What to do if you Find yourself on the Wrong Career Path
Career paths can go in unexpected directions. What should you do if, much to your dismay, you suddenly find yourself on the wrong career path?
Be aware that your career decision is ultimately up to you. Perhaps you initially chose what you thought was the right career and now you are re-thinking your career choice. Even if you think that you made the wrong decision initially, you still have viable career options regardless of your age, academic background, previous employment, skills and training.
Careerpath.comsuggests that there are “career tests to help you on your unique career path.” There are always more career options “whether it be deciding what career to choose, assessing options for a career change or learning about different career choices.”
Fear leading to panic may be your first reaction when you discover that you are on the wrong career path. A sudden release of adrenalin may result in a ‘fight’ or ‘flight’ response or an emotional ‘freezing’, because you experience feelings of helplessness and ‘paralysis’ in terms of your initial career choice. Do not panic.
Are you avoiding college or university where you are currently taking courses leading to your chosen career? Maybe you are taking an ‘avoidance-avoidance’ approach by not dealing with the situation at hand, because you think you have made a bad career choice. Perhaps you are not going to work because you feel ill. Fear can make you feel this way.
Recognize that this as a career crisis which can happen to anyone. Making your initial career choice may not have been easy as family members or friends often influence career choices, but their choice of a career for you may not be what you want to do for the rest of your life. Career choices are idealistic to some extent and can to be different from actual careers. Regardless of your career choice, there can be aspects of any career that you may not enjoy.
Facing a career crisis head-on is important. If you do not deal with your career crisis, you may wind up spending the rest of your life in a career that you do not want.
Begin to examine your feelings closely. Why do you feel that you are in the wrong career? You may not be, but at times it feels that way. Perhaps you feel inadequate or recognize you are in a career that appears to be ‘over your head’ academically or otherwise. Does it seem to be too much of a challenge for you? Everyone experiences good days and bad with respect to career choices.
What about when you ‘know’ the time has come change your career path? (Many baby boomers and seniors seeking employment find themselves in this category.)
What are your career options?
It is time to seek professional career counseling. If your career path is still in the preliminary or early planning stages, academically or otherwise, seeking immediate professional career counseling can prove beneficial with respect to helping you to get back on track. Do some serious research on the Internet, as you may be able to change your courses and enter another career. If you are already actively engaged in a career, an employment counselor may be able to show you other viable options. The career you are in may prove to be an important stepping-stone in terms of other possible career choices
Consider upgrading. If you being are realistic about your career, continuing in it or transitioning to a new one by upgrading are possible, but it may mean extra energy, time and effort your part.
Stay positive, pro-active and motivated in terms of averting a career crisis and effecting a transition. Remember that your choice of a career is an important determining factor in your life and career decisions are ultimately yours.
