What makes a job fulfilling?

When I worked at CIFAR, our Culture Specialist sat us down and told us to browse through her deck of cards. All of the cards had things that you might want from a job written on them: good salary, lots of vacation time.

She told us to pick five. What are the top five things you want from a job?

Now, six years later, I found the photo of the cards I selected. And honestly, I would pick the same five cards today.

Stability. My number one thing I would have in a dream job is stability. I go into each day in every job I’ve had just trying my best, and wanting to improve.

I can’t be the person who does their best and gets let go or fired because of something that was out of my control. I need that stability and security to know I have a paycheque coming, but also to know that I have some flexibility to keep learning without being punished for it.

Feeling Empowered. Challenge. Problem Solving. Okay, I guess I cheated here. It’s three cards. But I couldn’t decide between them, as they all sort of mean the same thing for me.

I want a position where I can be challenged. I wanted to feel empowered to challenge myself and solve problems. I can’t be the person who does the same thoughtless tasks from nine to five. I strive to learn and grow. And how else am I going to do that without trying new things and challenging myself?

Personal Development. See above. I want challenge. I want to grow and learn new skills. The more layered I am as a person, the more my personal life experience can contribute to a unique creative perspective! A designer who thinks the same as every other person in your organization isn’t helping anyone.

Also, work takes up so much of a person’s life. I believe that it should also be helping you to develop as a human being, otherwise — well, what’s the point?

Adventure. If you know me at all, you know that I love to travel. Not to say that travel is the only way to achieve a sense of adventure in your life, but it’s definitely a big one for me.

My dream job opportunity allows me to travel. It doesn’t have to be far. Just the opportunity to visit new places and meet new people that I’d never otherwise have experienced.

One of my favourite jobs was ten years ago, filming video interviews at Humber College. I was sent to various departments, campuses, events, and partner company locations to interview students and teachers about how hands-on experience was helping their schooling and their chances to grab a job in their field after graduation.

I never travelled outside Toronto, but the people I got to meet and the things I got to experience were invaluable.

Work-Life Balance. Like I said — work takes up so much of a person’s life. And I am not ashamed to tell anyone that I work for a paycheque. I love my job. I love what I do. I love the people I work with.

But if I had the money, I wouldn’t be going to the office. I’d be travelling the world. I’d be living my short life to its fullest. So a job that acknowledges that we are human beings with lives to live is important for me. If I get three weeks of vacation a year, I will be turning my email notifications off and getting on a plane for all of those weeks.

Thankfully… I have a job right now that actually supports all of my Fulfilling Dream Job priorities. It’s so hard to find a good match, professionally. But as of right now, I’m glad that six-years-ago Mish can look at where she’s ended up and be proud of where she landed.