The Dream Job That Wasn’t

I’ve had a fantastic career which I am thankful for. My dream job is to be a pilot which I accept I will never do and can imagine the aspects that make it “just a job”.

More relatable, in my experience, is the dream company. Accepting that you are committed to software development as a career different companies then take the place of a dream job. Google with all their perks of working on site. 37Signals / Basecamp and the remote culture. Fog Creek and “everyone gets an office with a door”.

What I’ve found is that at the end of the day they are still just jobs. It’s the management and the coworkers that make a place great.

I wish I could figure out how to interview for that because it is far more elusive to detect accurately than all the technical interview hoops we all love to complain about.

Re: The Dream Job That Wasn’t

#5

Post by mhh__ » Tue, Jan 19, 2021, 12:32 PM UTC

leetrout wrote: post #4

I’ve had a fantastic career which I am thankful for. My dream job is to be a pilot which I accept I will never do and can imagine the aspects that make it “just a job”. More relatable, in my experience, is the dream company. Accepting that you are committed to software development as a career different companies then take the place of a dream job. Google with all their perks of working on site. 37Signals / Basecamp a…

Having recently got hooked on DCS, I've subtly fallen in love with the idea of being a fighter pilot. I'm the right age to apply, but my eyes aren't even close to good enough, so I'm so glad I've had that particular epiphany after starting a degree and having other interests and all that jazz.

Re: The Dream Job That Wasn’t

#6

Post by bumby » Tue, Jan 19, 2021, 12:43 PM UTC

mhh__ wrote: post #5

leetrout wrote: post #4

I’ve had a fantastic career which I am thankful for. My dream job is to be a pilot which I accept I will never do and can imagine the aspects that make it “just a job”. More relatable, in my experience, is the dream company. Accepting that you are committed to software development as a career different companies then take the place of a dream job. Google with all their perks of working on site. 37Signals / Basecamp a…

Having recently got hooked on DCS, I've subtly fallen in love with the idea of being a fighter pilot. I'm the right age to apply, but my eyes aren't even close to good enough, so I'm so glad I've had that particular epiphany after starting a degree and having other interests and all that jazz.

If you’re in the US, I believe most military services now allow LASIK and PRK

Re: The Dream Job That Wasn’t

#7

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Jan 19, 2021, 12:44 PM UTC

mhh__ wrote: post #5

leetrout wrote: post #4

I’ve had a fantastic career which I am thankful for. My dream job is to be a pilot which I accept I will never do and can imagine the aspects that make it “just a job”. More relatable, in my experience, is the dream company. Accepting that you are committed to software development as a career different companies then take the place of a dream job. Google with all their perks of working on site. 37Signals / Basecamp a…

Having recently got hooked on DCS, I've subtly fallen in love with the idea of being a fighter pilot. I'm the right age to apply, but my eyes aren't even close to good enough, so I'm so glad I've had that particular epiphany after starting a degree and having other interests and all that jazz.

[deleted]

Re: The Dream Job That Wasn’t

#8

Post by mhh__ » Tue, Jan 19, 2021, 12:46 PM UTC

bumby wrote: post #6

mhh__ wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having recently got hooked on DCS, I've subtly fallen in love with the idea of being a fighter pilot. I'm the right age to apply, but my eyes aren't even close to good enough, so I'm so glad I've had that particular epiphany after starting a degree and having other interests and all that jazz.

If you’re in the US, I believe most military services now allow LASIK and PRK

I'm in the UK (I think the US has more reserve slots than the RAF has active duty), and I think my eyes are probably beyond saving in that regard, unfortunately.

Re: The Dream Job That Wasn’t

#9

Post by drsim » Tue, Jan 19, 2021, 1:09 PM UTC

leetrout wrote: post #4

I’ve had a fantastic career which I am thankful for. My dream job is to be a pilot which I accept I will never do and can imagine the aspects that make it “just a job”. More relatable, in my experience, is the dream company. Accepting that you are committed to software development as a career different companies then take the place of a dream job. Google with all their perks of working on site. 37Signals / Basecamp a…

> It’s the management and the coworkers that make a place great.

I've stayed in mediocre jobs because of a great team, and left 'dream' jobs because of people I don't like working with.

> I wish I could figure out how to interview for that [...]

I can get a good vibe in interviews, but it's unreliable, especially remote. As is 'we do drinks at 3pm on Friday'.

Re: The Dream Job That Wasn’t

#10

Post by llaolleh » Tue, Jan 19, 2021, 1:12 PM UTC

I agree that there are mundane and boring aspects of any job. But if you can confidently say I love my job you're at a good place.

That said, I can never tell if people who say they love their job actually love their job or are lying to themselves.