How to get your dream job in 2026
The road may be full of twists and turns, but it’s worth it. Four success stories share insight.
The road may be full of twists and turns, but it’s worth it. Four success stories share insight.
The American job market finds itself at a critical crossroads. After months of stagnation characterized by minimal hiring and few layoffs, economists are predicting that this "Great Freeze" can't last forever. According to Claudia Sahm, chief economist at New Century Advisors, we're approaching a pivotal moment that could swing dramatically in either direction.
Understanding the Current Freeze
The job market has been trapped in an unusual holding pattern. Businesses have hesitated to hire due to widespread economic uncertainty, with many companies still trying to understand how various policy changes, including tariffs, will impact their operations. This cautious approach has created a frustrating landscape for job seekers while keeping current employees in a state of limbo.
The situation is inherently unsustainable. As workers retire and natural attrition occurs, companies will eventually need to make decisive moves. The question isn't whether change is coming, but rather what form it will take.
Two Possible Futures
The Optimistic Scenario: Breaking the Logjam
Some economists see reasons for hope in 2026. The optimistic view suggests that as uncertainty diminishes, particularly as the current administration settles into its second year, businesses will regain the confidence needed to expand their workforce.
Aaron Terrazas, an independent economist, reports speaking with business owners who felt paralyzed by uncertainty throughout 2025 but are now preparing to invest in growth. Small business owners particularly express relief at the prospect of operating within a more predictable environment, even if conditions aren't perfect. As one Chicago hospitality owner put it, knowing the reality of the situation, even if challenging, beats operating in the dark.
Recent investment provisions could also fuel hiring momentum. A September survey by ZipRecruiter found that 63% of employers anticipate moderate to significant hiring increases over the coming year. While this represents a decline from the previous year's optimism, it still suggests a majority confidence in expansion.
For those currently employed, there's additional comfort in the data: layoff rates have hovered around 1% throughout 2025, well below the historical average of 1.4%. Despite high-profile layoff announcements making headlines, the actual probability of job loss remains relatively low for most Americans.
The healthcare sector could play a starring role in any positive scenario. Having sustained much of the economy's job growth in recent months, continued strength in healthcare hiring could keep overall employment stable while other sectors recover.
The Pessimistic Scenario: When the Bottom Falls Out
The darker possibility involves the freeze giving way not to renewed hiring, but to widespread layoffs. This scenario would compound the difficulties job seekers already face, flooding an already competitive market with newly unemployed workers while hiring remains scarce.
Warning signs exist. Business Roundtable's fourth-quarter survey revealed that more CEOs expect to reduce employment than increase it, marking the third consecutive quarter of this trend and the weakest three-quarter average since the Great Recession. Joshua Bolten, the organization's CEO, pointed to a complex mix of factors: artificial intelligence driving productivity gains that reduce the need for human workers, and tariff volatility increasing costs for many businesses.
The pandemic's aftermath may also factor into potential cuts. Some companies aggressively hired during the early recovery and may now view their workforce as bloated. Layoffs at some firms might represent corrections to earlier overhiring rather than responses to current conditions.
What the Experts Are Watching
Chris Martin, lead researcher at Glassdoor, suggests that even if conditions don't improve dramatically, a return to normalcy would represent progress. A more typical labor market would see increased fluidity across all metrics: more people quitting for better opportunities, more hiring, and yes, more layoffs, though all these rates would likely remain below levels seen a decade ago.
Laura Ullrich from the Indeed Hiring Lab emphasizes that for now, the bigger challenge isn't avoiding layoffs but actually finding employment. The Indeed team believes the most likely outcome isn't a dramatic shift in either direction, but rather an extension of the current slow-motion market where both employers and job seekers navigate with heightened caution and selectivity.
The job market's extended freeze appears to be nearing its end, but whether it thaws gradually or cracks suddenly remains uncertain. Businesses face pressure to address staffing needs as workers retire, while economic and policy uncertainties continue to complicate planning.
For workers, the message is clear: prepare for change. Whether that change brings renewed opportunity or increased competition depends on factors still taking shape. Stay adaptable, keep skills current, and maintain networks. The "Great Freeze" won't last forever, and when it breaks, those ready to move quickly will be best positioned to benefit from whatever comes next.
The job market's moment of reckoning is coming. The only question is what form it will take.
**How to Build the Job of Your Dreams—Even When It Feels Out of Reach**
Work takes up roughly a third of our waking hours on weekdays. And yet, Gallup reports that nearly **one in three employees** is actively disengaged.
A growing body of research suggests that dream jobs aren’t just about paychecks or prestige—they’re deeply personal. **80,000 Hours**, a London-based nonprofit that specializes in career guidance, reviewed over 60 studies and identified six key ingredients of a dream job:
- It’s **engaging**
- It **helps others**
- You’re **good at it**
- You work with **supportive colleagues**
- It **doesn’t have major negatives** (toxic culture, unsustainable hours, etc.)
- It **fits with the rest of your life**
Sounds ideal—but how common is it? A 2024 survey of 3,000 U.S. workers found that **only 14%** say they’re currently in their dream job. Meanwhile, **38% admit they hate their current role**, and **66% would switch careers** if it meant chasing something more meaningful.
In today’s uncertain labor market—marked by layoffs, AI disruption, and stagnant wages—a dream job can feel like a mirage.
But some people *do* find it.
*Fast Company* recently spoke with four professionals who built careers they genuinely love. Their paths weren’t linear. Some had a lifelong vision; others stumbled into their calling. One endured homelessness. Another keeps backup plans ready, just in case the dream shifts.
Their stories offer more than inspiration—they offer a blueprint.
**Nathalie Pereira: Airline Pilot**
*Flew toward her childhood dream—and found support along the way*
Nathalie first fell in love with flying at age five during a trip to Brazil. That spark never faded. After high school, she went straight to flight school, spent five years flying regionally (three as a captain), and eventually joined **United Airlines’ Aviate program**—a pipeline that guarantees a job after training. She became a **Boeing 777 first officer** in 2022.
Her days blend precision and adventure: reviewing flight plans on her iPad, walking through pre-flight checks, then exploring cities like Tokyo or Barcelona after landing.
**Her advice?**
> “If cost is holding you back—do it anyway. Scholarships exist. Programs like Aviate exist. And gender? It’s not a barrier if you meet the standards. Skill, discipline, and experience—that’s what matters.”
**Elizabeth Casper: Personal Stylist at Stitch Fix**
*From musical theatre to helping others feel confident in their clothes*
Elizabeth grew up around fashion—her family ran a bridal shop—but assumed she’d need to be a designer to work in the industry. Then, during a musical theatre audition, she saw a friend working remotely as a **Stitch Fix stylist** and realized: *“You can get paid to curate outfits?”*
She landed the role in 2021 and now splits her time between styling clients and creating fashion content for the brand. Her secret? **Asking deeply personal questions**: *What color makes you glow? What event are you dressing for?*
**Her philosophy:**
> “Pursue what you love—even if the path zigs and zags. Style your friends. Study fabrics. Put your creativity out there. Every experience teaches you something you’ll use later.”
**Melissa Lewis Gentry (MLG): Video Game Designer**
*From homelessness to shipping games—by refusing to give up*
MLG loved games and D&D as a kid, but flunked their first programming class in college—undiagnosed ADHD made traditional learning impossible. For years, they bounced between jobs: call centers, comic shops, board game cafés (which failed during the pandemic). Then came homelessness.
While crashing on a friend’s couch, MLG joined a **game jam**—a 48-hour game-building sprint—and rediscovered their passion for coding. They took online courses, built a portfolio, and applied to **Demiurge Studios’ nontraditional internship program**. Hired in 2021, they now design gameplay systems for major studios like Blizzard.
**Their hard-won wisdom:**
> “No degree replaces shipped work. If you want to be a game designer, **make a game and finish it**. The industry’s tough right now—but nobody can stop you from creating.”
**Zinia Lee Fengel: Fashion Influencer & Student**
*Building a dream—while keeping her options open*
Zinia started posting outfit videos on Instagram at 16 during lockdown. Within a year, brands reached out. Now, with **115K+ followers**, she earns four-figure deals—but she’s also a full-time student at FIT and interns in PR.
She films while walking on the treadmill, edits on the subway, and batches content whenever her hair and makeup are done. But despite the success, she’s cautious:
> “It’s easy to start resenting something you love if it becomes your only option.”
**Her mantra:**
> “Consistency beats perfection. Post regularly. Try ideas. Don’t wait for the ‘perfect’ video—just **start**.”
The Takeaway
Dream jobs aren’t found—they’re **built**. Sometimes, through years of persistence. Sometimes, through reinvention after loss. Often, through a mix of preparation, community, and sheer stubborn hope.
You don’t need to have it all figured out at 22. You don’t need a traditional degree. And you certainly don’t need to ignore your values or burn yourself out to “deserve” fulfillment at work.
As these four show: **Your dream job might not even exist yet—but you can create it.**
All it takes is a first step, a willingness to adapt, and the courage to keep going—even when the path seems impossible.