New Survey Sheds Light on Motivation, Careers and Happiness

Close to 70 percent of people are not in their “dream job.” That’s according to a recent Northwestern University School of Professional Studies survey of 500 professionals. The survey was conducted to understand the connection between motivation, educational focus and careers, and the degree of happiness later experienced. Results show that people are strongly motivated by passion when choosing a major, yet close to half end up working in a different field. Most respondents plan to make a career change within about five years — often for practical reasons — and they find new positions relatively quickly. The survey also showed that, beyond the $60 to $75k range, an increase in salary did not correlate with increased happiness. The results should encourage anyone considering returning to school; it’s clear that the pursuit of meaningful work is an ongoing process that changes with personal needs and interests.