Passion isn't always enough to stick with a career on the long run — unfortunately.
Once reality sits in, after winning a job, issues of income, stability and social status cannot be ignored. While passion remains critical to success, keeping those other factors within the comfort zone is what sustains a person to keep going on a day-to-day basis.
It is a challenge but it can be achieved if a person is consciously investing in a long term dream career and willing to make compromises. Then a job that, for example, forces him/her to drastically change his/her lifestyle in terms of luxury and social relations becomes tolerable.
It is obviously all about personal expectations. A clear perception of what a chosen career takes to succeed and its ceiling of convenience makes it easier to deal with the circumstances.
However, it doesn't work without an honest assessment of one's necessities and the ability to factor for realistic considerations such as job availability, different roles and changing market forces on the long term. If a move seems too difficult or risky to be taken, pulling out as early as possible may save time and pain.
Either way, the conclusion should help a job seeker who is at a crossroads make a decision on whether going ahead into a certain career is feasible or not.
Here are a few points to consider:
Nagging concerns
You should never ignore the points of concern that might be in the back of your mind. If you're not sure you can handle the circumstances related to the job's financial compensation, benefits, hours, etc, you need to stop and rethink the whole situation. These problems are not going to go away or sort themselves out. The same goes for concerns regarding the employer's policies and ethics. The question to ask yourself is whether you can live with these issues down the road or not.
Works for me
People are different. A 20-something may not mind working through the holidays, living in a studio and cutting down expenses to the absolute minimum as long as he/she is progressing career wise. A person who supports a family may not have the same option. If you can afford the job demands, take it even if others think it is abusive. Build your strong foundation while you can. Generally speaking, filter advice that is based on personal circumstances and preferences.
In any case, when it comes to a dream job, you need to consider all possible support. If you're willing to do such a job despite its inconvenience, see if your family is willing to support your ambition. Once again, it all rests on how clear the picture is for you and others who will have to deal with consequences. If you begin with reasonable expectations of the challenges, you're more likely to be able to deal with them.
Beyond your control
While you cannot control or predict when challenges related to the nature of the industry may occur, your knowledge of the business can safeguard you from major shocks. For instance, if an industry is already suffering or volatile by nature, you need to be prepared that you might be laid off down the road, or if you're lucky to keep your job, the money and advancement may not be coming as you'd wish. While struggling economies made this risk common almost anywhere, some industries are worse than others. If your career choice is in a significantly hit-sector, always plan ahead for how to weather the tough times by putting money aside for a slow season or being open to changing jobs if needed.
Time to change
There are two ways to look at ending a career that proved to be difficult to maintain. The first way is to see it as a natural end. After all careers are not supposed to be for life; people pursue what they are passionate about, stick with it if it works or move on if it doesn't. The second way is to look at it as a waste of time and a wrong choice — which won't help in any way. I'd recommend going with a positive attitude if things don't work out and try to make a new choice based on the skills and experience you gained from this experiment as well as what you've learnt about your own expectations.
- Be realistic about your own expectations.
- You need your family on board for support and acceptance.
- Don't ignore points of concern.
- If it doesn't work, move on with no regrets.
Rania Oteify, a former Business Features Editor at Gulf News, is a freelance journalist based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
