5 Tips To Know If You Are On The Right Career Path?

Are you on the right career path?? / Choosing the right Career / How to  make the right choice in your career ?? / Guidelines to make the right career choices

A poll conducted by Gallup shows that only 13% of the employees are engaged at work. That is less than two out of every 10 employees, at any given company. The survey also found that almost a quarter of employees (24 percent) were “actively disengaged” at work. Employees not only lack motivation but were dejected and unproductive that could somehow affect the other employees. Above all, negativity propagates negativity, especially at workplace.

Now, contemplating leaving your job is not necessarily the same thing as wondering if you should change your career entirely. Recognizing the signals for quitting your job may be a little easier than acknowledging the fact that your current career field as a whole might not be the right fit for you. So, if you are trying to figure out whether the job you are in, is right or not, below are a few signs which can assist you to know whether the job is meant for you.

• You are not learning or growing
• You are operating on autopilot
• You do not feel supported and your ideas are disregarded.
• You dread going to work every day
• You feel like a lesser version of yourself
• Your work does not align with your values or goals

As considered by everyone, job hunting can be a lot of struggle and is referred by many as a crazy, unpredictable maze that involves applying, researching and preparing for an interview. Hence many of them accept whatever decent job opportunity that come their way, and many do not even know WHAT they are looking for! If you have ever felt that way, it is not unheard of and you might start thinking to yourself:

What kind of job is actually right for my next step in life?

What career path am I actually going for?

Is what I am doing, in my job search, setting me up well for that?

These are some of the common thoughts that might go through your mind.

Finding the Right Career

If you are rethinking about your career choice or if you are confined to a job you hate, here is how you choose or change your career path and find more contentment in your work.

1. The relevance of finding meaningful work: Maximum time spent by every individual is either at work, traveling to and from work, or thinking about work. It automatically plays a huge role in our lives. If you are not satisfied with how you spend a major part of the day, it can take a significant toll on your physical and mental health.
   
               So how do you gain satisfaction and meaning from your work?
   
   Whether you are a fresher, experienced or unemployed professional in the current economic condition, one should stop searching for opportunities limited to your current role and restricted network. It’s time to reconsider your chosen career by learning how to research for newer options, realize your strengths and acquire new skills, as well as muster up the courage to make a change. You can then discover the career path that is right for you.
   
2. When altering careers is not a rational option: Many individuals don’t have the option of following their dreams due to practical realities of paying the bills and being the bread runner of the house. One even has to juggle multiple jobs to fulfill commitments, in today’s economy. Having such a repetitive or unfulfilling job can lead you to a stressful life and can be harmful to your overall mental health as being unemployed. To avoid this try to :
   
   1. Look for some value and interest in your role. Even mundane jobs can be interesting by emphasizing on better things in it like how your position helps others. Looking at the positive aspects of a job, makes all the difference.
      
   2. Volunteer for work not related to your role: Take initiatives for new projects and make it evident to your boss that you are capable of doing other things. It will assist you in learning new skills.
      
   3. Make friends at work. Knowing many people in the workplace can help reduce monotony and avoid burnout.
      
3. Discovering new possibilities: After finishing education or while making a career change the foremost step is to reflect carefully about what really drives you. What according to you is of more weightage, higher salary or job satisfaction? So, unless you are in a situation where you have to take the first available job to make ends meet, it’s important to focus on your primary interests and passions.

4. Overcoming obstacles to career fulfillment: It’s always challenging to consider a huge change in your life and there may be many reasons why you think changing careers is not an option. Here are some of the usual obstacles, with tips on how to overcome them:
   
   1. It is too much work to change careers. Where would I even begin? Switching careers needs your significant time; it does not happen immediately. It requires effort like analyzing and planning a rough outline of activities that need to be done. Breaking down larger tasks into smaller ones makes it a lot more manageable.
      
   2. I am a bit old to change careers. It is a myth however, the more you have worked, more likely that you would have learnt more skills that can be transferred to a new career.
      
   3. I do not have enough skills required for a new career. Every individual doesn’t realize the skills they already have and always underestimate their capabilities. It is suggested that you introspect and tap the hidden skills which you can professionalize.
      
   4. In this economy, I’m lucky to have a job. I don’t want to rock the boat. In the present situation, one avoids taking risks and stick to their current careers. However, if you are not satisfied in your current job, researching other options will benefit you to discover a career with a more stable, long-term outlook than your current one.
      
   5. Finding the right career
      
      1. Tip 1: Identify occupations that match your interests: So how do you translate your interests into a new career? With a little bit of research, you may be surprised at the career options that relate to many of the things that you enjoy.
         1. Career Tests: Various online tools can be insightful during the process of self-discovery. These assessments might not be accurate in telling which career choice is best suited for you, but they can surely assist you in identifying what is important to you in a career.
         2. Researching specific careers: If you have narrowed down your interests and career choices, you can get a lot of information online, from the description of roles, to average salaries as well as the expected future growth. This will assist you in figuring out the practical implication of your choices.
         3. Get Support and Information from others: Talking to someone in the field gives you a real sense of the type of work you will actually be doing and if it meets your expectations. Career counseling or a job coach, is always one option especially if you are considering a major career shift.
            
      2. Tip 2: Assess your strengths and skills: Once you are roughly aware of your career path, concentrate and find out what skills you already have and what skills you need to learn. These skills are called transferable skills and they can be applied to almost any field. Some of these include:
         • Management and Leadership experience
         • Communication (both written and oral)
         • Research and Program Planning
         • Public Speaking
         • Conflict Resolution and Mediation
         • Managing your time effectively
         • Computer literacy
         • Foreign language fluency
           
      3. Tip 3: Evolve your skills and experience: Ifthecareer you are inclined towards, needs some particular skill(s) or experience which you don’t have, do not feel dejected. There are many avenues to gain the required skills. While learning, you will also have an opportunity to find out whether or not you truly enjoy your chosen career and also make connections that could lead to your dream job.
         
      4. Tip 4: Contemplate starting your own business: If you are getting exhausted by a long travel or a difficult boss, the idea of working for yourself can be very fascinating.  Even in a slow economy, it is still feasible to discover your perfect niche. Some companies prefer to work with external vendors depending upon the specialty you are offering. However, it is essential to be prepared with all the research work and understand the realities of business ownership before you get in.
         • Ensure that you are serious and passionate about your business plan
         • Research is important. Spend time to analyze your area of interest. Are you fulfilling an unmet need?
         • Expect limited or no earnings to start. During the first few months, you are building your business and would incur start-up costs that nullify any initial profit.
           
      5. Tip 5: Manage your career transition:
         • Pace yourself and avoid taking too much at once. Career change does not happen immediately; it takes time. Break down large goals into smaller ones and try to accomplish at least one small thing a day to keep the momentum going.
         • Ease slowly into your new career. Spend time in networking, do volunteer work and try to work part-time in an untouched area by you before committing fully. It will not only assist in making the transition easy but will also ensure that you are on the right path. You can always make any changes in order to improve; before working full-time in your new field.
         • Take care of yourself. You might be extremely busy with the career transition but make it a point to eat right and get sufficient time to rest, exercise and spend quality time with your loved ones.
           

Getting the feeling that a career may not be for you is not a negative thing. It actually nudges you to assess what you currently have and what you may be missing.

Many times, you need to cut through the noise to figure out if you are investing your time and talents wisely. You need to choose between what you do in this life and what you want to be, so choose consciously rather than jump ship prematurely. Try applying the above practice in your career strategy – and take a step in the right direction!d