance.
Can lead to mental and physical
problems.

We decided to take part in a book writing

challenge introduced by our workplace.

First few days we spent procrastinating, then

the next few days we spent collating ideas,
and by the time we started writing, one
month was about to end. Unfortunately, we
couldn't even manage to write a few pages.

22
 Given that this challenge was time-sensitive,
we received an email from Deepak, who was
in charge of the challenge, reminding us of
the tight deadlines to qualify.

How do you think we felt when we read the

email above? What kind of stress do you
think we experienced?
....................................................................................

23
Seeing those deadlines made us feel
stressed and made us doubt the time we
had left, especially considering the little
progress we had made in the past month.
But this constraint also motivated us to put
in diligent efforts to complete the book on
time.

I wonder if I would have been writing this if

we were not put under the stress of short
deadlines.

So how do you really know if your stress at

the workplace/college is distress or eustress?

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Ask yourself a couple of questions.

Recall a past project where you were in a

leading role, experiencing various emotions
during its course. Reflect on whether you
successfully completed the project or left it
unfinished.

If you were able to create positive

memories and breakthrough moments
(AHA memories), the stress during that
project worked for you positively.

However, if looking back, you find it to be

a challenging and negative experience, it
likely caused distress, making you want to
avoid similar situations in the future.

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For those who were able to experience
AHA moments amidst adversity, their
driving force lies in embracing difficult
situations and finding inspiration in the
face of challenges. These individuals seek
out dynamic, high-intensity roles that fuel
their innate desire for growth and
achievement.

If you find that the toll of the process

outweighs the ultimate reward, it may be
more beneficial for you to seek a career
with fewer surprises and a slower pace.
Consider exploring professions that offer a
more stable and predictable environment.

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When presented with another challenging
project, would you take it or pass?

.....................................................................................

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28
Money
Plant

Making money is not a thing you do -

its a skill you learn

-- The Almanack, Naval Ravikant

29
I am not here to convince you to settle for
less money. In fact, money falls under the
utmost necessity to live a happy life.

But how can we ensure to have a

sustainable income flow?

Taking reference from the monk of Silicon

Valley, Naval likes to think - "if I lost all my
money and you dropped me on a random
street in any English-speaking country,
within five or ten years I'd be wealthy again
because it's just a skillset I've developed that
anyone can develop."

30
Everyone emphasizes money as the ultimate
key to happiness, overshadowing discussions
about the critical skills that can help
individuals increase their earning potential.

During placements or any job lookout, our

primary focus is always to secure the highest
pay package job because that's the ultimate
indicator of success for us. In order to have
the highest packages amongst our peers, we
opt out of various ways like job hopping
after every 1-2 years and give less weightage
to the nature of work but rather focus on
how much the job offers.

I have seen people accepting the least

relevant job roles because they were offering
the most money.
31
This is where our skill development takes a
back seat.

During the ed-tech boom, many people

joined startups in the sector, including
engineers who opted for sales roles due to
the attractive incentives offered. However,
when these startups eventually failed, these
individuals faced difficulties in finding new
jobs because those jobs weren't focusing
much on their development.

For some this realization does happen but

when exactly it depends upon individuals.
Often we find people unhappy with their
well-paying job and getting frustrated
looking at their peer's growth. This at times
leads to issues like mid-life crises.

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Whereas a handful of people dare to
differentiate and take a U-turn early in their
careers.

I received this email from one of our ex-

employee who interned with our company.
And later got placed with an investment
banking giant offering him a shiny package
and a brand name associated with it.

33
He joined the fanciest possible firm to realize
that even though he owns a reputed lifestyle
now but he was not able to contribute and
learn much in his work. The environment
didn't have much for him to learn. He felt just
like another cog in the machine. And then he
decided to quit.

Well, there is no defined path to maximize

your earning potential but can always have a
choice.

The easiest choice will always be securing the

highest income.

And the long-term choice to build wealth

could be focusing on skill development in the
early stage of your career in order to

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maximize money exponentially in the later
life.

Year 1

Year 2

Money+ Year 3
Skills

Consider if a health emergency happens in

your family today which requires immediate
surgery. And you have 2 options for the
treatment of your beloved - a not-so-
familiar doctor from a nearby hospital or a
seasoned surgeon who charges 10x the fees
but has mastery in his field.

35
I am pretty sure you'd be OK to pay 10x to
the skilled surgeon because he comes along
with the required skill set to treat the
patient. He knows how to operate critically
in time-sensitive situations.

Which is making him earn 10x what the rest

of the doctors are earning. Do you think he
would have earnt this much without the
specialized skillset?

This principle applies universally in any

workplace.

After all, Warren Buffet chose to do his first internship

under Benjamin Graham without any compensation, for
the lifelong wealth-generating skillset he would acquire
from him.

36
Which job is best suited for making
money for you?

Job offering you with quick money

Job offering you some money +

wealth-building skills for a lifetime

37
 Relationships

Ravi - Hey Malti! You always

seem quiet and
unapproachable at work

Malti - Thats because I'm here to

get paid not to make friends.
So, I do my job. Get paid. Go
home.

Well, there's no wrong or right way of doing

work relationships.
38
Tanya and Malti were college classmates
who both landed jobs at a Hedge fund.

Malti being a loner found satisfaction in

her work environment, which was just as
she had hoped for. It was a fast-paced,
task-oriented job, and people would come
in, work hard, and then leave. By the end
of the day, everyone was exhausted, and
there was little time for socializing with
colleagues or spending time with family
and friends. Despite this, Malti felt content
after work, as she felt a sense of
achievement at the end of each day.

On the other hand, Taya struggled to fit in

with the environment. Everyone was so
focused on achieving theirtargets that
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there was hardly any time for personal
connections or conversations.

After returning home, Tanya was too

exhausted to spend quality time with her
friends and family. She also found it
challenging to make friends at the office
due to the intense work atmosphere.

Realizing that she couldn't thrive in such an

environment, Tanya was fortunate to receive
an offer from a consulting firm. On her first
day there, people greeted her warmly and
tried to strike up conversations as she was
new. They made her feel comfortable, and
soon, she formed a group of colleagues with
whom she would have lunch and go out
after work.

40
Working in this welcoming environment
made the transition easy for Tanya, and she
found herself going home happy. She
understood that for her, a job that simply
paid well wasn't enough; she also needed a
workplace where she could feel connected to
people. It became her safe place to work.

Thanks to the open work environment and

the positive connections Tanya established
within the team, her soft skills were soon
recognized, leading to significant growth in
his career. In addition to her initial role, she
began taking client calls, assuming
leadership positions, and advancing up the
hierarchy.

41
Whom do you resonate with the most?

Malti
Rishav

On average, a person dedicates half of

their waking hours each day to their
work. Which make its even more crucial
for a human to have a healthy workplace
relationships.

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43
 Saftey Net
Can you think of the first time you tried
riding a bicycle.

Do you recall who was there to help you

learn?
...............................................

Did your cycle have supporting wheels?

...................................................

What if we removed the person or the

supporting wheels from your bicycle
learning experience? Would it be as easy as
it was?

The person there to help you learn and the

supporting wheels acted as a safety net,
providing the necessary support to
44
help you overcome your fears. They
ensured that no matter how uncertain or
difficult your first attempts were, they
wouldn't let you fall.

This feeling of security was present in all

the new things you tried, like using a knife
in the kitchen, sharing your live location
on your first Uber ride, and more, as self-
doubt crept in.

Just like having a safety net when

learning to ride a bike can make you feel
more confident and secure, having a
safety net at the workplace can provide
peace of mind and support enabling
growth.

45
The pandemic introduced me to the
significance of having a safety net at
work.

Amidst the pandemic, many industries

faced uncertainty and had to resort to
extensive layoffs due to the looming
recession. My near and dear ones were
struggling to secure their jobs. I was
receiving numerous company issued list of
people finding jobs because of the layoffs

Where I found myself in a comparably

safe spot working for an Intellectual
Property firm. I belong to an industry of
innovation that offers remarkable
resilience.

46
Innovation is a constant process that
continues to evolve regardless of
economic conditions. During periods of
economic prosperity, companies invest
heavily in research and development
(R&D), leading to significant growth in
intellectual property (IP).

However, when faced with economic

challenges, companies that have strong IP
assets try to adapt to the situation. They
explore alternative ways to generate
revenue, such as licensing their intellectual
property to other businesses. Leading to
more business inflow for IP consulting
firms like ours.

47
As a result, we experienced the pandemic
with the reassurance of relative job safety,
setting us apart from many others who
were constantly worrying about their
employment.

My job safety was not the only thing my

workplace prioritized; they went above and
beyond to ensure a stress-free environment
despite the challenging circumstances. They
extended their support not only to us but
also to our family members, providing
essential amenities during country
lockdowns. In times of need, they arranged
online hospital assistance for those who
required it.

48
Moreover, our salaries were pre-credited,
giving us the peace of mind to handle any
family emergencies. The team members
were always ready to lend a helping hand,
filling in for each other when required.
This level of care and support from our
employers not only earned our loyalty but
also that of our families. It's more than just a
safety net; it's a genuine sense of belonging
and security.

49
 Can you think of a recession-
resistant industry for yourself?

--------------------------------

50
Where
the magic
Happens!

51
 "Money buys nice
things. Safety.
Security. Shiny things.
Things get boring
though, and the
insatiable thirst to
upgrade kicks in if
you don't nip it in the
bud and work on
contentment instead.
That's the real goal."
-Unknown

52
Why would you work if you have all the
money and assets to live a prosperous life?

Based on studies done at MIT and other

universities, higher pay and bonuses result
in better performance within the workplace
only if tasks consist of basic mechanical
skills. They found that this was true when it
comes to problems with a defined set of
steps and a single answer. If the task
involved cognitive skills, decision-making,
creativity, or higher-order thinking, higher
pay resulted in lower performance.

Once basic needs are met, self-

actualization becomes the ultimate
aspiration. At this stage, a person starts
seeking a sense of purpose.

53
Remember, self-actualization at work can
vary greatly from person to person, and
what drives one individual may be different
from what motivates another. Once
extrinsic motivational factors are fulfilled a
person starts seeking fulfillment of intrinsic
motivations.

The motivations behind our actions can

differ, ranging from a desire for mastery to
the search for purpose in our work. Let us
try and understand with some examples.

54
Tailored for Pro-Gamers

Among all the games you've experienced

so far, which one was the most challenging
yet exciting game?

--------------------------------------

During the course of play, there must have

been times when you felt so stuck in a
mission that you banged your head in
frustration and stopped playing. day.

55
 However, you still started playing again the
next day. Because throughout that play you
wanted to attain ultimate mastery over that
game. And the pursuit of mastery is a
powerful motivator.

It propels individuals to work diligently,

embrace challenges, and continuously
improve. The journey becomes its own
reward, and the joy of progress and growth
becomes a source of motivation. Just like a
puzzle solver relishes each piece falling into
place, those on the path to mastery find
satisfaction in overcoming challenges,
gaining new skills, and improving steadily.

56
 “The monkeys solved the
puzzle simply because they
found it gratifying to solve
puzzles. They enjoyed it.
The joy of the task was its
own reward.”

― Daniel H. Pink

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Purpose

Then comes the Purpose where you're

working on something for a good cause or
something that's going to help the people
ultimately.

Do you know people who donate blood at

donation camps? What is their external
motivation behind doing this act? Ultimately,
they will lose blood and go through some
discomfort but still, they will do it again. For
people who do donate blood, the purpose is
indeed the desire to help humanity and
contribute to the well-being of others.

The same spirit can be seen in dedicated

volunteers on platforms like Wikipedia and

58
Quora, who tirelessly contribute their
knowledge to empower others without
seeking any benefits.

They not only edit for free, they also donate

to Wikipedia, because they are doing it for a
bigger cause, to server humanity with correct
knowledge. This is the power of attaching
human motivations to products.

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Ultimately, having a purpose at work or in
life empowers individuals to make a positive
impact, inspiring them to go beyond their
limits and contribute meaningfully to their
organizations and society.

Identifying your purpose at the workplace at

times is not an easy journey. It starts with
reflecting on your core values, recognizing
your strengths, and acknowledging the
activities that fuel your passion.

For instance, if someone is developing a

food delivery app, their purpose is not
about writing the most aesthetically
pleasing code or creating a visually stunning
app.

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Instead, it's to establish a seamless
connection between a hungry customer and
a budding restaurant capable of delivering
the comforting essence of home-cooked
meals.
That's where the true magic happens!

By prioritizing the emotional connection and

nostalgia associated with home-cooked
meals, they will be able to create a 7-star
experience for their customers.

Purpose-driven endeavors carry a unique

essence that sets them apart, making them
truly exceptional.

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"If you have a strong purpose
in life, you don't have to be
pushed. Your passion will drive
you there."

- Roy T Bennet

62
Elements of a Job

I often visit various colleges for conducting

placement drives. While taking interviews,
my first consistent question to candidates is,
"What do you seek from a job?"
Each time, I am amused by their answers. It
begins with the basic elements like salary
and then extends to more complex desires,
such as self-esteem, and a sense of purpose.

And these desires vary from individual to

individual.

Taking an analogy on how we attempt

college projects. When students work on
projects, their motivations and goals vary.

63
They do what's necessary to meet the
requirements but might not put in extra effort.
On the other hand, there are students who
view projects as opportunities to learn and
challenge themselves. They are interested in
gaining knowledge and skills beyond just
getting a passing grade.

For a few students, excelling academically is a

way to gain recognition and social status
among their peers. They work hard to be at
the top and prove their abilities.

Then, there are those who see projects as a

chance to achieve mastery and excellence.
They have a passion for the subject and strive
to produce outstanding work.

64
Net-net, different students approach projects
differently. Some focus on passing, some on
learning, some on recognition, and some on
mastery. Understanding these diverse
motivations helps educators design projects
that can engage and inspire students in
various ways.

Similarly, understanding the motivators in

jobs for an individual helps identify their best
tailor-made job.

Let's assume these motivators as elements of

the value that an ideal job can offer. With
this idea, it's going to be worth briefly
comparing Maslow's ideas with our own
concept of an ideal job.

65
66
These are briefly defined as some of the
elements of value for an individual fit into
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.

Let's try and understand them from the

perspectives of Jai, Malti, and Tanya you met
in the book, each of whom possesses distinct
elements of value regarding their job.

Malti's primary goal in seeking a job is to

earn a substantial income and lead a happy
life, making money her elemental priority, as
it caters to her physiological needs.

Jai, on the other hand, seeks both a fulfilling

family life and a rewarding professional
experience. While money holds importance for
him, he also values safety and a supportive
social network at work.

67
68
Tanya, as we have seen, continuously seeks
purpose in her work. Hence, self-
actualization and esteem take precedence in
her list of essential factors for a job.

But it is also worth noting that it may be

practically impossible for a job to score well
in all the elements of value. Just as these
three individuals have different elements of
value, jobs themselves have the potential to
offer a diverse array of values to their
employees. Some companies excel in
providing various elements of value, while
others may cover only a few.

These patterns are intriguing in their own

right and can help individuals to navigate
towards their dream job.

69
Remember just like the colors of a rainbow,
the spectrum of values in a job spans wide,
encompassing various shades of ambition,
purpose, and fulfillment. And there is no one-
size-fits-all solution. Instead, the key lies in
recognizing our intrinsic motivations and
aspirations and finding the right balance
between our primary elements of value and
opportunities.

You can begin by -

Identifying your top elements of values in

a job (e.g. creativity, stability, purpose).

Analyzing potential roles and

organizations through the lens of your
key elements.

70
 Stop reading, and call your
dad/granddad who have experienced job
culture and ask them -

If you lookback in time now, can you tell

me what was the most fulfilling part of
your job?

71
Most probably, the answers they provide
will fall somewhere in the upper level of
Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Reflecting
more on self-actualization.

At this point in our lives, most of us

prioritize basic needs like job security and
material comforts. We seek out stable
careers that provide enough money for a
nice home and vacations. In short, the
bottom of the pyramid.

However, as we grow older and advance

in our careers, our motivations tend to shift
from fundamental to more meaningful
goals. Eventually, we may discover our true
calling in a deeply fulfilling line of work. Its
like moving up the pyramid.

72
Ask yourself, if your basic needs were taken
care of, would you continue doing the work
you're doing now?

When choosing a job now, we should consider

whether it will continue providing a sense of
purpose and satisfaction later on as you move
up the pyramid.

As our focus evolves beyond securing basic

necessities, will this work align with higher
aspirations of personal growth and making a
difference? The right job today should offer a
lasting sense of meaning, not just temporary
pleasures.

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A job that evolves as you do. That is going to
stay viable in each vertical of the pyramid.
Can it be considered a Dream job in the true
sense?

74
When work grows as you
grow, you've found your
calling.

75
As we pen down the last page, we hope you
will be able to take some wisdom nuggets
from this book and let them guide you to
pave your own unique career path.

May you choose your roles wisely.

Until then,
Happy Hustling!
Vaishali and Rupali,
Lifelong Career Matchmakers

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