How you can land your dream job; forget wallowing away in a 9-to-5 funk. Tap into your talent to cultivate a career that really pays off (and not just in the form of a check). (Career Makeover).

In a perfect world, you'd spring out of bed every day and skip to your emotionally and financially fulfilling job. Unfortunately, in this universe, that ain't exactly happening. A recent survey conducted by the marketing group Youth Intelligence found that 68 percent of Gen-Xers feel their careers haven't met their expectations. Well, we're here to tell you that you're not stuck. "If you're unhappy, you owe it to yourself to explore better options," says Michelle Porchia, founder of Inner Dimensions, a professional development company in Trumbull, Connecticut. Check out our plans for solving three workplace woes.

CAREER COMPLAINT 1

you're stalled

You're jonesing for your boss's gig, but you're stuck opening her mail. Instead of resenting her, use her as your model, suggests Porchia. Crib the skills she has, but also make the places where she falls short your specialty. Then, when pitching for a promotion, market yourself as a great accessory to your superior's skills.

If you're worried that she'll think you're gunning for her gig, play the helper, suggests Andrea *, 24, an advertising assistant. "I volunteered to tackle a project my boss didn't have time for. She was relieved that I took it off her hands." Pitching in paid off, and Andrea scored a well-deserved promotion. But remember, taking on "additional responsibilities may mean clocking extra hours, says Robin Ryan, author of What to Do With the Rest of Your Life.

CAREER COMPLAINT 2

you love your field but not your position