Hold out for dream job and risk unemployment - or should I compromise?

[MrGrieves]

I'm faced with a choice and I wondered what other people would do.

Basically, I have spent the last few years retraining (at great expense!) in order that I could have a chance of getting in to the area of work that is my real dream. It's a very competitive field though and having completed my training, I am having a lot of trouble getting a job.

In the meanwhile, I have been offered another opportunity. It is reasonably interesting work, fairly well paid (better than my dream would be), incredibly flexible ... but not what I so wanted to do.

If I don't take it I risk being unemployed for an indefinite period with all the obvious financial side effects (although we could survive) and there is no guarantee that I will eventually get a job in my dream area. But if I do take it, I pretty much rule out the chances of ever working in my dream area as this new job will take me and my CV in a different direction.

I don't know what to do! Should you always hold out for your dream or is compromise the sensible option here? Has anyone else been in a similar position? I do realise that having a job offer at all is fortunate in these fairly grim economic times so don't want to sound ungrateful!

You don't sound ungrateful. That is a very difficult decsion to make.

I wonder if you are right about ruling out the chances of working in your dream area? If you are passionate about it and keep up your contacts in the area, might you be able to pursue something in 6 months or a year? No job is permanent after all.

As regards compromise, personally I believe we attach an awful lot of weight to the concept of 'dreams'. 'Dream husband/house/holiday/job' etc. In fact nothing is ever perfect.

It could be that what you currently see as a compromise actually works out better because of the flexibility you mention and the financial stability.

What a dilema, MrGrieves. My dream job is CEO with a charity, but I'm stuck in Social Care, so I am trustee of a charity in a different sector, as a hobby, and work for a Social Care Charity ( though not on the charity side). I'm trying to use this experience to take me in the right direction. Is there anything on a voluntary basis you could do to give experience on dream job front, or any organisation you could get involved with?

i don't understand why it would rule out the dream job - surely time in a job is better than a lengthy period of unemployment on anyone's cv?

think laterally, take the jon and use its flexibility to see how else you can keep your iron in the fire [metaphorically] with your passion, through voluntary work, more training, whatever.

Sorry, I'm going to vote for pragmitism here - you've already stated that you have had difficulty getting a job in your dream area. If it was me, I would take the job offer but continue to look for any opportunities that came up. It's not an all or nothing job scenario and the bills still need paying! Plus, being employed always gives you an edge over someone who isn't - you're more confident and less desperate!

Thanks everyone! The reason why taking the 'compromise position' would possibly rule out the dream job is that the latter requires very specific training and experience and not much else would contribute towards that other than the job itself, IYSWIM. But you're right, unemployment never looks ideal does it! Compromise it is ... I start in January. Thanks for answering my dilemma!