My Goal is NOT the “Dream Job”
Is instructional design the dream job? My goal is not the dream job because I think that is a fantasy. My goal is to not actively hate my job. Enjoying work is a perk.
I have a very jaded opinion of capitalist America. I think corporate landlords should be regulated, I believe the pay disparity between CEOs and employees is far too vast, and I feel that benefits such as parental leave, healthcare, and paid-time off should be universal for all workers regardless of employment status. Don’t get me started on labor unions (in a nutshell: gimme more of these, please).
That being said, I am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoy “doing” instructional design every day. All of my direct line managers have been supportive, trusting, and competent. My colleagues have all been pleasant to work with. When my remote position was recalled into a hybrid arrangement, I left and got a new remote job.
A few days ago I said to my partner, “I can’t believe I get paid to do this!” because I was genuinely having so much fun creating product demos in Camtasia. A career in instructional design far exceeds my goal to tolerate my job to fund my real life dreams.
When I left teaching my expectations for my day job were low, so I have been lucky. I hope my insights into instructional design careers are helpful for transitioning teachers.
Here’s some advice from this realist: When you land that first gig outside of the classroom, aim for a job you can temporarily stomach. Get your foot in the door in a new industry, build up some experience, and then you can always switch to a better fit.
