I applied for a job that isn’t in my dream industry (wildlife / animal rights), but it would get me out of my current job. I honestly really hate the job I'm in now, but I'm unsure of whether I'd be able to laterally move out of this new job I'm applying for. The job I'm interviewing for is for accessibility at a nonprofit university. Timeline wise, if I got an offer it would be before I'd really had a chance to search for wildlife opportunities, so I guess my question is whether you have any advice on whether waiting is something advisable? — S.T., Utah

Carly and I got this question a couple weeks ago in one of our Accountability Group Q&As.

If you’ve already done the work to figure out what you definitely want to go in a certain direction — whether that’s industry, job title, city, etc. — and you hate your current job, do you hold out for a dream job or do you get something in the interim to get out of the job you hate?

On one hand, if you take the interim job, you’ll be out of the toxic place and have new energy to put towards a job search. A toxic job can leave you depleted in energy and with a bruised ego that makes it harder to job hunt with confidence. Plus, you might actually like the interim job and it could make your resume more appealing to your dream job.

On the other hand, you might think you’re sabotaging your chances of getting your dream job by looking uncommitted on your resume, or by going in a direction that's hard to explain. Plus, it can feel like settling for something not good again which is the very thing you’re trying to move away from.

In all cases, our biggest tip is to clarify where you’re trying to go, assess both options, and make a choice that’s in the right direction.

Here are 3 steps to take when deciding whether or not to take an interim job. Grab a piece of paper and a pen and try it out!

Step 1: What have I learned about what I want in my work life next?

Write out your answers here. Keeping all the thoughts in your brain alone can make feel like you’re pinballing around. One minute you feel really sure you want something, and the next you find a reason why it might not matter. To help stop the pinballing, write out your criteria. You can do this in whatever form helps you get organized - that can be a journal, a spreadsheet, on visual board on your wall, etc.

• What do I know about what I want in a new job?

• What do I know I do NOT want in a new job (deal breakers)?

• What are still open-ended questions I have?

Step 2: How does taking this interim job align with what I want next?

If I take this job....

• Which of my criteria would it meet?

• Of the criteria it doesn’t meet, is there anything I can do to fill the gap? This could be asking for more responsibilities in the new job, or finding opportunities outside of work to meet that need (e.g. taking class or doing a side project)

• If I take it, how would that set me to get the job I actually want down the road? PRO-TIP: Fast forward one year from when you’re talking to a recruiter or potential employer at my dream job … what would my narrative be about who I am, and how this experience equipped me for the dream job?

• What would my job search process be 6-12 months from now if I wanted to make the move then? Would I be in a better position to search then either (e.g. mentally, financially, time-wise, location-wise)?

Step 3: How would not taking this job benefit me?

If I don't take this job…

• What does an ideal candidate look like for my dream job … what do I already have in place and what’s missing?

• What would I need to put in place to fill any gaps I have?

• What other job opportunities would I have that could be cool if my dream job wasn't immediately available or achievable?

Think about these questions to create some clarity around your two options. See what comes up, what your gut tells you, and what sounds most realistic.

I always think it’s better to caution around running away from a job versus running towards something, but that doesn't mean you have to wait around for the perfect job. Just make sure you're at least running mostly in the right direction.