Finding "Job Love" - Is It Even Real?
Figuring out your version of #joblove, one step (and reflection) at a time.
Hey, I’m Merry 👋 I’ve spent the last decade designing learning programs, helping people take their next career steps, and building products that support adult learning - at places like Amazon and TikTok. With a Master’s in Education from Harvard, I’m all about helping people figure out what they’re good at, what they love, and how to build careers that actually fit. This Substack is where I share advice and lessons on navigating the workplace and growing in your career.
Shortly after I graduated from college, I remember seeing a friend’s Instagram post about her new job. She had captioned it with #joblove. I was sitting with one of my close friends when we saw it, and we both had the same reaction: “Ugh, I wish we had that. Is that even real?”
Back then, the idea of loving your job felt like some mythical thing. Most of us are told to figure out our “dream job” in college, and here are the two ends of the spectrum:
I know exactly what my dream job is.
I have absolutely no idea what it is or how to find it.
But somewhere in between is the reality: it takes time to get to your dream job. It's something you uncover gradually, like following a breadcrumb trail through a forest - you don’t see the whole path at once, but each step teaches you something new. To get closer to figuring out what you want in your career (and not just finding a role that pays well or fits your resume), you need to get curious about yourself.
So, how do you find your version of #joblove?
It starts with tuning into what does and doesn’t excite you. Ask yourself:
What topics do I lose track of time reading about?
What kind of work makes me feel energized vs. drained?
When have I felt most proud of something I’ve created or done?
What do people often come to me for help with?
What do people tell me my superpowers are?
What did you love to do before people told you what paths were “practical”?
These questions help you notice patterns: your interests, your strengths, when you reach “flow”, the times when you’re so in the zone that hours pass without you noticing (learn more about the concept of “flow” here in Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s TedTalk). By figuring out who you are, what you’re good at, and what you enjoy, you are exponentially closer to getting to your dream job.
Want to go deeper? Try these:
Define Your Personal Mission
Ask yourself: “If I could help one group of people or solve one problem in the world, what would I love to work on?
Write a personal mission statement. Keep it to 1–2 sentences that anchor your "why", including your values and what matters most to you. For instance, mine is “My mission is to live with curiosity and empower people to pursue meaningful work through learning and self-discovery”.
Why it matters: Passion often follows purpose. A job aligned with your mission feels more fulfilling.
Reflect on your job to figure out your next step.
Carve out an hour of your week to list out all of the responsibilities, tasks, and skills required in your current role.
Note what you look forward to and what you would delegate if you could.
After this list is complete, do some research on a few different roles or careers that allow you to exercise the same or similar skills and responsibilities that you enjoy. You’d be surprised how many skills are transferable across different career paths! Do those career paths seem like a better fit for you? What education or experience would you need in order to get a better understanding of whether that’s a career you might move into?
Scan job board descriptions to see what excites you.
What roles and responsibilities show up again and again that makes you pause or click?
Have a "career discovery coffee" with someone.
Take time to research and learn about roles within your current career or different careers that have intrigued you.
Use LinkedIn to find people a few steps ahead of you who have jobs that intrigue you. Look at what they did before that to see how they got to where they are today. What paths did they take? Reach out to 1-2 professionals in the roles or fields that you’re interested in, and set up some time to chat with them.
Ask questions like, “What does your day-to-day look like, and what are the most important skills used in your job?”, “What do you enjoy most about your role, and what challenges do you face?” or “What steps did you take to build your career in this field?” Ask them what they actually do all day. You’ll learn about paths you didn’t know existed, and get inspired.
Run a mini project. Pick something you’re curious about and give yourself a weekend to create something around it, perhaps a craft, a mockup, a blog post, or an event. Commit to it, and then reflect on whether you liked it and what parts of it you enjoyed.
Once you know what sparks your interest, the next step is charting out how you can get from your current role to those potential roles. You don’t need a fully fleshed out ten-year plan, but you should start thinking about how to take steps in that direction. Make a plan for how you can get there, whether it’s completing a certification, going back to school, picking up new skills, or continuing to work on transferable skills that are shared between your current job and your desired job.
Start thinking about your career now
Most people still don’t know what they want to be when they “grow up” - even well into their 40s and 50s. So if you don’t have it all figured out yet, you’re not behind. You’re just starting to ask the right questions.
The earlier you get curious, the more intentional your career path will become. Instead of letting your path happen to you, you need to start planning and shaping it around what makes you feel authentic. And that’s how you get a little closer to finding your own version of #joblove.
Merry