What is your dream job? Lying on the beach in some tropical paradise while a generous paycheck is automatically deposited into your account? Well now that's just pure fantasy. Having a dream job doesn't necessarily mean not working hard. But it may not be as elusive as you think.

So what makes a job a dream? It generally embodies one or more elements that makes doing your job easier or better and can mean different things to different people. Here are some qualities to look for to help you find your dream job. Though it may vary between people here are some indicators :

• A dream job has built-in diversity. You don't want to have to perform the same repetitive actions all day, every day. Instead, you want a variety of tasks to keep your mind sharp and keep you interested. Look for a job with a consulting firm where you are always taking on new projects for different clients.
• Work/Life Balance
• Dream job would be one in which your position, responsibilities and salary grew with you.
• Higher earning potential – Not just high fixed salary, some companies have high performance linked variable.
• Using vacation time is applauded
• Part-time flexibility

Post Joining Dissonance

After having decided on a career switch people tend to judge their employer on the first day itself. There is a similar process that new joinees go though in a new organisation similar to Philip Kotlers “post purchase dissonance”. Lets call this “post joining dissonance”.

This happens when a new employee joins a company and hears the experience/salary of his friend in another company or compares with his old employer etc. Companies realising the same have detailed induction programmes for new joinees, but some companies even fail to have a cubicle allocated to the new joinee.

Dissonance and frustrations set in fast as you are moving out of their comfort zone and you set the expectations from the new employer is very high.

Firstly you should realise that you are the person who knows how best to develop your career and that you should give yourself time before you judge, if you have made the right move. It is in your own interest to develop a career history that shows commitment to your employers and if you have to do that you have to behave responsibly.

You should have realistic expectations about the new employer. Whether your employer have a formal induction programme/ induction kit or not having patience and giving positive feedback to the new employer is the best way. While giving feedback make sure you don’t offend your new manager and make him regret, hiring you, at the first place.