Written by: Chane da Costa
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the
life you imagined” a quote by Henry David Thoreau. Many people make the mistake
of choosing a career based on the salary they will be getting at the end of the
month. By choosing a career based solely on the money you get is the biggest
mistake anyone could ever make. Being unsatisfied in your career takes a
negative toll on one’s mind, body and health. This will not only affect you in
your career but in your personal life as well, where you will permanently feel
burned out, frustrated, anxious and depressed. The importance of finding the
right position is not based on salary expectations but more on what truly
satisfies you as an individual.
In this blog I will take you through the criteria you need
to consider when deciding what position is the right fit for you in an attempt
to explain how true job satisfaction can be achieved, beyond the measure of
financial gains. Some people have no clue what they want to do and where they
want to be. Others feel like they have it all figured out. For most the answers
don’t always come easily.
For about two years I, myself had made the mistake of
setting my mind on an industry and company I would dream to work at. Having
thought I figured out the direction my career was going in, I had limited
myself to what was actually out there and many other areas that I have passion
for. I neglected many other areas of my interest but I do not regret it. The
point I am trying to make is that there is a lot more out there for you than
what you think there is. Having discovered my true calling (at least for now),
my best advice is to first discover your passion and purpose. You need to
uncover what activities get you excited, bring you joy and what really drives
you.
When choosing the right career considering your interests,
aptitude, personality and values are vital.
These personal aspects also help determine what drives you
professionally and where exactly your passion lies. By doing something you are
passionate about, you are motivated and inspired to do better than yesterday,
to push yourself beyond your boundaries and in essence to challenge yourself to
become greater than you ever thought. Passion is when you work long hours and
go the extra mile for your job with a smile on your face and no complaints and
people look at you as if you are crazy. To have passion for your work is what
will make you successful, not the money you receive at the end of the month.
Once you have discovered what you are passionate about, it
is important to gather information about these career options that align with
these interests as well as your values and set of principles. Learn about what
it takes to succeed in these areas of interest and the skill set required to
grow into positions within your chosen niche. Creating a career map would be
the best option to start with. A career map is a road map of your career. By
gathering job specifications of the positions you are interested in, you can determine
the education, training and experience level you should be at. Design your
career map from your first entry level position and indicate the direction you
would like to go into. This will also help you determine what you should do to
grow professionally. This will also give you good insight into the day to day
responsibilities you will have and what you should expect salary wise.
A trap that many graduates fall in is think that they should
only work for big well established brands that will look good on their CVs. I,
myself, fell into that trap not realising that working for a small start-up
company opens up many more doors than just a name on your CV.
Don’t get demotivated by not getting a position at a company
you have dreamed on for many years. Chances of another opportunity you are
passionate will most likely come your way. When this opportunity comes around, just
ensure that it is in line with your interests, aptitude, personality and values
before accepting the offer. Success is a beautiful thing when a career and a
passion come together.
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