Feeling Stuck in My Career Path: How Can I Best Use My Skills and Achieve My MNC Dream?

Hello Seniors, please guide me on how to choose my career path. It is a bit lengthy; please help me out with your valuable suggestions. I'm a B.E. graduate. I started my career as a mentor to final-year students of engineering colleges, guiding them on how to attend campus interviews. Since this job required lots of traveling to different colleges, I quit after finishing my one-year contract.

Then, I joined a small startup firm as a Jr. Dot Net Developer and worked for one year. Due to my mother's health problems and needing to look after her, I quit my job. It took nearly eight months for my mom's health to recover. During that time, a recession was ongoing, and I was unable to find a job for a couple of months, resulting in a two-year break in my career. Meanwhile, I lost hands-on experience in Dot Net.

Afterward, I received an offer from a startup company as an HR & Admin. I handled it very well, managing complete office operations, vendor management, handling the BPO team, generating and reporting on various reports, and HR consultancy. Even with the heavy workload, I found job satisfaction in this organization. While I was working as a software developer, I used to wait for the end of the day. Due to significant losses, the company where I was working in HR closed down, and I started searching for a new job again.

Since my college days, my dream has been to work with an MNC to receive a handsome salary and a good job profile. I tried my best to secure a position in an MNC but unfortunately did not receive any offers.

Career Path Options

Now, the question is, which career path suits me best where I can utilize my potential to the fullest and be rewarded with a handsome salary:

1. Entry-level HR Executive in an MNC.
2. Joining a recruitment firm to learn the end-to-end recruitment process and gain experience in HR processes, then attempting to enter an MNC.
3. Brushing up on Dot Net concepts and applying for entry-level positions in an MNC.
4. I have received an offer as an MIS Executive in a small firm. If I accept this offer, what will be the career growth potential? To flourish in my career, what would be the best option?

I appreciate your guidance and insights on this matter. Thank you for your time and assistance.

Regards,

Hey Swaroop (I hope this is what your name is). We all can just help you in making a choice, but the final decision rests upon you—your skills, abilities, knowledge, and interests.

So far, from what is narrated here, it seems you have no clue about what you want to do in life; you have been going with the stride. An Engineer by degree, a trainer/mentor, a dot net professional, an HR person... you have tried it all. But tell me, amongst all these, where have you found satisfaction? Also, interest is very important for enjoying what you do, rather than just getting up in the morning and living a life of a machine.

Therefore, find out about your strengths, interests, and skills, and then make a choice. Today, I can help you in selecting any one option, but what if you may not like it after a few months and you lose your interest, right? Hence, I would request not to look for short-term happiness; make a choice that can bring you long-term contentment.

Plan your career and do not worry about the job. Also, working in an MNC can happen with any of the profiles you select. Work on your communication skills, presentation skills, groom yourself, and develop your skills in the area of your interest, be it engineering, IT, or HR.

All the best,

Archna

Thanks a lot for your reply, Archana. I will work on the areas you suggested and try to find out where I'm lagging. In my previous post, I clearly mentioned my job satisfaction while working as an HR. However, now the problem seems to be either due to my previous IT background or other unknown issues, which are giving me negative results for HR openings. I'm unable to determine the reason.

Coming to my past, as you mentioned, it went astray due to situations mixed with personal and financial reasons. I don't want to take a chance to switch my career again, but a series of rejections are making me question whether I'm on the correct path to quickly secure a job to meet my needs.

Regards

Hey Swaroop, don't lose hope; it happens to many of us when we have to make choices between career and family, so that is perfectly fine. I also made a choice in my career once and chose my family as there was some personal problem, and I'm happy I made that choice. So don't worry about that at all.

Addressing Your Career Concerns

Now, coming to your problem again, your IT background may be influencing your career now, but as your recent experience is in HR, I don't think that should be a hindrance. Apply for jobs where they require some IT-related skills and knowledge as well. Work on your CV; it may require some changes. Highlight your HR work experience. Do not get dejected by the rejections; it may take time. Keep applying, and you will achieve success.

Regards,
Archna

Your issue seems genuine, and what Ms. Archna is saying is perfectly right. I would like to add that whatever path we choose is not going to be easy. In any career, there are hurdles—I still face them. Shifting from one career to another should be a conscious effort and not rushed. Ultimately, it is your choice—an MNC job with a handsome salary or starting in an area of your interest and making an effort (either in an MNC or any other place) for where you want to go.

Regards

Thanks a lot for motivating me. I have an in-hand offer as an MIS Executive. According to the job description, I understand that I will be handling MIS reports. Will that help me to flourish my career in HR in the future? After joining, will I have to do certifications that support career growth? This option should not become another new profession in my career. I want to know where I will stand after one year. This experience should not lead to a different role in my career that can't support me to grow as an HR professional. If that is the case, then again, I have to start from scratch, which doesn't make any sense.

By the job description, I understand that I should work on Excel to generate reports, that's it. I don't have a clear picture of the role as an MIS Executive and about career advancement. If you guys know, please let me know.

Thanks a lot for understanding and patience to reply back for some others' problems.