A new survey by recruitment firm Robert Walters indicates that over half (59%) of the professionals questioned would quit a regular permanent post for the job of their dreams… even if the job in question was temporary

It’s an interesting conundrum that lies at the heart of the work/life balance. What are you really working for, if it’s only to pay the bills? Surely work should also be fulfilling or rewarding in some way, even if it’s not realistic to expect it to be fulfilling and rewarding absolutely all of the time. And is it possible for work to be too enjoyable?

The fact that so many people seemed willing to take a hypothetical gamble when it came to job security in order to achieve personal happiness speaks volumes about what we expect from our lives (40 hours a week, at least, of which we spend working, if we’re full-time). It’s no longer enough to simply clock in and clock out: life is short, and we owe it to ourselves to try and make it as positive an experience as possible.

On a more practical level, this desire to take risks in order to achieve job satisfaction also shows that confidence is returning to the jobs market – always an encouraging sign. It means that people are pretty sure that they could get another job fairly easily if they needed to, but also that they don’t feel trapped in a role that might make them unhappy, purely because there is no other choice.

If you’re determined to find your dream job, permanent or temporary, it’s worth making a recruitment agency your first port of call. If you choose Recruit Mint, you’re even more likely to achieve your goal. We pride ourselves in making sure that everyone who walks through our door is given a proper interview, asked about what they really want from a job, and coached and tested if necessary (don’t worry; the testing is only to find out what you’re best at). We only place candidates in companies where we think that they would really fit in and enjoy becoming part of the team, because we know that if someone feels comfortable and appreciated, they will be happy – and want to stay.