REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Study: Real Estate Is 'Dream Job' for Many

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Daily Real Estate News | February 27, 2007 | Study: Real Estate Is 'Dream Job' for Many
Compared with engineers and nurses, real estate practitioners are more likely to be enjoying their dream job, according to a national consumer employment survey conducted by Harris Interactive for CareerBuilder.com.

Nearly four out of five U.S. workers — 84 percent — say they aren’t employed in their dream job. Police and firefighters scored the highest in job satisfaction, with 35 percent saying they were in their dream job. Teachers ranked second with 32 percent. Real estate professionals came in third, with 28 percent of practitioners saying they currently had their dream job. The survey is based on responses from 6,169 full-time workers regarding job aspirations.

Top six professional groups indicating they currently hold their dream job:

Police and firefighters: 35 percent
Teachers: 32 percent
Real estate professionals: 28 percent
Engineers: 25 percent
Travel industry: 22 percent
Nurses: 18 percent

What defines a dream job?

“Workers said they want to enjoy their work experience, apply their talents, and feel like they’re making an impact,” says Richard Castellini, vice president of consumer marketing at CareerBuilder.com.

Topping the list of most important factors in determining a dream job were: having fun at work (39 percent); making a difference in society (17 percent); and money or salary (12 percent). Travel and creative opportunities within a position were at the bottom of the list.

In one of the more whimsical questions, respondents were asked what they'd like to do if they worked at a Disney theme park for a day. The survey was conducted in conjunction with Disney Parks. Real estate professionals opted for a haunted mansion butler or maid (26 percent), an apprentice pirate (25 percent), a jungle cruise skipper (23 percent), and a fantasyland princess in waiting (22 percent).

— By Camilla McLaughlin for REALTOR® Magazine Online