Gauri Chhabra
Our minds are in a constant state of flux…We come across dilemmas related to our careers and our personal lives. Many a time we feel we have reached the end of the rope in our careers and would like to change. At times we take the plunge whereas at some other times we just stand by a side washing the tide of time and keep asking ourselves. Do I stay or do I go?
We agonize daily whether we should change careers or just leave it alone and stick with it. How can you tell if you should change careers or not?
I’ve found that there are some tell – tale signs to determine reliably and effectively if you should change careers, and once you get hip to these signs, you’ll be able to answer for yourself in a heartbeat, “Should I stay or should I go?”
There are some tell- tale inflexions that tell you that you need to change your careers:
Morning blues
If your Monday morning blues are giving way to everyday morning blues and you swear and mutter an oath every time you go to work, it is a sign that you are mentally exhausted and there is no excitement in your work. You spend a major chunk of your time at work and if you do not like it, it would show in the way your body behaves. You would be down with chronic flu and would always be thinking of an excuse to stay at home. Your body tells you what your lips cannot. It may be your specific job or toxic work environment that is breaking you down, but often it’s your entire career that needs a shift.
The question then becomes, shift to do what? There is acrossroad where people have to decide if they are going to make a change to yet another company where the grass may appear greener on the outside but is more of the same once they’re in. Or if it’s time to re-examine what is really important, and how you really want to live, and find – or create! – work that allows you to be yourself and to make the impact you want to make in the world.
Round peg in a square hole
At times more often than not, you feel that you are not using your inherent skills at all. You are a people’s person and would love to interact in board meetings about the launch of a new product, changing patterns of consumer behavior and new marketing strategies but your job requires you to be in Research and development where you spend most of your time alone- glued to your monitor screen. Life becomes a horrible struggle- you feel like an alien.
Golden handcuffs
You’ve come to the point where your salary no longer makes up for the boredom and emptiness you feel.Agreed, you dislike like your work but are reluctant to change and it’s the fear about walking away from the money that keeps you stuck. This money makes you pay the bills, for the house loan EMI’s and sends your kids to international schools. The result – you are handcuffed. You are too scared to break free. But at some point, you say, “Hang on here – I have this money, but I hate how I spend my life making it.” You begin to rethink the priorities and the abilities, and feel you need to open your eyes to new ways to make money.
Choice or compulsion?
Ask yourself- are you in your profession by choice or by compulsion? If you choose to stay where you are because it gives you many paid offs or the timings are just 9-5, believe me, you will be have the life sucked out of you, before you realize it. Despite all the “right” choices you made in your career, the outcome would not be gratifying. So many professionals have made all the “right” choices, done everything that was expected of them, so when they wake up bored to death with their work, they’re shocked and confused. Something that was just right yesterday, is not just working out today. Circumstances change and so do people. As a fresher the travel jobs would excite you but as you have a family, the same job tires you to the core. The thing to realize here is that the “right” choices usually had to do with pleasing others, stroking your ego, or taking work or a promotion that fell in your lap, rather than asking yourself the tough questions like “Is this where I belong?”
Feeling of being under- utilized
At times you grow and elevate at a far greater speed than your job, so much so that you start feeling that your talents and abilities could be used in a more creative and impactful way.I used to say to myself every day in my corporate life, “I know I’m made for better things than this.” But I didn’t listen to myself – I thought I was crazy. If you think, “There’s got to be more in life,” then there IS more to life than what you’re currently doing – no question.
There’s another way to live and work, even though you can’t see it yet. Here’s an example. I have a friend who worked for a leading IT consultancy firm and was laid off last year. He had a big dream – of starting hisown consulting business, where he could call the shots, and also work on projects that had personal meaning. After being rejected from five straight interviews at big firms within two months, he realized it was a sign, and decided to muster the courage to move ahead to pursue his own business.
He started his own consultancy firm and started charging from start- ups on an hourly basis. Today he is well established and is the sovereign of his own kingdom, thanks to the misfortunes of his being laid off. Had it not happened, he would not have translated his dream into reality.
In my own career change journey, this was the strongest motivation for me to resign from my job in education, go for an MBA and tangentially enter the corporate world. If you are already a “success” in your career you might feel trapped with what you earn and have. These are all things that keep you from changing career: salary, years of experience, lifestyle and habits. That was my situation. Because I really wanted to use my abilities in a more impactful way, with all that I earned and had, I still wanted to start my career all over again.
To be or not to be…
Professionals who desperately need and want change in their careers have gone viral. Look at all directions that potentially excite and interest you – starting your own venture, working for someone else if that appeals to you, becoming a consultant or freelancer – whatever will fit your personality, skills, talents, and desires best. It’s important to know, however, that many people are not suited to entrepreneurial life and would not be happy in it. Do not just jump from one boat to another just because it sounds cool. Avoid the Pendulum effect of moving from one extreme to another.
After the transit
Changing careers is like changing your life partner. Suddenly, you have the whole world to explain your position to. You’re likely to face a litany of rejoinders: Why would you want to do that? Isn’t that a little risky? Are you really qualified? There would be a segment of people who would avoid you like the plague and suddenly extol you to the skies once you have proven yourself in the new field.
The most important step in getting others onboard with your career transition is crafting a compelling narrative. It’s a tool often overlooked by all those who choose to reinvent the wheel, but it can be a critical determinant of success in winning others’ support for your professional goals.
Therefore, if you are feeling lost, suffocated and spent in your current job, think of switching gears, and take the plunge. As long as you can connect the dots between your past, present, and future; listen to your heart’s calling and follow it, sky is the limit to your success…
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