I was listening to my iPod the other day when this thought crossed my mind: There must be some songs whose lyrics could inspire job seekers. Now, my music tastes go back to the '60s, '70s, and ‘80s, so they may not be familiar to everyone. But here are four notable songs from that broad era with a key line from each, and the job-search lessons they teach:
You Can't Always Get What You Want (The Rolling Stones - 1969)
LINE: " … but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need."
LESSON: You really wanted that job—or a shot at that job—but it wasn't meant to be, and you had to settle for something else. What you thought you wanted may turn out to be different from what you really needed. (This can also apply to salary.)
Dirty Work (Steely Dan - 1972)
• LINE: "I'm a fool to do your dirty work, oh yeah. I don't wanna do your dirty work, no more …"
• LESSON: Kind of synonymous with Johnny Paycheck's "Take This Job and Shove It," eh? But just a little less blunt. The message? If you hate your job, don't be foolish and stay. Look for another one.
Shining Star (Earth Wind & Fire - 1975)
• LINE: "When you wish upon a star, dreams will take you very far, yeah. But when you wish upon a dream life ain't always what it seems, oh yeah …"
• LESSON: Life will never be perfect, no matter how much you wish it could be. The same applies to work. A dream job? If there is such a thing, you may never land it. But make the best of what you have—until you find the next opportunity.
Runnin' Down a Dream (Tom Petty - 1989)
• LINE: "… runnin' down a dream, that never would come to me. Workin' on a mystery, goin' wherever it leads … "There's somethin' good, waitin' down this road. I'm pickin' up whatever is mine."
• LESSON: You're searching for a job, but you just don't know where or how it's going to end. Yet you know things will turn out fine if you keep your head up and trust that your next job is just waiting down the road.
RELATED LINKS
10 Inspiring Quotations for the Discouraged Job Seeker
Confused About Jobs, Work, and Money? Ask a Kid
What's Your Favorite Work-Related Joke?
Ready To Jump Start Your Job Search?
