The Big Switch

Not pleased with your career? It isn’t too late to change course, even if drastically. Anindita Ghosh gets a lowdown from trailblazers who have dared to make the shift

Most of us are schooled to believe that once we are safely ensconced in a stable career, there’s no looking back. But there are a few who have stepped out of the straight and narrow for varied reasons, made “eccentric” choices, and have been successful. Signs often prop up that you need to look for an alternative. Dr Prakriti Poddar, Mumbai-based expert on mental health, HR, education, and business upliftment; director, Poddar Wellness, and Managing Trustee of Poddar Foundation, observes, “Some people tend to take up careers based on peer and parental pressure. Later, when they start working, and derive little happiness from their choices, they go through an existential crisis with some coming close to a breakdown. They seek a hobby they feel connected to, and this, leads them to forsake their primary careers for their passion.”

You’ve reached the top

Surabhi Dewra, founder of a career counselling platform, opines that if you've hit a peak in your existing career, and see no growth, it may be time to explore. “The stagnation could be because your potential is exhausted, or the industry does not offer suitable opportunities. You may have spent a substantial amount of time at that peak and done well, but there comes a point when you want to challenge yourself.”

Hobby=Career

It’s common for people to pursue hobbies at leisure. However, when it begins to bring in steady income, name and fame, you are understandably going to be inclined to pursue it. “If an engineer who does standup gigs earns a name for himself, he may start looking at it as a viable career option,” Dewra tells us.

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