What do you think?
Rate this book
Test-Drive Your Dream Job: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding and Creating the Work You Love
In TEST-DRIVE YOUR DREAM JOB, you'll discover how you can identify, explore and experience your dream job, and how or if you want to pursue it. Author Brian Kurth, founder of VocationVacations, offers professional, personal and financial perspectives on how to transition into a new career and turn your dream job into a reality without risking your current job or jeopardizing your financial stability.
By following this practical and encouraging self-discovery guide, you will gain a better understanding of who you are now; what fulfills you both personally and professionally; how to get from Point A to Point B on the road to your dream job; or perhaps satisfy your curiosity and gain a deeper appreciation for where you are now in your life and your career.
Brian Kurth is a sought-after expert on how to pursue and attain one's dream job. He has shared his wit and wisdom in appearances on NBC's TODAY Show, CNN, and FOX News, and has been featured in articles in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and Fortune Magazine. Many more regularly turn to Brian for his comments, advice and insights. A native of Madison, Wisconsin, Kurth lives in Portland, Oregon.
By following this practical and encouraging self-discovery guide, you will gain a better understanding of who you are now; what fulfills you both personally and professionally; how to get from Point A to Point B on the road to your dream job; or perhaps satisfy your curiosity and gain a deeper appreciation for where you are now in your life and your career.
Brian Kurth is a sought-after expert on how to pursue and attain one's dream job. He has shared his wit and wisdom in appearances on NBC's TODAY Show, CNN, and FOX News, and has been featured in articles in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and Fortune Magazine. Many more regularly turn to Brian for his comments, advice and insights. A native of Madison, Wisconsin, Kurth lives in Portland, Oregon.
237 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
3 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 2, 2018
Practical advice on "test-driving" a job or business idea before committing to it, by spending time with a mentor who already has your desired position. The book contains plenty of specific tips for those seeking employment or seeking to start a business. I didn't find the book as insightful as I hoped, based on the premise. The stories of the lives of the author and job seekers are longer than they need to be to make their point; I skimmed most of them. I'm glad the author didn't aggressively pitch his company throughout the book, as is too common with business books.
This book was written by Brian Kurth, the founder of VocationVacations (which became PivotPlanet), 3 years after he founded that company. In those 3 years he helped hundreds of people explore dream careers with "vocation vacations."
Kurth explains that the goal isn't necessarily to find your dream job, but to get closer to it by exploring one option. He says that, "Finding a dream career is an incremental process. It may take two or three vocations to figure out what job is right for you. Each one will show you more of what you want and don't want and take you closer to your goal."
Kurth also explains that test-driving a job can change your perspective on your current job, and help you realize that the source of your dissatisfaction isn't your job. He says, "Simply going through the process requires you to assess your life, take stock of what's important, and create a vision for the life you want. … So whether you decide to pursue the career you test-drove, or a different career, or to make no career change at all, consider your vocation a success."
I was disappointed when Kurth seemed to defend, if not promote, the idea of leaving your spouse to pursue your dream job. He says, "They feel a conflict between their spouse or partner and their dream job, I can't tell them what to do or what is right. All I can do is ask these questions: What does the deepest part of you desire? Does your partner understand just how important this is to you? How can you be truest to yourself?" The book contains a few examples of people leaving their spouses or partners to pursue a job or business, and this is presented as a positive career move. I was glad that Kurth later advocated a more spouse-friendly outlook: "We have spouses and/or family members whose needs matter enormously, and we can't just decide to run away … A part of our strategy, therefore, has to be working with our loved ones to get the opportunities we feel we need."
Notes
Vocationing
Even a dream job can get boring. It's not always new and fresh.
How to identify your passions (what you want in your dream job):
• Create a collage of things that give you pleasure, things you want in life, things that define you.
• Search online for info on avocational interests.
• Review college catalogs.
• Think about what sparked your passion as a child. Ask others who knew you then.
Why to take vocation vacation
• "Test-drive" dream job before committing.
• Find mentor.
• Learn ins and outs of business.
• Make industry contacts.
• Satisfy curiosity about "road not taken."
• Gain perspective on current job, lifestyle, future.
Fear
Dream job seeker success factors:
• Clear vision of what you want to do
• Optimism
• Comfort with failure
• High self standard
Research
Questions to ask your mentor
• What is typical lifestyle?
• What money to they make initially? After several years?
• What initial investment is required?
• What education or training is required?
• What are industry trends?
• Is industry expanding? Shrinking? Saturated?
• What are biggest business challenges?
Finding a Mentor
What to look for in a mentor
• Passion for work
• Expertise in field
• Teaching ability
• Longevity in job (ideally 5+ years)
• Connection (someone with whom you "click")
Email intro to mentor
Subject: [prospect's name], will you be my mentor?
Questions for mentor
• What skills do I need?
• Based on what you know about me, do you think I'll be able to succeed?
• How many hours do you work each day? Has that changed over time?
• How do you balance work and nonwork life?
• What does the required education cost?
• What does it cost to get set up in this job?
• What are biggest expenses? Most unpredictable expenses? Hardest to control expenses?
• What can I expect to earn at first? Later?
• How long did it take you to break even? Earn a profit?
• What were your biggest money mistakes?
• What has helped you maximize revenue and reduce expenses?
• Could I see your business plan? Annual budget?
• What do I need to know about equipment, purchasing, suppliers, technical processes?
• What ongoing training do you recommend?
• What mistakes can I learn from?
• How do you attract customers? What works well? What doesn't?
• How do you determine prices?
• What were your biggest marketing successes? Mistakes?
• What were your biggest surprises?
• What was your hardest time?
• What is hardest for you on an ongoing basis?
• What would you do differently if starting over?
• What is biggest obstacle you think I'll face?
• What can you imagine me doing?
• Do you have contacts who can help me?
• Are there other people you recommend I speak to?
• Are there organizations I should join (or avoid)?
During test-drive, ask yourself:
• Do I love being here?
• Is this the work I'm meant to do?
• Does part of me sing while doing even the drudgery parts of job?
4 C's of career change
• Cause: sense of cause or meaning
• Community: enjoy people you work with
• Capacities: ability to use your core competencies
• Considerations: must meet needs for pay, commute, schedule, etc.
This book was written by Brian Kurth, the founder of VocationVacations (which became PivotPlanet), 3 years after he founded that company. In those 3 years he helped hundreds of people explore dream careers with "vocation vacations."
Kurth explains that the goal isn't necessarily to find your dream job, but to get closer to it by exploring one option. He says that, "Finding a dream career is an incremental process. It may take two or three vocations to figure out what job is right for you. Each one will show you more of what you want and don't want and take you closer to your goal."
Kurth also explains that test-driving a job can change your perspective on your current job, and help you realize that the source of your dissatisfaction isn't your job. He says, "Simply going through the process requires you to assess your life, take stock of what's important, and create a vision for the life you want. … So whether you decide to pursue the career you test-drove, or a different career, or to make no career change at all, consider your vocation a success."
I was disappointed when Kurth seemed to defend, if not promote, the idea of leaving your spouse to pursue your dream job. He says, "They feel a conflict between their spouse or partner and their dream job, I can't tell them what to do or what is right. All I can do is ask these questions: What does the deepest part of you desire? Does your partner understand just how important this is to you? How can you be truest to yourself?" The book contains a few examples of people leaving their spouses or partners to pursue a job or business, and this is presented as a positive career move. I was glad that Kurth later advocated a more spouse-friendly outlook: "We have spouses and/or family members whose needs matter enormously, and we can't just decide to run away … A part of our strategy, therefore, has to be working with our loved ones to get the opportunities we feel we need."
Notes
Vocationing
Even a dream job can get boring. It's not always new and fresh.
How to identify your passions (what you want in your dream job):
• Create a collage of things that give you pleasure, things you want in life, things that define you.
• Search online for info on avocational interests.
• Review college catalogs.
• Think about what sparked your passion as a child. Ask others who knew you then.
Why to take vocation vacation
• "Test-drive" dream job before committing.
• Find mentor.
• Learn ins and outs of business.
• Make industry contacts.
• Satisfy curiosity about "road not taken."
• Gain perspective on current job, lifestyle, future.
Fear
Dream job seeker success factors:
• Clear vision of what you want to do
• Optimism
• Comfort with failure
• High self standard
Research
Questions to ask your mentor
• What is typical lifestyle?
• What money to they make initially? After several years?
• What initial investment is required?
• What education or training is required?
• What are industry trends?
• Is industry expanding? Shrinking? Saturated?
• What are biggest business challenges?
Finding a Mentor
What to look for in a mentor
• Passion for work
• Expertise in field
• Teaching ability
• Longevity in job (ideally 5+ years)
• Connection (someone with whom you "click")
Email intro to mentor
Subject: [prospect's name], will you be my mentor?
Dear [name], for the last _ years I have been a _, but at the age of _, I have decided that life is too short not to do what I really love. So I am thinking very seriously about moving into the field of _. Before I do, however, I would like to spend a couple of days "test-driving" _ as a career. I am writing to you because [tell why you admire prospect and why you have chosen them] and I am hoping that you might be willing to mentor me, to let me come and work with you for a couple of days, at your convenience. I know that bringing a mentee into your business has its downside: even though I'm very eager to pitchin in and do all I can, it won't be like bringing in an experienced worker. But I can promise you that I am a fast learner and that I will be very appreciative of everything you have to teach me. I hope the idea of mentoring someone who shares your passion fo _ will spark your interest. If not, I will certainly understand. I will call you in two or three days to discuss this further. Or, if it's more convenient for you, please don't hesitate to contact me at _. Thank you so much for your attention!Doing the Test-Drive
Questions for mentor
• What skills do I need?
• Based on what you know about me, do you think I'll be able to succeed?
• How many hours do you work each day? Has that changed over time?
• How do you balance work and nonwork life?
• What does the required education cost?
• What does it cost to get set up in this job?
• What are biggest expenses? Most unpredictable expenses? Hardest to control expenses?
• What can I expect to earn at first? Later?
• How long did it take you to break even? Earn a profit?
• What were your biggest money mistakes?
• What has helped you maximize revenue and reduce expenses?
• Could I see your business plan? Annual budget?
• What do I need to know about equipment, purchasing, suppliers, technical processes?
• What ongoing training do you recommend?
• What mistakes can I learn from?
• How do you attract customers? What works well? What doesn't?
• How do you determine prices?
• What were your biggest marketing successes? Mistakes?
• What were your biggest surprises?
• What was your hardest time?
• What is hardest for you on an ongoing basis?
• What would you do differently if starting over?
• What is biggest obstacle you think I'll face?
• What can you imagine me doing?
• Do you have contacts who can help me?
• Are there other people you recommend I speak to?
• Are there organizations I should join (or avoid)?
During test-drive, ask yourself:
• Do I love being here?
• Is this the work I'm meant to do?
• Does part of me sing while doing even the drudgery parts of job?
4 C's of career change
• Cause: sense of cause or meaning
• Community: enjoy people you work with
• Capacities: ability to use your core competencies
• Considerations: must meet needs for pay, commute, schedule, etc.
January 26, 2020
Definitely an inspirational read. I picked up the book because I am going through a transition. It gave me some great advice on how to approach the situation.
May 12, 2025
Great anecdotes that inspire.
April 5, 2008
Test-Drive Your Dream Job is one of the most enjoyable business how-to books I've read. Brian Kurth relates his personal experiences of creating his own dream job (creating Vocation Vacations) and is honest about the pitfalls such a change can take. Certainly Kurth would probably love to get new clients from his book but advertising doesn't seem to be the main point behind the book. Kurth's enthusiasm is for helping people find the perfect job no matter where one is in life or career.
Test-Drive Your Dream Job at 256 pages is the perfect length to read through in one or two sittings. The basic idea behind the book is the importance of finding a mentor and then "test-driving" the new job with a mentor's guidance. As it happens, that's exactly the service that Vocation Vacations offers but one could easily follow the steps of the book without hiring Kurth's company.
There are many check lists and how-to scenarios to help readers through the process of finding a mentor. There are sample letters, emails and telephone scripts to help readers make it through the process of researching the dream job, finding prospective mentors, hooking up a with a mentor and following through with the test-drive.
Changing jobs isn't easy and Kurth relates his own experience on how the process of setting up Vocation Vacations paid on his personal life. Before jumping into a new career, take the time to consider the ramifications: how will the bills be paid, how does your family feel about it, what happens if the new career doesn't work out?
Test-Drive Your Dream Job at 256 pages is the perfect length to read through in one or two sittings. The basic idea behind the book is the importance of finding a mentor and then "test-driving" the new job with a mentor's guidance. As it happens, that's exactly the service that Vocation Vacations offers but one could easily follow the steps of the book without hiring Kurth's company.
There are many check lists and how-to scenarios to help readers through the process of finding a mentor. There are sample letters, emails and telephone scripts to help readers make it through the process of researching the dream job, finding prospective mentors, hooking up a with a mentor and following through with the test-drive.
Changing jobs isn't easy and Kurth relates his own experience on how the process of setting up Vocation Vacations paid on his personal life. Before jumping into a new career, take the time to consider the ramifications: how will the bills be paid, how does your family feel about it, what happens if the new career doesn't work out?
April 26, 2012
Sometimes the simplest ideas are just the best. Millions of people dream every day about working in a different profession. Without knowing how a potentially radically different such a new career would be, few take the economic risk and switch. The solution? A test-drive of a few days or weeks where you learn the "ins and outs" of your dream job, then taking all the facts and lessons learned into account to finally make a decision. While Kurth's book is mainly written for people who are employed and use a test-drive during their vacation days, the concept of test-riding something new is absolutely crucial for people in transition as well. I compare a test-drive to a call option on a stock (here: on a new career). If the stock goes up (here: things work out during the test-drive), you make the purchase (here: start a new career), if not, just continue your current path. For people in transition today, test-driving a career as teacher, consultant, self-employed person, or maybe working in a charity is a simple way of figuring out whether you should bet the next years on your idea or not. The same idea applies to checking out a different location before moving, if your home town is hard hit by the economy. For many people who are stuck in this bad economy, taking an "option" approach might be a good way of thinking outside their industry, location, etc. Kurth's book, well written, full of examples, and supported by his own personal story, is a great read.
July 18, 2008
I think because of where I'm at in my current career situation, this book was extremely helpful to me. It really got me jazzed up about pursuing a career that I'm passionate about, rather than just continuing to do work that I dislike and don't find fulfilling.
Want to read
January 17, 2008Heard about Vocation Vacations on the Oprah XM channel (don't laugh!) and thought it sounded interesting. This book is tied to the VV site.
January 17, 2009
I was soul-searching and want a job I love to go to, not forced to in order to provide for household.
January 26, 2009
Really has me thinking about what my "dream" job would be...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews