Calgary Herald Interview with Peter Ng
DREAM JOBS REALLY DO COME TRUE
HAPPY WORKERS ARE MORE ENGAGED AND PRODUCTIVE.
Derek Sankey, Calgary Herald
Published: Saturday, December 07, 2013
It turns out finding that exclusive dream job may be easier than you think.
A recent survey suggests a majority of men – and to a lesser extent women
– have found their “dream job.”
Peter Ng is a case in point. The 36-year-old Calgary realtor and associate
broker of KORE Real Estate Group says being in control of his own destiny
is a big reason he considers himself in his dream job.
“Being your own boss, I get to pursue the goals that I want to and it puts
you in the driver’s seat,” says Ng. “The sky’s the limit. The only limitation
is how far I want to go.”
On average, about half of Canadian workers say they are currently working
in their dream jobs, according to a study by Pollara Inc. It found 51 per cent
of men and 43 percent of women say they have found their ultimate career
roles. A majority of workers also report being happy to go to work (65 per cent).
Seventy per cent of employees surveyed said they feel valued at work, a
statistic that seems to transcend demographics. Forty-seven per cent of
Canadians overall report being in dream jobs, matched by 46 per cent of
workers under the age of 35 (compared to 50 per cent in Alberta).
“When people feel like they have ownership in where they’re working, they’re
least likely to abandon it,” says Laura Parsons, area manager of specialized
sales for BMO Bank of Montreal in Alberta.
Ng, who became a realtor in 2005 prior to the Alberta real estate boom, now
leads a team of real estate marketing professionals and says waking up every
day with a new challenge and a passion for his work is why he considers him-
self in his dream job. “There hasn’t been a boring day,” he explains. “Each day
I deal with a challenge, which keeps my job very dynamic.”
The survey results suggest he’s not alone in his thinking.
“We know that satisfied workers are more engaged and more productive,”
noted Lynn Roger, chief talent officer for BMO Financial Group, which
sponsored the survey of 1,005 Canadians.
“Business owners and business managers need to be much more strategic
in their hiring, not only finding employees with the right skills for the job, but
also who possess a genuine passion for the vocation itself.”
Despite their apparent happiness in their jobs, it wouldn’t take much for many
workers to leave, either. Two out of three workers surveyed (64 per cent)
say they would readily leave their dream jobs if they won the lottery.
Entrepreneurs, however, are more tied to their definition of ultimate happiness,
with only 39 per cent reporting they would sell their business with a lottery win.
“This affirms what we know about small business owners – they are extremely
dedicated to their business,” says Steve Murphy, senior vice-president of
commercial banking at BMO Bank of Montreal.
It appears money doesn’t count for everything, either. “If you treat your
(employees) well and give them a sense of ownership, they will come through
for you,” adds Parsons.
Landing a dream job has long been an aspiration among the general workforce,
but 69 per cent of Canadian workers with a household income of about $50,000
a year look forward to going to work every day – 51 per cent of whom say they
are working in their dream jobs.
Source: Calgary Herald
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