What do you do for a living, and does it make you feel alive? Disclaimer: I am not a career coach, so I do not intend to conduct an in-depth analysis on the merits of career shifts – nor am I equipped to examine the practicalities of successfully altering the course of your career. By contrast, Claudia Davey – a Certified Professional Career Coach working within the field of Recruitment – is more than qualified to do so, and she has accepted to offer her expertise on the topic.
“Often, people who have fallen into the wrong career paths will usually come across various feelings and emotions such as overwhelm, burnout, and detachment,” shares Claudia. “A lack of enthusiasm, lack of drive and general feelings of unfulfillment will also be very evident signs that perhaps its time to think about a career change.”
Via @legallyblondemovies on Instagram
When I was 16, I decided that I wanted to be a lawyer – expending years of study and work in pursuit of a goal that never truly fulfilled me. The truth is, as my values and personality evolved, so did my career aspirations – and in an interesting turn of events, I made the long overdue decision to turn my life-long passion for writing into a full-time career.
Fundamentally, my career-shift story is a journey of reconnecting with my true self. After letting go of a highly regimented, rigid, and essentially masculine legal career path, I now feel a profound sense of alignment. Call it cliché or naively idealistic, but I never gave up on my dreams – and I’m noticeably happier as a result. Shifting towards a fluid and creative career in writing is symbolic of embracing my femininity, celebrating my innate gifts, and accepting the immutable traits that make me who I am. I see myself writing professionally for the rest of my life – a dream reality that I never knew to be possible up until this year.
Via @gretchenrubin on Instagram
“Passion and productivity work hand in hand. If you’re not passionate about what you do – you quickly become stagnant, complacent, and counterproductive and work quality and output are also compromised,” declares Claudia. “As such, energy levels also become low and depleted which then affects people both within a professional and personal capacity. When you work with passion, drive, and ambition – results are achieved, feelings of accomplishment are present and productivity levels are high, all of which are a direct result of being on the right career path.”
My story is the story of so many other young women – including Bana, Mariah, And Tasneem. What motivated their career shifts? What does career happiness mean to them? Through a series of interviews, we explored topics such as finding work-life balance as a woman, making an impact, and the definition of passion.
Three women on their personal career shifts…
Bana: Interior Design to Public Relations and Communications
Cosmo ME: To what extent does your career shift symbolise the evolution of your passions?
Bana: As someone who has always been a people person, driven by the desire to have a positive impact on the world, transitioning to the communications field feels like a natural and purposeful progression.
The nuances of communication provide me with a powerful platform to connect, influence, and contribute meaningfully to the collective narrative. This shift symbolises a deeper alignment with my intrinsic desire to engage with people, foster understanding, and leave a positive imprint on the world. It’s not just a change in the profession; it’s a conscious step towards a career that not only ignites my passion but also allows me to channel my innate affinity for interpersonal connections into a force for positive change.
Cosmo ME: Do you feel that your career shift has directly benefited other areas of your life, such as your interpersonal relationships?
Bana: Yes, it has created a positive ripple effect in both my personal and social spheres.
At work, I’ve been honing various characteristics and attributes, such as handling different points of view, moderating discussions, and communicating with empathy. These skills have cascaded into my personal and social life in remarkable ways. For instance, navigating diverse perspectives at work has sharpened my ability to handle varied opinions gracefully. This, in turn, has translated into more empathetic and effective communication in my personal relationships.
The practice of “reading the room” at work has made me more attuned to the dynamics of social situations, enabling me to adapt and connect with others more effortlessly. These characteristics have become integral not just to my professional success but also to my personal growth and the quality of my relationships.
Cosmo ME: As a woman, how important is having a work-life balance in your career of choice?
Bana: It’s very important because a career with work-life balance allows for holistic well-being. This balance is crucial for personal fulfillment and professional success, enabling women to thrive in both spheres without compromise. In my current role as the PR and Comms Lead for Binance in the MENA region, I am fortunate to have a work-life balance that accommodates remote work and in-office collaboration. This flexibility provides me with the space to grow both personally and professionally, fostering an environment where I can excel in my career while maintaining a fulfilling personal life.
Cosmo ME: If you could escape the capitalistic pressures of society, what would you “do for a living”?
Bana: I’d ride the professional wave as a surfer, conquering challenges with the style of a sea nomad. And where would my headquarters be? On a sailboat, navigating through the tides of independence. Smooth sailing through life, no capitalist currents to navigate.
Mariah: Teaching to Public Relations
Cosmo ME: Do you agree with the statement that one shouldn’t monetize their passions, but rather strictly enjoy them as hobbies?
Mariah: I love this because it’s so complex. They say, “do what you love and never work a day in your life,” and I think that’s true. But as I mentioned before, that’s not always the case for everyone. I think there’s an intersection between your personal passion and your career, and if you’re lucky enough to marry the two, it’s magical. That’s very rare in my opinion. Boringly, so many factors come into play, such as whether you’re prioritizing making a lot of money doing what you love or just doing what you love.
On the other hand, it’s sort of similar to having your favourite song as your alarm; you’ll eventually start to hate it. The same can apply to your job. It’s nice to have something for yourself that stays separate from how you make your money, so there’s definitely some truth in that.
Cosmo ME: For you personally, how important is it to make an impact in your career? What does making an impact mean to you?
Mariah: Making an impact through my career has always been an added bonus for me but never essential to my view of success. It’s a great feeling to be appreciated and recognised for my work, but I try not to get too stuck on measuring my worth against my achievements because that can be a slippery slope.
I definitely strive to succeed and make positive impressions on those I cross paths with. It’s more important for me to make an impact in a way that aligns with my personal goals. But of course recognition is always satisfying!
Tasneem: Teaching to Copywriting in marketing
Cosmo ME: Did you experience a lack of alignment in your previous career, and now that you’ve switched careers, do you feel more “aligned” as a person?
Tasneem: I wouldn’t call it a lack of alignment, but more of a lack of creative freedom. I still think education is a wonderful field, but I was frustrated by how limiting it was. I feel more stable now as I can express myself, to an extent, more freely.
I also like that with a corporate communications job, I don’t have such a long notice period. I can also take time off when I want.
In education, it’s 3 months. But there’s also this commitment that you make to the kids, you know? You can’t just leave them hanging in the middle of a semester. It’s not fair to them.
Cosmo ME: Are you happier now that you’ve switched careers? Tell us a little bit about that.
Tasneem: I’m content. I still want so much more from my career, which is why I’m constantly looking for better opportunities. But, I’m content right now. I don’t use the word happy often mostly because I believe happiness is temporary in everything that we do. True happiness is in contentment.
Cosmo ME: People often say that it’s important to pick a career that you’re passionate about. Are you more passionate about your current career in comparison to your previous one?
Tasneem: I’m passionate about a lot of things in life, but I’ve never been passionate about a career. To me, jobs are a means to an end. I was passionate about it at the beginning. I used to copywrite as a side hustle while I taught, and it was a way for me to release a lot of pent-up creativity.
Now that I’m in corporate marketing, I wouldn’t say it’s my passion. I enjoy some parts of it, I dislike others. However, I was passionate as a teacher as it felt like it had more purpose if that makes sense.
I’d use the word content to replace passion because I think passion is sometimes overrated. I’m content with my career because it offers me work-from-home days, the ability to take time off whenever I want to, etc.
Education? I could go on about it. I can talk about it for hours. I call that passion. But was I content not being able to take breaks or vacations when I wanted or needed, and being stuck to a schedule? No.