Less than one in 10 Brits have secured their childhood dream job

Less than one in ten Brits have landed the job they dreamed of as a child, a study has revealed.

A poll of 2,000 adults about their long-term aspirations also discovered that slightly more than one in ten have actually worked in their ideal job.

Seven in ten believe you are never too old to let go of your childhood dreams, yet eight in ten still haven’t achieved their goal.

In comparison, three in five think that it is healthy to hang onto your dream as a source of hope and one third still hold out hope that their ambitions will become reality in their older years.

“Naturally it’s easy to look at the results of this study from a glum perspective, but on the flip side it does show we’re a glass half full nation, even in the face of reality,” said Hope Bastine, psychologist for mattress maker, Simba, who commissioned the study.

“When we are younger the world can seem full of endless possibilities, and we are encouraged to shoot for the moon, but soon certain realities begin to set in.

“When this happens, it is encouraging to see many of us still receive the support we need from friends and family to follow our dreams, even as life complicates matters.”

In addition, the research found that one in two Brits have been encouraged to pursue their dreams when they have hit hard times.

Of these, three in ten were inspired by their friends and 36 per cent were told to make the leap by their parents.