11 January,2010 06:55 AM IST | | Kumar Saurav
Just because you follow the beat of your own drum, it's no reason why you should'nt succeed. FYI plays Rancchoddas aka Rancho and tells you how to pump passion into work
The conventional formula for success is to do what you love, get someone to pay you for it, and then stick
But what if you find yourself in a situation similar to Farhan Qureshi's (played by Madhavan) from the same film: stuck in an industry or a job that you might be good at, but you know is not your life's calling? What if Farhan had decided against following his heart and not made the switch from engineering to wildlife photography?
What if you don't yet know what your life's calling is and so drift from one job to another in search of the "perfect" job? On the bright side, you could be a maverick: someone who refuses to follow conventional ways of thinking. So, the idea of "sticking" with one job till you get "good" at it, might seem unappealing. On the downside, you could be a Jack of all trades, but master of none. But what if finding career stability is your life lesson? Here are some tips to help you stay on course.
TIPS to stick with your job
Deal with issues: Just as a new love can't help you get over your last heart-break, a new job might not always come minus the issues you had in your previous one. It's important to deal with challenges head-on.
resist temptation: Money, adventure, glamour, fame... there could be several reasons for why a friend's profession might seem more attractive. However, that doesn't necessarily mean it's the right fit for you.
Wait it out: You can't become the "Salesman of the Year" in one day. The sooner you realise that persistence pays, the easier it will be for you to cope with delays and setbacks, and the less "trapped" you will feel.
embrace change: As in life, change is inevitable. There will be sudden changes in hierarchy and job profile, organisational structure and pay cuts. Don't run at the first sign of change. Stay focussed on the aspects of your job that you enjoy.
Make boredom work for you
Find your feet: If you're prone to switching careers, you should aim to be applauded for the speed at which you learn new skill sets.
Master transitions: Use your restlessness to set new challenges for yourself. Let the company know that you're open to a transfer. Re-locating to another city or country can give you the opportunity to meet new people and adapt to different cultures.
Save, save, save: If you have decided that your current job is not for you, know thatu00a0 signing your resignation letter might not always coincide with signing an offer letter. So, make sure you set aside a fixed amount every month that goes straight into your savings account.
Changed my mind
Aditi Govitrikar is a gynaecologist.
Soha Ali Khan was an employee of Ford Foundation and CitiBank.
Amisha Patel used to be an economic analyst with a securities firm and even turned down an offer by Morgan Stanley.u00a0u00a0
Shankar Mahadevan holds a computer science engineering degree from Mumbai University.
Minissha Lamba was once a journalism enthusiast.
Expert talk
Neelam Sharma, career consultant
Most job hoppers that I have counselled come from affluent families, especially from business backgrounds. Students from such families know that they can experiment with different careers because money is not a problem. They usually look for varied job experiences or 'masti'. We tell them that it's fine to be a Jack of al trades, but important to master them too.
Dr Bhavna Barmi, senior clinical psychologist,u00a0Excorts Heart Institute and Research Centre
Frequent job hopping is a habit with those who believe in exploring and experiential learning. They won't take up something just because everyone else is doing it, and even if they do, chances are, they will soon drop out. Men and women like this are good at multitasking, far better than we imagine them to be. Also, people whose identity has not been fully developed are prone to switching jobs frequently, in their quest to create one for themselves. There are aptitude and career-related tests that could ease their anxiety and help them achieve stability.
The job hoppers
Sumantha Rathore, media professional
While growing up, I wanted to be a doctor. Later, I got taken up by the e-commerce hype, which I decided to graduate in. But even after the convocation I felt as if I didn't know the basics of e-commerce, which was when I decided to pursue my masters in management. The day I went to pay my fees, I was having lunch in the canteen with the director of the film-making branch of the same college, and he convinced me that film was the next best thing for me. That lunch changed the course of my career. Now, I want to do some interior designing, but only part-time.
Divij Arora, proprietor
My specialisation in senior college was computers, though I wanted to be in the merchant navy. Later, I pursued electronic engineering, and then a one-year commercial pilot training course. Guess what I'm doing right now? Running a food joint.
Ankita Rawat, student
After completing my school in 2007, I thought of pursuing hotel management, but since my father didn't support me I enrolled for a course in communication. But now that I'm about to complete my course, I'm preparing to sign up for a wine appreciation course in Goa.
Aakash Deep Chouhan, real estate professional
I joined an engineering college in Jaipur, but despite doing well, I dropped out. Though, I bonded so well with my friends there that I joined another college and started preparing for my civil service exams. I then dumped the idea when I met a journalist in Delhi who was leading a peace procession to Lahore. I was so impressed by him that I joined a journalism course in Pune, but I later got bored. Then I joined a research firm in Delhi, which I left in six months. I moved back to Mumbai to join a construction firm and have been working there for the past year. I took time to find my calling, but I now have peace of mind.
