Firefighter, politician, teacher or doctor. All of these professions are examples of a child's dreams of what they want to be when they grow up, and according to a recent LinkedIn study, their lofty aspirations are not too far from reality.
Dreams Come to Life
In its survey, LinkedIn questioned more than 8,000 professionals about what their career goals were when they were children and asked how many stuck to their aspirations. Approximately 30 per cent of Canadians answered that they either currently have their dream job or work in a career related to it.
"The dream jobs we aspire to as children are a window into our passions and talents," Nicole Williams, a career expert at LinkedIn, told Techvibes. "Identifying and understanding those passions are key to improving our performance and enjoyment of the jobs we currently do, even if they aren't specific to the careers we dreamed of as kids."
Happiness is Key
Of all characteristics of a dream job, taking pleasure in your work was the highest ranked, with more than 70 per cent stating it as a top priority. Surprisingly, only 6 per cent responded with a high salary as the most important aspect of the job, according to the news outlet.
Find the Right Path
Everyone's long-term aspiration is different - it could be becoming a computer graphic desinger, business professional or legal assistant. Whatever the field may be, all students need to do is keep their attention on the steps they must take to get there. Typically, the first move is getting an education in their career field of choice, such as a career training program at a local college. These types of programs are ideal for those who know exactly what type of profession they want to pursue, because they create a course agenda that helps students find the most efficient way to get into their desired careers.
One beneficial part of many of these programs is the practicum, which places students in real-life work situations to give them a feel for what their careers will be like after graduation.
Those ready to start training for a career can choose from a range of programs, including Legal Administrative Assistant and Paralegal at Reeves College. For more information, fill out the form on the right.