Nothing wrong with looking for a dream job in manufacturing

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The concept of a dream job hints at a little dissatisfaction on the part of the dreamer, particularly if that person is currently employed. Why else would someone be thinking about a better job opportunity if they are collecting a paycheck already?

But the word dream describes exactly what the job is. Dreams are a normal byproduct of the human mind. It’s normal to think about dream jobs.

For instance, I’ve always been enamored with a game show host’s gig. Drew Carey, who has hosted “The Price Is Right” since 2007 after stepping in for industry legend Bob Barker, works three days a week, taping two shows a day. That schedule allows him a lot of free time to pick up acting gigs, actively support his hometown Cleveland sports franchises, and host a weekly satellite radio show. Did I mention that he gets to give away cash and prizes to strangers and is paid handsomely to do it?

That’s a cool dream job. “I could do that,” I think, as I ignore “Price Is Right” on the television, scrolling my smartphone for the latest funny cat video. If I wanted to make it happen, I’d take some steps to get the ball rolling. (If I ever start writing about improv classes and move to Los Angeles, you know what’s up.)

The beauty of these dream jobs is that they might be more attainable than you think—especially if they align with a current skill set. You just have to train yourself to recognize potential opportunities and don’t sell yourself short.

Spencer Wells is a mechanical engineering technician for the Prototype Development Laboratory at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. When he applied for the open position almost three years ago, he thought it was a long shot. Going back to his days in the U.S. Army, he had more than 10 years of aerospace-related fabricating experience, but he wasn’t sure if that was exactly the fit that the folks at NASA were looking for.

“Everybody told me, ‘You’re crazy. They already know who they want,’” Wells recalled. “I said, ‘Well, I don’t have anything to lose.’ So I put in my resume, and the next thing I know is that I got the job. It was definitely one of the best days of my life.”

Nowadays Wells is the metal fabricating expert on his team, which comprises folks mostly familiar with machining and related technologies. They design and fabricate prototypes and test support equipment for current missions, most of which right now are related to getting man back on the moon.

Wells said his friends and family were just as excited for him about the new job. He’ll learn that he’s kind of a big deal the next time he returns to his hometown of Mount Sterling, Ky., in the eastern part of the state.

“I always thought I was really good at what I did. I’m not trying to be big-headed or conceited, but I just felt like I was a hard worker,” Wells said. “I also always thought, ‘How do I get one of those good jobs, like working on a race team?’”

Wells got that “special gig,” as he called the NASA position, because he took a chance on a job that others thought he had no chance of getting. A few minutes out of the day to update a resume and send it to the hiring officer made a dream come true.

Honestly, metal fabricating appears to be filled with these kinds of special opportunities. A behind-the-scenes job as a fabricating specialist at a place like a Hollywood studio or that supports a NASCAR team sounds really cool. But lower-profile roles such as lead fabrication specialist for an advertising and marketing firm that works on everything from parade floats designed to promote a new streaming service to a portable bar that highlights a new vodka variant can be just as exciting. Metal fabricators do it best because they can do it all. (Bumper stickers will be available soon!)

Dream jobs can be a simple mind exercise or a motivator to make a major change. Either way, they are good for the soul. Don’t be afraid to think of what could be.