My previous job was secure and well-paying. I had reasonable working hours, enough vacation days and great colleagues. The only thing lacking was enthusiasm. I never used my full capacity but just performed well enough to pass. At times I was so frustrated that during days I counted hours till end of work, and when I was not in the office I got crumpy thinking about going there. I admit, I have got very high expectations of life. While many people are satisfied to do just something to pay the bills, I want my work to be filled with interest, challenge and impact.
If I work 8 hours per day and sleep 8 hours per night, in a week I spend over a third of my waken time at work. It is a lot of time. Sure every job is sometimes boring and difficult, but for most of the time I want to feel good about mine. Unlike my designer friend, I have no childhood dream profession. When I quit my job I did not have clear ideas about what I would prefer doing for work. I just knew I was not happy, and later on I would regret if I had not even tried to change it for better.
So when my company had contractual negotiations, I saw it as a good change to voluntarily leave with a resignation package. In no way it was an easy decision, as I feared ending up worse (extra reading: Unbeaten stress). But I wanted to have a strong push and enough space to create myself a new career. I decided to do it through traveling.
Now I have been on the go for five months. In the beginning my job search was relaxed and casual, but over time it has become increasingly focused and strategic. As I have been familiarizing myself with the international development field - including its different parties, systems and characteristics - I have found out what I would ideally want to work among. Already this is a break-through for me, since now I finally have a direction where to head to.
Entering the new field has proven to be extremely difficult. I am competing against hundreds of experienced people for positions spread around all over the world. It seems that sending out applications is waste of time unless I have connections backing me up. I am getting discouraged at trying my hardest and yet still barely getting any answers. It is stressful being in this situation alone; deciding where to go and what to do in order to maximize success, without proper information on job markets and conditions.
But now giving up is not an option. Even though some people are getting doubtful about me ever finding what I want, I must keep trusting on myself. As long as I believe that I am determined, smart and lucky enough, I will be alright. I anticipated that this career change would require lots of boring hours on the computer, persistence and even correcting lapses made on the way. Now I must stick through it until I find myself in a new, exciting and fulfilling job.
After all, hitherto I am closer than ever to my dream job. I actually know what it is, and I am putting effort into getting it. And anyways, true achievements are those that one has worked hard for. So when I eventually wake up one morning happily thinking about going to work, I know this struggle has paid off!
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| When climbing (or life or whatever) gets touch, have a mojito! |
