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What can I do if I select a career and decide its not a good fit?

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career career-choice career-change
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Subject: Career question for you
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Chirayu’s Answer

It's not uncommon for people to find themselves in a career that they realize is not a good fit. If you find yourself in this situation, here are some steps you can take - Take some time to think about what it is that makes you feel like the career isn't a good fit. Is it the work itself, the work environment, the people you work with, or something else? Understanding the root of the issue can help you decide what to do next. Once you've identified why the career isn't a good fit, consider what your options are. Is there anything you can do to change your current situation, such as moving to a different department or taking on different responsibilities? Or do you need to start looking for a new job or career entirely? If you decide that a new career is the best option, take some time to research different options that align with your interests, skills, and values. Consider taking assessments or talking to a career counselor to help you identify potential career paths. Once you've identified potential career paths, start networking and gaining experience in those areas. Attend industry events, connect with professionals in your desired field, and consider volunteering or taking on side projects to gain experience. Once you've identified a new career path, make a plan to get there. This may include gaining new skills, getting additional education or certifications, and updating your resume and cover letter. Then, start taking action towards your goals.
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Ryan’s Answer

I love this question! The career paradigm has shifted in recent generations and it is very uncommon for people to stay in the same organization for 30 years and then retire.

Instead, we're seeing massive fluctuations in career changes by millennials and Gen Z. One of the common thread is the desire to work for organizations that align with personal beliefs and desires to do good. This demand applies to organizations large and small and has become a requisite and trade-off in return for employment. Job place satisfaction and culture are also demands on the rise. It's becoming less popular for this generation to be ok with simply clocking in and out, they want to be involved and ensure their company is involved socially as well.

Some deep self-reflection is necessary when deciding a career is not a good fit, I would suggest the following action steps:

1. Self-assessment: Take time to assess your strengths, skills, and interests. This will help you identify what you enjoy doing and what you are good at. You can then explore careers that align with your strengths and interests.

2. Research: Do research on careers that interest you. Look into the job duties, required skills and qualifications, and salary expectations. Consider reaching out to people who work in those fields to learn more about their experiences.

3. Additional education or training: Consider obtaining additional education or training to transition into a new career. This could include taking courses, obtaining a certification, or pursuing a degree.

4. Networking: Networking can be a valuable tool in finding a new career. Attend industry events, join professional organizations, and connect with people in fields that interest you.

5. Job shadowing or internships: Job shadowing or interning in a new field can give you a firsthand experience of what it would be like to work in that field. This can help you determine if it's a good fit for you before making a full transition.

Ryan recommends the following next steps:

Remember, it's never too late to make a career change. It's important to find a career that aligns with your interests, values, and strengths to ensure a fulfilling and successful career.
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Jason’s Answer

It's never too late to retrain and change careers. Keep your eyes open for opportunities and don't give in to the sunk-cost fallacy and think that just because you've invested time in the job that you have that the benefit of moving to a new job can't outweigh the investment that you've made. It's important to your mental health to work in a field that suits you.
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Raksha’s Answer

Hi!
This is one of my favorite questions to ask as well. Below are couple of great answers I've got :-
1. Working in a job is not at all equivalent to your college life where you select a major and work towards it and gain advanced knowledge and pass out with specific skills. Job is like your life but professional and you would never know what opportunities show up or what happens next in your life which could change your course. So, always be open for change and keep trying new things. The most important thing is to keep learning. That should never stop.
2. Choosing the right career or something which fits your situation is an exploration journey and the way it works is you keep on deducing and ruling out stuff you get bored with, to reach onto the next step which you like more than the previous one.

Happy to help and share :)
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Sneha’s Answer

It is very common that many people feel their career is not a good fit but still choose to accept it and continue in their job because of their commitments. If you are not happy with what you are doing, first try to find what is the best fit for your carreer, choose the field, prep yourself in the field, and start giving interviews for the open positions you are interested in. You can do this having your current job, just spend some time building for the new career.
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Gennie A’s Answer

I can only say, good job! Learning what you want and what you don't want is part of the growth process. I've had a multitude of jobs in a lot of different industries, each one I learned something from and applied it to the next. Follow your passion, you will be working the rest of your life, you need to be happy. That being said, we also need to pay the bills :-) so if you like art, and are not an artist, you can still get a position in the art world so you can be a part of what you love and still make a living. Same can be said of every industry. I couldn't program but I like what they can do, I ended up being end user support for tools that they built so I interacted with programmers every day and built on that until I managed the team.
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Diana’s Answer

Been there before and it's Ok to change careers (we've all done it before). Initially I wanted to pursue something in the medical field but later found out that it didn't fit my personality. So my suggestion would be, to research things/careers that speak to you. Also, many companies offer a tuition assistance program which employees can take advantage of if your first career didn't quite work out. And that's exactly what I did and now I have a Master's Degree in Human Resources and absolutely love what I do.

I hope this helps!
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Marianna’s Answer

Your career and change and evolve as you do. I have had 3 different careers. I went back to school and persued a different field than my original twice. Sometimes if you just want a boost in your career the company you work for will reimburse for extra classes and/or higher level degree. A career that fits you well in your 20s might not be the best fit in your 40s and it is okay to "reinvent" yourself at any age to be fulfilled in your career.
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Rita’s Answer

I think a lot of people pick jobs that don't fit them. You find another job. No one does anything perfectly but what you hope is that you gained some skills that you can bring to your next job.

As a physician, there's posts all the time-What to do with a medical degree without practicing medicine.
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Candy’s Answer

I have had multiple careers within the financial services industry. My skillset was transferrable to other lines of business. Think about your accomplishments to tell your story.
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Christine’s Answer

If you are currently in a job that is not a good fit, move on. Don't wait a long time to make a change. You will become resentful and your employer will realize you are not happy.
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Jason’s Answer

Change is okay! I went through undergrad and commissioned as an officer in the army. I thought I would do 20 years and retire from service afterwards but that changed during a deployment I had. I was presented with a new opportunity that I wasn't previously aware of which would provide more options in my life as I considered my life trajectory and what I wanted to. So within a year I left and pivoted my career through business school.

Whichever path you choose, keep developing yourself and learning. Evaluate where that path may take you, and keep your eyes open for new opportunities!
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