Career Crossroads: Navigating Your Path to Professional Reinvention

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" is a question that almost everyone gets asked. It does not start in your teens—in some cases, it begins as early as age 4 or 5! A few fortunate people are undoubtedly aware of their true calling and take calculated steps towards pursuing it. For the rest of us, it is like navigating a maze: choose a path, go back, try another one, double back, and eventually arrive at a place you are reasonably comfortable with. Listen to the "mazerunner", Monish Sundrani 's self-discovery journey (feel free to jump straight to time 6:50 onwards).

As we grow up, our needs, values, interests, and wants shift. In our 30s, we might not like the things we did in our 20s. In our 40s, our desires for our careers and lives may alter greatly from those in our 30s. Even with this knowledge, many are still quite hesitant to change careers. It can be due to their concerns about:

? Wasted experiences;

? Financial security;

? Others' perceptions; or

? Simply being too old.

Read this article to know more about how to step beyond these fears in your career change journey. ?

When starting your career transition, keep the following in mind:

·????? Be prepared to start at the bottom;

·????? Ground your aspirations in reality;

·????? Seize any opportunity that presents itself;

·????? Find a reliable mentor who will be honest with you.

Here are some additional dos and don'ts while changing careers.

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Even if we are not yearning for a career change, you may find that over a period of time, our interests fade. Everyone is haunted by the proverb, "If you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life."? You may occasionally come to dislike something you once loved if you are doing the same thing every day! The adage "Change is the only constant" is maybe the most accurate. You may not really expect or want to change careers every time your passions alter or fade. That’s where job crafting helps. You can:

·????? Infuse your newest interest into your existing daily work;

·????? Change how you engage with people to support your passion; or

·????? Shift your perspective so that your work is in line with your passion.

For practical examples of how to apply job crafting in everyday life check out this article.

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Developing your own distinctive brand is crucial, regardless of whether you are changing careers or exploring new avenues for professional advancement in your current field. Most people normally don’t talk about their own accomplishments because it feels forced or sounds like bragging. However, there are numerous subtle ways to highlight your own accomplishments and talents.

·????? Sincerely thank a teammate. They will give you a thank-you in return!

·????? If at all feasible, mentor others or share your work. This will demonstrate your skills.

·????? Maintain an active LinkedIn profile by leaving insightful comments. In your network, your profile will be highly visible. ?

·????? Launch a newsletter on LinkedIn or a blog! ?

·????? Obtain a licence or certification.

Check out more tips for self-promotion advice here.

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Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts. That courage is already in you! You just need to rediscover it!