Am I in the wrong career path?

This thought may have come to you severally. And each time it comes, you shrug off and feel you are in control, yet each work day rather than being excited by what you do and complain less, you are downcast, frustrated and hopeless.

It is better to face the reality by re-examining your personality traits, aptitude and talents in relation with the current job or career you have found yourself.

Research has shown that many persons are in the wrong career path but seem stuck because they are afraid of confronting the reality and thinking out of the box. Such people clog the wheel of  progress and innovation in the workplace and are known for perennial complaints. They never go an extra mile for the sake of what they do, and towards achieving excellence. You never perceive any semblance of passion in them as they go about their duties. One perceives a disconnect between them and the jobs they do or their career path.

If you don’t enjoy what you do for a living irrespective of your current pay then you need to talk to a career counsellor or someone who can really direct you accordingly. Successful career persons or entrepreneurs are those who are passionate about what they do. They are first driven and motivated by the desire to become change agents before the considerations for financial reward. And more often than not such persons are usually not denied of financial security.

How do people get it wrong? It is when you are not certain about your personal competence, traits and desires or you choose to ignore these when pursuing higher education or vocational study. Allowing oneself to be swallowed by bandwagon careers or professions or placing less premium on job satisfaction in the pursuit of employment or careers is the undoing of many.

In times of recession when unemployment is high, people tend to be short-sighted or care less about issues of the long term. But surely, the real issues about satisfaction, fulfilment, competence, and long term relevance will ultimately rear-up and define career contributions and value. Don’t be timid about it. If you are square peg in a round hole, make the right move for a career change. Those who have done this rightly find lasting fulfilment, relevance and commensurate financial security.

   IKENNA OBI