Published on December 8, 2010
Mr. Ravi Taneja started out as a bright and talented employee at a top multinational firm. Few years down the line, he has gained increasing experience and will soon outgrow his job. Just as he was starting to feel stressed and burned out, opportunity knocks on his door big time – there is an offer of ‘multiple career paths'. Diverse new horizons temptingly beckon with the possibility of advancing his career in an entirely new direction.
Even while he cannot stop grinning like a Cheshire cat at the prospect of gaining recognition, growth and influence, a daunting reality sets in. Is choosing ‘Business Strategy' the right career move or will ‘Brand Management' help him rise to the top ranks quickly? Will ‘Business Operations' provide the best chance to grow or is moving to ‘Client Relations' the springboard for the future? Doesn't ‘Project Management' still seem like the wisest choice?
Well, well onlookers may very well spite that multiple career paths leave you spoiled for choice, but the truth is that the quandary can be quite intimidating as well!
With an array of open options at hand and the overwhelming notion of starting down an almost entirely new path, careful evaluation and deliberation are crucial. Strategic planning and preparation are required as unforeseen roadblocks may arise down the road.
Here are a few pointers:
Dig inside yourself: First and foremost, undertake a candid personal inventory of what you want from your career and where you really want to head. Analyse your strengths and weaknesses vis-à-vis each career path option as well as what you actually enjoy doing. Try to match your talents, interests and motivations as much as possible. Also, reflect in terms of whether you are flexible and willing to try something new as adjusting outside your primary career field is no cakewalk.
Skill-fit: Shifting your career path offers a marvellous opportunity to tap your new interests and grow your abilities. But, it is still vital to look for a basic skill match as you will definitely not want to be weighed down with a huge learning gap even while dealing with the expected lack of experience. This may leave you bewildered as how can say, a technical skill set ever fit into a business role. Yet, the key here is to look for complementary skills like leadership, communication, problem solving, critical thinking or documentation. The next best option is to drum up the requisite knowledge/skills through training, workshops or even online/distance classes.
Do your homework: Fact is that many work domains can look quite rosy from afar. But can you afford to make a reckless jump only to realise that the grass is not really all that greener on the other side? It is advisable to first gain a clear understanding of what actually goes into the new role – think in terms of job factors, responsibilities, functions, impact, scope for growth and the like. Conduct a thorough research by doing online searches, studying employment and career trends or attending industry events. Also, discuss the viability with your peers, manager and mentor. If possible, interact with the person already working in your chosen role and even volunteer for some time before arriving at a decision.
All said and done, shifting your career path will broaden your perspective by exposing you to new areas. For Mr. Taneja, the lateral crossover also offers a chance to get out of the weary rut even while advancing his career in his own unique way. A carefully weighted decision will pave the way for a rewarding career coupled with high success. Then again, you need to stay open-minded during the transition period as you tackle the challenging days ahead.
Payal Chanania
No comments:
Post a Comment