Sipping martinis, seducing beautiful women, driving fast cars, fighting the evils of international terrorism - all in a day's work for Bond: James Bond.

But then there's the part you don't see in the movies: Endless paperwork and debriefings; Long nights poring over dossiers on petty Algerian criminals; Q's constant whining about wear and tear on the gadgets; And that 98% tax bracket in the UK? It's enough to make Bond dream about one day becoming an insurance agent in Omaha!

It's been said before: Not everything about a dream job is perfectly "dreamy." Like just about everything else in life, a career represents a composite of tradeoffs. Whichever path you choose it can't be happy fun time everyday and in every way. Fate will test you to determine if you "really" want the career you choose. 

This isn't to discourage anyone from setting out in pursuit of the perfect career. Instead, consider this a brief guide to learning whether or not your dream job is the one you really desire. 

So how can you tell which job you really, really want (as opposed to the job you just think you really, really want)? 
The answer is closer than you think: It's in your behavior! 
Answer these five questions, and try to keep your voice down if you are in public:

1. What do you do in your off hours? 
2. Will your dream job force you to give up something you love? 
3. Will your dream job lead you in a direction you might not have intended? 
4. Are you "settling"? 
5. Would you still want to do your dream job if it paid nothing? 

The way you choose to spend your free time can be a touchstone for your passions in life. I say it can be because there isn't much one can gather from "activities" like TV - watching. However, if you swear that you'd love to be a stock analyst but find yourself drawn to the wood lathe in the garage while the Wall Street Journal goes unread, it could indicate that you aren't the best judge of your own aptitudes. 

It's funny how we can lie to ourselves and fall into careers we hate. It happens all the time. In fact, vocational programs in universities excel at goading people into this very thing. To find your passion in life look beyond the social conditioning, inhibitions and fears that shape what you say. Instead, consider the implications of what you do. It speaks volumes!

2.  Will your dream job force you to surrender things near and dear to you? 

Family time and leisure are two things frequently sacrificed at the altar of ambition. But even if you've already considered these, what else might be demanded of you? Will your career as an actor or model force you to give up the pork rinds and fettucine alfredo you live for? Will the priesthood indulge your Pamela Anderson (or Richard Dean Anderson) fixation? Will your scrupulous values of truth and justice suddenly need to take a backseat after you get your real estate license? These are all questions worth asking. 

The best way to answer them is to speak frankly with those who know the field best: both current and former practitioners. Someone who chose to leave the career might be a better, more objective source than someone still active within it. Consult the professional organizations dedicated to the field of your interest: unions, associations, trade groups. Most should be able to refer you to good specimens of current and former professionals in the field. Try to have a friendly conversation with at least one of each and see if they really share your values.

3.  So once you have achieved your first objective, what's next? 

Is there a well-defined career path? As you proceed along this path, will what you love about the work just keep getting more intense, or will it gradually disappear? Are there more and more challenges for you doing the activity you enjoy, or will you be expected to take a "desk job" of some kind once you are above a certain level? How will you be regarded if you choose to stay in your initial job permanently, forgoing what others consider to be chances for advancement? Is the natural direction in your career field towards management, when you only wanted to be a technician? 

This is what many in the high-technology careers have experienced: A compulsory shift towards the management track as they reach mid-point in their careers. Management happens to be the last thing most technicians are capable of doing, hence the famous Dilbert phenomenon. In other words, is your dream job a dead-end job in disguise?

4.  Are you settling? 

Sure, just about everything in life is a compromise. But at the risk of sounding contradictory, you should always keep the target in mind: You are aiming for your dream job. This job should make you happy. If you know that you want to be a musician and you've got at least a shred of talent to develop, then be a musician! Don't settle for a job cleaning out jukeboxes and somehow convince yourself that you're working in "the music industry". How sad that would be! 

The journey towards your chosen goal will demand investment from you not only in time and money but also in other opportunities you must forsake. You shouldn't invest so deeply in anything that won't satisfy you. Not to sound too portentous here, but this is the only life you'll get. Spend it wisely.

Finally, the best way to tell if your dream job is really "you" is to consider the following: 

5.  If there were no way of making money from the activity, would you still find it rewarding enough to do for no pay? 

Would you still be passionate about it? Would you even pay to do it? In considering a career change, a comfortable living is high on most wish lists. This is a good thing, but it can't be the only thing. The reason? Money just gets spent. Chances are that within a few months following a major raise you'll be once again living at (or above) your means. Looking at the salaries paid major sports stars, it might seem that cash is a major motivator to their passionate performance. What's more likely is that A-Rod minus 250 million would still be A-Rod - and would still be a great ballplayer. Even the less-rich careers of firefighting and police work are marked by a real passion that would remain even if the participants were only volunteers. 

What you are looking for - dear FabJob seeker - is your own true profession. The word "professional" gets misused and abused these days thanks to everyone's demand for self-love regardless of what they do. What "professional" really should indicate about a person is that he's found his calling - and he's obliged to practice it publicly regardless of remuneration. Jobs are just for money. Professional satisfaction comes from a deeper source.

James Bond probably doesn't have job satisfaction issues. But then as a true professional he probably has good answers for each of questions above. Isn't it funny how great minds think alike? Now, if you'll excuse me, there's a martini with my name on it over there -shaken, not stirred. 

Bill LaBrie is a systems analyst and freelance writer living in Phoenix, Arizona. His ideal job is that of an eccentric millionaire. He has the first part down pat and is trying hard at the second.
 
 
 
 

The information you provide is only used to send an email to your friend. We will not add you or your friend to any mailing list.
 

Subscribe for  Free Career Advice

Subscribe to the FabJob newsletter and each month you'll receive valuable tips on how to break into the career of your dreams and avoid career mistakes. Plus you'll get discounts on FabJob guides. First Name: Last Name: Email: Your privacy is protected. We will not share your information with any other company. You can unsubscribe at any time.