Ask Asad: I want to end my seven year long career in civil services but am scared of the future

A bad job does not equal a bad life, jobs are only a small slice of the pie

Dear Asad,

I am a 40 year-old man, married with children. My eldest child is in college so you may well reckon that I got married at an early age. I was a brilliant student and took the lead not just in studies but also in extra-curricular activities. I was always a competent and confident person and had set high goals for myself. My goal was to get an excellent education and then join a reputable international organisation. But all my dreams and planning came to naught.

This is because right after graduation, instead of pursuing higher education, I had to give up my plans and get a job immediately because of my family’s financial situation.

Thus in the prime of my youth I had to quit my studies and start earning without setting any goals. Quick switch overs from one company to another, regardless of the field of profession, I became a jack of all trades and master of none. This led to my not having substantial experience in one particular field to follow a career path. During all this I got married and ended up with the additional responsibilities of providing for my wife and children.

Then a friend suggested I sit for competitive exams. I took his advice, prepared hard for the exams and in my first attempt passed with flying colours. I got a job as a grade 17 civil servant. It has been seven years since I started working in the public sector and have begun to feel that it is not for me. Public sector salaries are comparably low and it takes much longer to be promoted than it would in the private sector.

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Also, my belief that I am capable of doing far better in life continuously hounds me. I know I have a lot of potential and I could do much better if I had the right opportunities. This in turn would help me out of my financial difficulties. But what holds me back is the fact that I don’t have the high qualifications that are required to be a part of reputed international organisations, where the competition for entry is already fierce.

At this stage of my life, I am indecisive about my future and can’t figure out what to do. With each passing day, the fear that I will never be able to realise my dreams of having a prosperous and comfortable life, is growing considerably. Please tell me what I should do.

Path Seeker

 

Dear Path Seeker,

Life can sometimes be extremely brutal by preventing us from doing what we really wanted to do, or by stopping us from what we wanted to be. Fate has dealt you a similar hand. You weren’t able to pursue your dreams and harness your potential by getting the higher education that you so badly wanted. Instead you had to quit studies and go for multiple dead-end jobs.

Still you did not completely let it beat you and you worked hard and got admitted to the civil service. Kudos for that. That’s quite a feat and goes on to prove your claim about your intellectual abilities.

I agree that going to work every day when you hate what you are doing or who you work for can be a huge challenge. But you don't have to stay in a place you simply feel is not a good fit. Just because you have chosen a certain career path doesn’t mean that you have to follow it for life.

If you want out then you have to work for it! There are steps you can, and should, take to move on if you hate your job and you are not happy at work.

1) Consider what other options are available to you given your skill set and abilities. Yes, you will likely have to work hard to switch career paths, but it is possible if you are willing to make a change.
2) Build up your qualifications yourself as much as you possibly can. There are tons of courses out there that you can do – both free and paid. Opt for courses which you believe can help you enter the corporate world.

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3) Start networking more than you have been. So many professionals who are stuck in work they dislike have let years pass without building a network, or connecting with supporters, mentors and sponsors who could help them. No matter where you are on your professional path, you need others to help you grow.

4) Build and make use of digital media. If you want to find a new job, you can’t be invisible online. If you are invisible online, you won’t be found by hiring managers or potential employers You have to share digitally who you have been, what you have done and why it matters. And the first, best place to do that is on LinkedIn.

5) If possible (financially and otherwise) take a six months to a year long hiatus from your government job and work as an internee in the corporate world. This would give you the experience and knowledge of working in the corporate world and help you in landing a job there.
In the end, remember one thing. No job is perfect! No matter what career path you choose, you are going to have days where you don’t enjoy what you do. During those moments, find reasons to be grateful for the work you do.

Also remember that a bad job does not equal a bad life. Take a moment to recognise the other aspects that you love about your life and remember that our jobs are only a small slice of the pie.

All the best!

Asad

Asad is a counsellor, life coach, inspirational speaker and a personal-development expert. He advises on social, personal and emotional issues. You can send him your questions for this weekly column at [e-mail] with “Ask Asad” mentioned in the subject line and provide as many details as possible.

Note: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Express Tribune.