Career Journey and Challenges
I appreciate your advice for my career assistance. Let me explain my situation. I am feeling very nervous and embarrassed. I started my career with a reputable Indian recruitment company as a "trainee - finance and admin" in 2008, thanks to a personal reference. At that time, I was completely inexperienced. I learned from scratch and put in all my efforts, even on Sundays and holidays, to master the work. Gradually, I acquired skills in finance, payroll, administration, facilities, billing, agreements, purchasing, vendor management, event management, PF, ESI, labor court works, and IT. My role required me to handle all these aspects, and I often felt overwhelmed. However, due to financial constraints, I continued working until April 2012 and eventually left the company due to a mismatch of my profile and excessive workload. I was also in poor health at that time. When I left, my designation was AM - finance and admin, with 3.5 years of experience, and my package was approximately Rs 3 lakhs per annum.
Struggles and Transitions
After leaving the company in April 2012, I faced a difficult time. For two months, I did not receive any offers matching my profile, which left me feeling depressed as I had to rely on my parents for financial support. Due to financial constraints, I took a sales job at half the salary of my first company (Rs 10k per month). Surprisingly, I excelled in sales and marketing, meeting my targets. After two months, I received an offer from an automobile company for an HR profile that somewhat matched my first job. I left the marketing job and joined the HR/operations profile, still at the same salary of Rs 10k per month. While content with this role, after two months, they required me to relocate to a remote location on the same salary, which posed a challenge. Reluctantly, I resigned from that position as well. Subsequently, I spent another two months at home without securing a job in finance, administration, sales, operations, HR, or any other field, leaving me feeling utterly disappointed.
Health Issues and Career Interruptions
With the help of a friend, I landed a job in a reputable MNC in the sourcing and compliance department, with a salary of Rs 14k per month. I worked there for six months but had to leave due to health issues. At that time, I was pursuing a BCA, which I had started in 2009, but after four years in 2013, I had several pending papers and struggled to find time to study and pass exams due to family circumstances. Once again, I had to search for a job, and after 15 days, I secured a position in another MNC in the MIS and vendor management profile, offering a monthly salary of Rs 16.5k. After eight months, I left that role as I received an offer from another MNC for Rs 22k per month, which brought me closer to my initial salary. Unfortunately, I quit that job after just four months due to health reasons without securing a new job. This pattern of job changes and health issues caused distress to my parents, and I felt hopeless and foolish for leaving jobs frequently. This led me to a three-month period of depression, during which I required daily antidepressants, a practice which continues to this day.
Isolation and Further Job Changes
Both my friends and family distanced themselves from me, leaving me feeling extremely lonely and depressed. In 2014, after another three months, I accepted an offer from a small IT company for a monthly salary of Rs 11k, working in MIS and project management roles. Seeking a salary hike, I left that company after three months and joined a prominent e-commerce firm in a backend/e-commerce logistic role with a salary of Rs 15k per month. After six months there, I received an offer from another e-commerce company, where I worked as a Team Leader in operations with a salary of Rs 18.5k per month. However, the work environment in a warehouse was demanding, requiring me to work 16-18 hours a day with tasks more suited to a laborer than a team leader. Consequently, I left that organization due to the physically intensive nature of the work and pressure from my family.
Current Situation and Future Aspirations
Subsequently, I spent another 2-3 months at home searching for a job as my financial stability was imperative. Eventually, I received an offer from an MNC for a monthly salary of Rs 20k, on a six-month contract in the HR department, focusing on BGV/employee screening. I successfully completed the six months, but the company did not extend my contract. Recently, I joined another company, located near my home, in the same profile (BGV, employee screening) with a monthly salary of Rs 18k. However, transitioning from a large MNC to a small Indian company has been challenging, though I am striving to commit to this role for at least 5-10 years. On one hand, I had a 3.5-year stint in one company as an AM, while on the other hand, I changed jobs 12 times in 3.8 years, with this being the 13th role. Reflecting on this, I feel despondent and regretful. I am currently pursuing an MBA in operations, in the 3rd semester, from a distance learning institute.
I am uncertain about my future as I have worked for various reputable Indian companies and MNCs. However, due to my job-hopping tendencies and unfavorable circumstances, I have changed jobs approximately 14 times in 8 years. During this period, I have worked in diverse roles such as finance, admin, HR, operations, sales, marketing, logistics, e-commerce, BGV, and employee screening. I am seeking guidance on how to navigate my career path given my past experiences. I acknowledge the challenges I have faced and the mistakes I have made in selecting and leaving jobs. At times, I contemplate starting my own small business due to financial constraints and my turbulent job history. However, the highs and lows of the past 8 years have left me feeling uncertain about my capabilities and decisions. I am looking for timely and transformative career guidance.
Thank you.
From India
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1I appreciate your advice for my career assistance. Let me explain my situation. I am feeling very nervous and embarrassed. I started my career with a reputable Indian recruitment company as a "trainee - finance and admin" in 2008, thanks to a personal reference. At that time, I was completely inexperienced. I learned from scratch and put in all my efforts, even on Sundays and holidays, to master the work. Gradually, I acquired skills in finance, payroll, administration, facilities, billing, agreements, purchasing, vendor management, event management, PF, ESI, labor court works, and IT. My role required me to handle all these aspects, and I often felt overwhelmed. However, due to financial constraints, I continued working until April 2012 and eventually left the company due to a mismatch of my profile and excessive workload. I was also in poor health at that time. When I left, my designation was AM - finance and admin, with 3.5 years of experience, and my package was approximately Rs 3 lakhs per annum.
Struggles and Transitions
After leaving the company in April 2012, I faced a difficult time. For two months, I did not receive any offers matching my profile, which left me feeling depressed as I had to rely on my parents for financial support. Due to financial constraints, I took a sales job at half the salary of my first company (Rs 10k per month). Surprisingly, I excelled in sales and marketing, meeting my targets. After two months, I received an offer from an automobile company for an HR profile that somewhat matched my first job. I left the marketing job and joined the HR/operations profile, still at the same salary of Rs 10k per month. While content with this role, after two months, they required me to relocate to a remote location on the same salary, which posed a challenge. Reluctantly, I resigned from that position as well. Subsequently, I spent another two months at home without securing a job in finance, administration, sales, operations, HR, or any other field, leaving me feeling utterly disappointed.
Health Issues and Career Interruptions
With the help of a friend, I landed a job in a reputable MNC in the sourcing and compliance department, with a salary of Rs 14k per month. I worked there for six months but had to leave due to health issues. At that time, I was pursuing a BCA, which I had started in 2009, but after four years in 2013, I had several pending papers and struggled to find time to study and pass exams due to family circumstances. Once again, I had to search for a job, and after 15 days, I secured a position in another MNC in the MIS and vendor management profile, offering a monthly salary of Rs 16.5k. After eight months, I left that role as I received an offer from another MNC for Rs 22k per month, which brought me closer to my initial salary. Unfortunately, I quit that job after just four months due to health reasons without securing a new job. This pattern of job changes and health issues caused distress to my parents, and I felt hopeless and foolish for leaving jobs frequently. This led me to a three-month period of depression, during which I required daily antidepressants, a practice which continues to this day.
Isolation and Further Job Changes
Both my friends and family distanced themselves from me, leaving me feeling extremely lonely and depressed. In 2014, after another three months, I accepted an offer from a small IT company for a monthly salary of Rs 11k, working in MIS and project management roles. Seeking a salary hike, I left that company after three months and joined a prominent e-commerce firm in a backend/e-commerce logistic role with a salary of Rs 15k per month. After six months there, I received an offer from another e-commerce company, where I worked as a Team Leader in operations with a salary of Rs 18.5k per month. However, the work environment in a warehouse was demanding, requiring me to work 16-18 hours a day with tasks more suited to a laborer than a team leader. Consequently, I left that organization due to the physically intensive nature of the work and pressure from my family.
Current Situation and Future Aspirations
Subsequently, I spent another 2-3 months at home searching for a job as my financial stability was imperative. Eventually, I received an offer from an MNC for a monthly salary of Rs 20k, on a six-month contract in the HR department, focusing on BGV/employee screening. I successfully completed the six months, but the company did not extend my contract. Recently, I joined another company, located near my home, in the same profile (BGV, employee screening) with a monthly salary of Rs 18k. However, transitioning from a large MNC to a small Indian company has been challenging, though I am striving to commit to this role for at least 5-10 years. On one hand, I had a 3.5-year stint in one company as an AM, while on the other hand, I changed jobs 12 times in 3.8 years, with this being the 13th role. Reflecting on this, I feel despondent and regretful. I am currently pursuing an MBA in operations, in the 3rd semester, from a distance learning institute.
I am uncertain about my future as I have worked for various reputable Indian companies and MNCs. However, due to my job-hopping tendencies and unfavorable circumstances, I have changed jobs approximately 14 times in 8 years. During this period, I have worked in diverse roles such as finance, admin, HR, operations, sales, marketing, logistics, e-commerce, BGV, and employee screening. I am seeking guidance on how to navigate my career path given my past experiences. I acknowledge the challenges I have faced and the mistakes I have made in selecting and leaving jobs. At times, I contemplate starting my own small business due to financial constraints and my turbulent job history. However, the highs and lows of the past 8 years have left me feeling uncertain about my capabilities and decisions. I am looking for timely and transformative career guidance.
Thank you.
From India
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First of all, it is a very good thing that you have realized your mistakes. But don't feel guilty or embarrassed. Whatever you did, you did it for your financial growth. Therefore, don't blame yourself repeatedly by looking back at your life; this happens to many people due to a lack of HR guidance or a professional approach.
It was beneficial that you gained diversified experience in your past years; it will undoubtedly help you in the future. So, don't regret your past experiences.
Now, from this point on, if you want to move forward in your life, always keep in mind that no company is inherently bad; it depends on how you perceive your organization. If your current job is good and suitable for your health, then continue with it. Otherwise, consider a job relevant to your educational background and health, especially considering your health issues.
Strive to stay in the same company for a long time to clarify your career path. Please don't change companies solely for a salary hike. Building a strong career requires stability in one place.
Changing companies only for money will not be beneficial in the long run. Don't be upset with yourself. Think positively, and eventually, everything will turn into a positive situation.
Always seek advice from your seniors before making any decisions. You will never be in trouble. All the best for your bright future.
Regards
From India, Mumbai
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It was beneficial that you gained diversified experience in your past years; it will undoubtedly help you in the future. So, don't regret your past experiences.
Now, from this point on, if you want to move forward in your life, always keep in mind that no company is inherently bad; it depends on how you perceive your organization. If your current job is good and suitable for your health, then continue with it. Otherwise, consider a job relevant to your educational background and health, especially considering your health issues.
Strive to stay in the same company for a long time to clarify your career path. Please don't change companies solely for a salary hike. Building a strong career requires stability in one place.
Changing companies only for money will not be beneficial in the long run. Don't be upset with yourself. Think positively, and eventually, everything will turn into a positive situation.
Always seek advice from your seniors before making any decisions. You will never be in trouble. All the best for your bright future.
Regards
From India, Mumbai
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CK_HR has rightly pointed out that you are accepting your mistake. That is a good thing, but the bad thing is that you are repeating the same mistake every now and then. This is causing you trouble. It is understandable that you have a health issue that arises off and on, but that should not let you divert from your path. The past is past, and you cannot change it, but you can change your present, which will shape your future.
Set SMART Goals
Firstly, have a GOAL which should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound. Aim it so high that it is difficult to reach but not impossible. Stretch yourself beyond your limits. Have confidence in your learning and ability. You know your weaknesses by now; at the same time, understand your strengths as well.
Establish a Routine
Get your daily routine properly scheduled and adhere to it. Start 30 minutes of workout daily. Start reading some good books, 10 pages a day.
"Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again."
Cheer up and start a successful life. All the best!
From India, Delhi
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Set SMART Goals
Firstly, have a GOAL which should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound. Aim it so high that it is difficult to reach but not impossible. Stretch yourself beyond your limits. Have confidence in your learning and ability. You know your weaknesses by now; at the same time, understand your strengths as well.
Establish a Routine
Get your daily routine properly scheduled and adhere to it. Start 30 minutes of workout daily. Start reading some good books, 10 pages a day.
"Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again."
Cheer up and start a successful life. All the best!
From India, Delhi
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