Choosing the Right Career Path: The Journey Matters More Than the Destination
Imagine waking up every morning, not because you have to, but because you want to. The work you’re about to do excites you, fuels your passion, and gives you a sense of purpose. Sounds like a dream, right? But for those in the right career, this isn’t just a fantasy, it’s their reality. The difference between dragging yourself to work and jumping out of bed with enthusiasm isn’t about luck; it’s about making choices that align with who you truly are, and that begins with understanding that the journey to finding your passion is just as important, if not more so than the destination. This blog is here to guide you through that journey, helping you make informed choices that lead to a fulfilling career.
Anna had just started her bachelor’s degree in business, a journey spanning eight semesters. In the first six semesters, she studied general courses and maintained an impressive cumulative GPA of 3.8. Confident in her choice, she believed she had made the best decision of her life, as her outstanding grades seemed to confirm.
A Roadblock on the Path
However, Anna hit a roadblock in her seventh semester. She had to choose a major to complete her degree, and the options were accounting, finance, human resources, or marketing. Puzzled, she sought advice from friends and peers. Some suggested finance because of her proficiency with numbers, while others recommended marketing due to her excellent communication skills and confidence. The more opinions she gathered, the more confused she became. After discussing it with her friends and parents, she decided to major in finance. She completed her degree with a commendable 3.7 GPA, and everything seemed to be going well.
Anna secured a job as a finance assistant at a local bank immediately after graduation. She was eager to apply her academic knowledge to real-world scenarios and gain valuable experience in the finance industry. However, she quickly discovered that the reality of working in finance was different from her expectations. Although she excelled academically, the day-to-day tasks and behavioral demands of the job left her feeling demotivated and unfulfilled. She realized that studying finance and working in the field were vastly different experiences, and the career she once envisioned no longer appealed to her. Faced with the challenge of wanting to change her career path, Anna found herself in a dilemma: she had already completed her degree, and the idea of pursuing a new one seemed daunting.
Common Signs of a Mismatched Career
As an academic and consultant, I frequently encounter cases like Anna’s. It usually doesn’t take long to identify individuals facing this dilemma, as they tend to exhibit certain common characteristics. Surprisingly, most of them are unaware of their predicament and believe their dissatisfaction stems from the office environment or their boss. Consequently, they often consider switching jobs or changing careers. Ironically, neither option is the right choice.
Here are the three most common signs I’ve observed in people who have initially chosen the wrong career path:
- Lack of Growth: Individuals in the wrong career often stop progressing. They obtain a degree, secure a job, and that’s where it ends. They neither excel nor advance in their careers. In contrast, those in the right career continually move forward. For instance, a friend of mine, a data analyst, regularly attends workshops, and seminars, and earns certifications in data science despite already holding a master’s degree. When I asked him why he participates in all these trainings despite having a stable job and a degree, he replied, “I love my work and want to learn more and earn more.”
Tip: If you want to expand your skills, consider enrolling in online courses on platforms like Coursera or Udemy, where you can find a wide range of topics that suit your career goals. Some courses even offer certification that can boost your resume.
- Constant Search for New Degrees: Those in the wrong field often seek new degrees unrelated to their current job. A colleague of mine, who holds a Ph.D., frequently complains that she has learned enough, published numerous papers, received promotions, and now wants to become a chartered accountant. She believes she has fully explored her current field and should venture into another. It’s important to remember that each field has many branches within the same domain. For example, a Ph.D. holder can offer training, consulting, writing, and other services if they genuinely enjoy their work. However, if they start seeking options entirely outside their domain, it’s a sign they are in the wrong field.
Tip: Before investing in a new degree, try exploring other career paths through affordable resources like LinkedIn Learning or by reading insightful books available on Amazon that can guide your decision-making process.
- Lack of Motivation: People in the right career don’t need motivation to go to work every morning; they simply do it. One of my clients, a businessman, started his business immediately after graduation and has been running it for nearly ten years. I have never found him demotivated, despite facing economic challenges and the ups and downs of business. When I asked him why he remains so motivated, he replied, “I genuinely enjoy going to work every day because this is the work I was born to do.”
Tip: If you struggle with motivation, consider using tools like Trello or Asana to organize your tasks and goals. Sometimes, a structured approach can reignite your passion for work.
The Solution
If you recognize any of the symptoms mentioned above and genuinely want to switch careers or pursue another degree, don’t feel discouraged. In the United States, only 27 percent of college graduates end up in careers related to their majors. Does this mean they are all failures? Not at all. It simply indicates that choosing a career is not a destination but a journey and a process. Keep moving forward, and continue the process until you find that what you are doing to earn a living truly resonates with your overall life goals. Remember, if you focus on and enjoy the process, you will surely appreciate the results.
I have discovered one simple trick that is particularly useful for those who have decided to switch careers. This trick also works for students who are planning to choose their major and are feeling uncertain. Here’s how it works:
A Practical Approach to Choosing a Major
One day, a student approached me and said,
“I am confused about whether to choose finance or marketing as my major. What do you advise?”
I replied with a simple question, “What’s your favorite pizza?”
He looked puzzled and asked, “How does pizza relate to choosing my major?”
I said, “Just tell me the brand.”
He replied, “It’s Domino’s.”
I then asked, “How did you decide that this is the brand you’ll stick with for the rest of your life? Did it happen that one day you tried a Domino’s pizza and decided it was the best, and that you wouldn’t try anything else?”
He said, “No, I’ve tried many brands many times and finally believe that Domino’s is the one that satisfies my taste buds.”
I concluded, “You’ve come to this decision by trying other options. Unless you know what others are offering, how can you choose?”
I advised him to pursue internships in various disciplines before deciding on a major. For example, he could spend one month in marketing, another month in finance, and a third in human resources. During these internships, he should observe the work environment, identify the core skills required for each field, and study successful individuals in each discipline. Experiencing the work firsthand will allow him to make informed decisions based on facts and figures. Only then will he truly understand if he enjoys the process and wants to become part of it. Research shows that passion for a particular type of work often develops through experience, not before. He followed this advice and ultimately chose marketing as his major.
Advice for Career Changers
You might wonder how someone with a full-time job can explore this option. The advice remains the same but with a slight variation. Instead of internships, meet at least 20 people already working in the field you are considering for your career change. Here’s an example:
One of my students, an MBA graduate running his own accounting firm, once asked me about pursuing a Ph.D. in finance because he wanted the title of ‘doctor. I suggested he compile a list of 20 Ph.D. holders in finance and meet with them. He should ask how it feels to have a Ph.D., what their daily work involves, and what core skills they have developed throughout their careers. He should also inquire about their journeys to becoming a doctor and the pride they feel upon completing it. By the end of these interviews, he would have enough evidence to decide whether pursuing a Ph.D. was the right choice for him.
It didn’t take him more than six interviews to make his final decision. Most Ph.D. holders explained that a significant part of their job involves research and publishing, in addition to teaching. Their promotions often depend on publications, requiring them to continuously publish papers in peer-reviewed journals, which can take months to get accepted. Despite the intensive research and publication work, their salaries are often not on par with the corporate sector, which can be demotivating. As a result, my student decided to stick with his current profession.
Conclusion
Realizing that you are in the wrong profession is not the real issue; the actual problem arises when you focus too much on the destination rather than the journey. By investing time and effort into the journey, you will achieve the results you have always wanted.
Ready to take control of your career journey? Don’t wait for the perfect moment, start today. Identify three new career fields you’d like to explore and set up informational interviews this month. The journey is yours make it count!
