Reuters Money

Dream jobs for the 20-something set

How does someone go from having an interest in criminal law to penning a book about finding your dream job?

Just ask 29-year-old Laura Dodd, whose own bizarre career trajectory led her to having dozens of conversations with people just like her: a hopeful 20-something ready to jump into the worst market in decades — without settling for a mundane 9-to-5 job.

The result is “Dig this Gig: Find Your Dream Job — or Invent It“, a behind-the-scenes look at real-life jobs that will have some readers asking, “You can actually get paid to do that?”

Reuters talked to Dodd about the new reality of the job market, what 20-somethings really want (hint: it’s not a six-figure salary), and the coolest job she’s ever heard of.

Tell me why you wrote the book.

It’s so simple, really: this is truly the book I wanted, needed, and wished I had after college. It’s real people talking about real jobs and how you get there….stripping off the nebulous titles and telling the good, bad and ugly about jobs.