MensXpert.com - Career Crossroads

Consider these three interesting statements:

Though I enjoy what I’m doing right now, I can’t help but wonder whether I am better suited to doing something else.

Even though I have a fairly good idea of what I desire to achieve in my career, I just lack the motivation to get there.

I have worked at my present company for a really long time but I am not sure if sticking on to it would do my career any good.

If you are able to relate to any of these statements then you might have reached a stage that can be aptly defined by the term career crossroads.

So allow me to ease your predicament with the help of an example. Let’s assume you are relatively happy working in the Pharmaceutical industry and you are facing one or all these above mentioned predicaments. How would you go on from here to change the situation?

Whether to switch careers or switch company?

Although it’s really very easy to utter these seven innocent words (and you will utter them over and over again) their meaning is actually rather difficult to arrive at because what you are asking yourself is “In which direction should I now steer my career?”

If you feel that you have got stuck in a proverbial “career rut” and feel that your career is going absolutely nowhere, you have to act now. You first have to be sure if it’s your current profile that’s causing you distress, or the sole reason of your distress is the company you are currently employed in.

So read through these following paragraphs in order to help yourself assess the position you are in:

Not enjoying your current profile but like the company?

If this is the case then you need to look within your own organization for a different role that you feel you could play to perfection. If there’s a certain profile that interests you but demands more experience or qualifications, have a word with your HR department about the best possible way you can gain these skills. Request them to put you on a structured training program that your organization may have started keeping in mind the requirements of this position. Prepare yourself to study and slog in your free time. Also make sure that you can confidently face your bosses with your new job demands because there a chance that they may try to talk you out of trying for a new position.

Not happy with your role and your company

If you realize that you are neither feeling enthusiastic with your current role, nor are you happy with the company you’re employed in, what you need is a complete career change. However, before you make this rather drastic decision, it would be good idea to move on to an entirely different role in a different company but remain within the same industry, as all you may need is a fresh approach to revive your sagging career.

Unhappy with your organization but love your role?

This is really unfortunate. If you are disillusioned with the work ethics and corporate culture of your company, it will only be a matter of time before you disenchantment starts affecting your position. If you feel that you really enjoy your work, but are having serious issues your organization, you should immediately start looking for a similar profile and position in a different company, while you still feel positive about the work that you do. If you choose to wait for long, you may loose your enthusiasm for your work as well and this will make moving to a new company all the more difficult.

What now?
So what have you ultimately learnt from the story of career change? Think twice before you act, and be sure that you understand the reasons for your discontent before making any changes in your career graph. It’s really all too easy to move over from one unsuitable position and land up in another if you are not sure about what you ultimately intend to achieve in your career.