The year was 2011 and I was a Masters graduate who was confused, torn, jobless. I had studied for 7 long years believing that the post-grad qualification was my key to a successful career. This was not the case and I was devastated.
I had studied Media, a brand new course with loads of promise, at a prestigious university. After much debate, I stayed on to do an Honours and then a Masters, convinced that I could pave the way in this developing field. During my studies I got my first job that would start my career. I was an Account Executive in a small PR and Communications company. I had an amazing client, General Mills, and what I learnt in this small agency in 10 months was equivalent to what some would learn in 2 years. Because I had studied for 19 years straight I felt I needed a break and visited the UK for 2 months. I did this however at the expense of my job.
When I returned to South Africa, I rested the weekend and the Monday after accepted a job as an Executive PA. A job I thought would be a temporary solution till I find work in my intended career field turned out to be a painful, depressive never ending stay due to the looming recession. Don’t get me wrong, the people were wonderful and so was the company that I worked for but because I was eager and ready to leave my mark in world of Marketing, I was devastated by the constant rejection and became mildly depressed by my failure.
After much debate I eventually resigned and took a job as a sales person for a bi-annual publication. Against my better judgement and for 1/5 of what I was earning, I knew I had to take a risk or be stuck in regret. I worked for 2 months and never got paid. Again, I felt like a complete failure. I was now 27 and watching all my friends progress around me, buying cars and homes, while I could not even get a job. I began to ask … “Why Me?”
I then, still feeling like I had spent 7 years wasting time, I took a job as an intern at a media agency. I was promoted to become an Account Executive before moving on to another company managing my own portfolio. I finally thought that I was building my career when I got retrenched. This time though I was not angry or resentful (admittedly though, not till after about 3 weeks, immediately after the retrenchment I exhibited all 3 initial stages of grief, in 2 minutes). I did some introspection and realised that I really did not like the job that I was in and did not want my career to take that path. I wrote down the job I really wanted and lo and behold, I am doing that job today.
I currently work for an amazing company with flexible hours and a great leadership. To top it all, the company is centered on people and giving back, a passion of mine. Look, there are days that I question if I should be moving on. We all want growth, we are human and we have a need to progress and mature, it’s our nature. For the most part I am happy, really happy and as you’ve read, I was not always. It has been a gut wrenching, soul breaking career journey that ultimately affected my life’s journey but I would not change it for anything. For what I thought was my career struggle was actually life teaching me to grow. I’ve become stronger and I take comfort in knowing that I did not give up.
If you are in some sort of stagnation right now, remind yourself that this too shall pass. Ask yourself what do you want and ask yourself how are you going to get it. If the thing you want is not that easy to obtain as there are always deterrent factors in life, just breathe and step back. Sometimes we don’t really know what we want and this is the Universe’s way of telling you that the path you seek is not the path for you. Do some introspection and really get to know yourself. Remember that building your brand; finding out who you are and ultimately what your purpose is, begins within.
Wow! Thank you! I continuously needed to write on my blog something like that. Can I include a fragment of your post to my site?
Yes sure! … just remember to reference 🙂
Perhaps create a link to my blog?
Thanks
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