Mid-stream manoeuvring
The true way to render ourselves happy is to love our work and find in it our pleasure.
Opportunity is missed by most because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
Blessed is the man who has found his work
DID THESE quotes bring a sarcastic smile on your face, a sad nod, or a, "Yeah, right! Love your work? Let us talk possibilities here!" on your lips?
Great! One more question please. Do `Work' and `Drudgery', `Workplace' and `Hell' and `Boss' and `Two-fanged demon' sound synonymous for you?
Welcome to the World of Lost Souls! These people lose their way in the jungle of careers and still brave each day at work with courage.
O! You Lost Souls, time to break through the shackles of a dissatisfied work life and take up a career you truly enjoy!
Ask yourself questions like:
What do I want?
What am I doing now?
What am I best at?
To which career can I best put my interests?
Which jobs do I find most satisfying?
Questions like this make you a better judge of what your current responsibilities are and how they fit into your overall career plan.
It is also as important to recognise the kind of career that suits you and makes the work more enjoyable. Try to handle your burnout factors as much as you can. Most importantly, do not be overwhelmed by the fact that you would be leaving a career you have practised for years or studied for years. It is better late than never.
One and all: Identify a new career that suits your personality and puts to the best use your interests and skills. There are several ways of doing this. Networking, job portals, placement agencies, the Internet and others are a few tools that help you in your endeavour. Finding the perfect job might involve not just one resource, rather a combination of resources.
Don't despair: Inevitable with a career shift is loss of pay or position. Lifestyle would require a change and be prepared for dealing more carefully with your finances. Sometimes, you would also need to compromise on your experience and start at the entry-level position of a new career.
Don't let this dishearten you. Once you get into the groove in your chosen career, your work experience would definitely get recognition. Moreover, work satisfaction comes from the work profile and not the hierarchical position you hold.
Network: A recent poll determined that a whopping 60.7 percent of the respondents found new jobs through networking. So, moral of the story: Network, network and network some more. It is important to be `seen' in the market. Let everybody know that you are looking for a change. At times, remote contacts know of certain job openings, which fit your bill perfectly.
Moonlight: Yes, it's sensible. Obviously I am talking of the verb here! Freelance work or part-time work in your field of interest helps you `test waters.' It gives you a feel of how things actually would be and keeps your original job safe at the same time.
If you do finally wish to switch careers, such experience on your résumés tells the employer that you are suitably motivated to start a new career.
Leverage: You have experience. You have honed your skills. You have faced corporate life. Though the experience may not be relevant in your new job, remember that all experiences count. Leverage your understanding of the market into a career switch.
In most cases, skills such as project management, people management, problem solving, customer service, etc. can be used in the new job. Convincingly articulate your desire to change career and how you can use your past experience for the benefit of the new employer.
Finally, a complete transformation takes time and requires courage. Linda Matias, career expert, would have reduced this article into a single line: `A career change takes resilience, confidence and, most importantly, patience.'
HAJIRA SHAHEEN
faqs@cnkonline.com
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Opportunities
