- Everyone has a dream job, the position they constantly aspire to. But what happens when you nail the interview and land the position - and it's not what you thought?
- For people who have landed that ideal position, it can be particularly difficult to admit it's taking a toll.
- These seven women all had their dream jobs and found some major downsides, including everything from ulcers to addiction. Here's how they dealt with it.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
When Megan Hellerer told friends and family that she landed a job at one of the world's top tech companies, they were instantly impressed. "People talked about it like being admitted to a top-tier college - you 'got in,'" she recalls.
Several years in, though, she knew that what everyone else considered a dream job wasn't the right job for her. She found herself deeply unhappy, struggling just to get to work each day, and increasingly having anxiety attacks and episodes of crippling depression.
But at the same time, she felt like she couldn't complain. "I assumed that something must just be inherently wrong with me that I couldn't figure out how to make it work, and I was ashamed that I couldn't just be grateful for this incredible job," she says.
Courtesy of Megan Hellerer
Megan Hellerer
Megan Hellerer
Then: Business Development at a major tech company
Now: Founder and CEO of Megan Hellerer Coaching for Underfulfilled Overachievers and WTF Am I Doing with My Life?
As she eventually realized, though she felt isolated, she wasn't alone. In fact, many people who have what looks like an amazing job from the outside have behind-the-scenes struggles they're afraid to share.
We wanted to hear their stories, so we sat down with six other women who had "dream jobs" with downsides they tried to hide. Here, they share their experiences and offer their advice to anyone in the same position.