How a bad career decision is not the end of everything

We often kickstart our higher  academic lives with big dreams and even bigger aspirations. Every person steps into a field with a determination of making a career out of it. However it is not necessary that every single one of them actually ends up in the place that started off their journey.

The course of a  career is long and exhausting. The journey does not really end with a person getting a job in the field of their choice, in fact that is where the journey really begins. Therefore getting lost on the way or a change of heart is more normal than one might think. 

Research shows that 1 out of every 5 people make rushed/wrong/impulsive career choices. This does not necessarily mean they lead a misguided or unemployed life. It simply means that those people picked a wrong path and now they just have to take another road that might lead them to a fulfilling career choice. I would really love to stress on the word “choice” here because what is choice if not an act of choosing between ‘two or more’ possibilities? Doesn’t that simply mean that the possibilities are endless and we just have to try till we find our fit?!

To put it more simply, even though we are discussing ‘bad’ career decisions, I really believe there is no such thing as a bad career decision. If I were to rephrase this I would use the word ‘unfit’. We make a decision, we live with it for a few days/months/years, we find it ‘unfit’ or unsatisfying so we change it. It’s not the end of the world. 

Every decision one makes is an opportunity to learn and grow, whether you get the end results or not is a totally different subject. Learning is a continuous process and if anything, wrong career decisions help you learn a lot about yourself and your choices.

Linear career paths are so normalised around us that anything that isn’t linear seems unfit as a career option. Until a few years ago, nobody thought a career could be made on mere social media platforms but today almost every other individual has a social media blog/account that is a major source of their income!

A misfitting/wrong/ unsatisfactory career choice can be a bummer, we agree. So here are some tips on how you can pull yourself out of it and start fresh! 

1. Acknowledge the problem

Recognising an unfit decision is not very difficult, it comes naturally to you. Start by assessing how you feel at  work and if this is what you picture yourself doing in one year. The 1 year time frame is the best to assess your vision as it might either relieve you, in which case you should definitely stick to your decision or it might scare you - in that case you will think of turning things around.

2. Resolve to make a change

Once you no longer feel like you belong in a career field or a job, it might get very stressful to carry out even the tiniest of tasks. That’s when you know you need to change things up. Once you know it, resolving your issue will automatically come next. Writing down why your career decision is unsatisfactory or what mistakes you want to avoid in your future plan is a good way to start. 

You can scribble simple things like

• I will not force myself into any career
• I will take xyz job only if it ticks all my prerequisites
• I will not take up any work that I am not inclined towards doing 
• I will not multi task to a point that exhausts me 
• I will not overwork myself 
• I will give my 100% to the work/course I want to do

These not only help you clarify your own needs but are also subtle reminders for you to go easy on yourself and continue to believe in yourself.

3. Do not let a previous decision hamper your next

A set back can be very demotivating. It might make you lose the confidence you have in yourself and often come in the way of your growth. A simple way to do this is looking at your decisions through a positive lens. 

If you took a risk and failed, the part that needs highlighting is - that you were willing to take a risk! Not everybody takes risks and if you took one and did not get the desired results, you still learnt a lot. Gander at the experiences you have gained from your decisions and move forward with a clear and more determined mindset.

4. Learn from those who’ve made the same mistake

Experiences can be drawn not just from your own journey but also those who make it with us. You might have a senior colleague/friend/classmate who is going through or has been through the same situation. This might make you realise that making career mistakes is more common than you might think and that there are a lot of other people who grow to do better things even after such mistakes. Talking to people with similar mindsets and situations and sharing your vision can help you deal with your own issues in a better and creative manner. Always keep yourself open to positive feedback and constructive criticism and keep the negative and demotivating people out of your way.

5. Evaluate yourself and take it slow

You do not have to jump into a new  career immediately. If you’ve quit your job or decided to leave a study course mid way, do not rush into something new. The points I listed above will only give you a clear pathway if you spend enough time on each. A person is never too old to try something new. Do not let the ‘age’ ‘time’ stereotype get to you. There is no age limit to pursue your dreams. You can do it one way or another anytime you want to. So once you pull away from a bad decision do not make another bad one. Stand back, take a breather, go for a walk, maybe focus on your hobbies for a little while and the right thing will come to you. Once you spend enough time with yourself, you will know what works best for you.

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”

―  Henry Ford

I think learning happens the most when you try and fail. So do not hold yourself back because of a mistake or two (or three or ten!). Make them, learn from them and keep moving forward because a bad decision is not the end of everything!