how to get the job of your dreams

It's a feat few people ever accomplish. Here are some suggestions from those who have -- a designer, a professional video gamer, a stand-up comedian, a musical producer/performer, and an adventure columnist. The average American works about 34 hours a week -- not an insignificant portion of one's life. It's no wonder then that many of us have embarked on what can often seem an unending quest to find a job that makes us truly happy.

"There's heaps of research out there that shows that the quality of your work affects your well-being and mental health. This has spillover effects for your life outside of work," says Professor Sharon Parker, Director of the Institute of Work Psychology at the University of Sheffield. She emphasizes that money is not usually the sole motivating factor behind why people choose to stay in a particular job; more important is whether it's challenging, exciting and stimulating.

As the work force expands and expectations spiral, the quest to find a job one is passionate about is gaining increasing significance. To help you in your search, we decided to talk to some people who've managed to land the job of their dreams and see if they have any advice. One thing they agree on: you've got to think big.
Pam Greene - Senior Design Innovator, Nike Considered

What she does: A nineteen-year Nike veteran, Greene's involvement in the company's relatively new Considered Group goes back to November of last year. Greene's work consists primarily of developing sustainable innovations to help Nike reduce its environmental footprint.

Why she loves it: "It's a true synthesis of a biology background with an innovation and design background." Further, Nike's ethos of educating designers by sending them all around the world offers Greene the ability to travel and to keep expanding her knowledge base. Last winter she spent seven weeks in Tokyo, absorbing the marketplace and the aesthetics there. She has also been sent to the beaches of Brazil to study sand sports.

Her career path: With a strong educational background in botany, Greene's transition into Nike was practically a straight shot. Her first job was at Stanford University's department of plant ecology, where she studied ecosystems in the California foothills, a position she enjoyed but wasn't completely satisfied with because it lacked the creativity she craved. She got her interview with Nike through a friend.

Her advice: Greene suggests that students, particularly potential designers, take as broad a range of classes as possible. "An indirect path to where you eventually want to arrive may be better than taking a direct route. As a designer, it's beneficial to make oneself as eclectic and interdisciplinary as possible… Because while you're studying algae or even sheep diseases, you never know what information you might get and how that might end up influencing your design work someday."
Fatal1ty (Johnathan Wendel) - Professional Video Gamer

What he does: A professional video gamer and 12-time world champion, Fatal1ty is also the exclusive commentator for the Championship Gaming Series and the global spokesperson for the league. When prepping for a tournament, he trains for hours a day and watches videos of himself in action. On a typical day he hangs with gamers, trains and practices with them, and goes to the TV studio where he interviews them. As a commentator, he talks about gaming strategy, trying to educate people on TV. At 26, Fatal1ty has had his own company for 5 years, making keyboards, headphones, mouse pads and other products for gamers.

Why he loves it: As he says, Fatal1ty can "never get enough" of what he does. While the pro-gamer admits that it is hard being on the road so much, away from his family and friends, the upside is that he has a friend in every port, and knows people across Europe, Asia, and the United States.

His career path: Fatal1ty started playing games when he was 4 or 5 years old. The first game he played was Ikari Warriors. He also played Mario Brothers and Flight Simulators. He professes an early interest in competitive sports -- "that's what got me to where I am today. There's definitely a connection between athletics and gaming; every skill one needs in a traditional sport is the same thing in the games I play: reflexes, timing, strategies, hand-eye coordination."

After playing a few tournaments in his hometown and later around the country, Fatal1ty participated in his first professional tournament when he was 18, bagging third place among players from around the world. He then got invited to Sweden to represent the U.S., and at the age of 18 he became world champion.

His advice: Fatal1ty recommends that potential gamers immerse themselves in the industry: play online tournaments, watch demos, and go to LAN parties to network. People also need to be prepared for hard work. "People who think they should just get things for who they are, are the people who don’t make it… You have to have that extra drive and effort to follow your passion."

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