I had prepared for a career in finance for as long as I can remember but after just 2 years in the industry I knew that I wasn’t happy. Owing to the work that I had done to get there I decided to stick things out for a while, but 2 years later still and I was becoming more and more frustrated and miserable with the job. I decided to make the decision to cut and run and embarked upon a career in PR with the wonderful Interdependence Public Relations. During my first day in the new job I knew that I had made the right call and now, 5 years later, I am sure of it. If you are looking for happiness in your career, these are the foundations of achieving it.
The Morning Test
A test which I have always felt works well for me is the morning test, quite simply waking up in the morning and gauging just how interested you are in going to work. Now, even the happiest of people will have moments where they just don’t want to go into work, which is why you should perform the test each morning for a month. If every single day you are not happy about going to work, or the thought of it brings you down, it is time to make a change.
Great Teams
It is not just the job itself that can bring you down but also the people who you work with. You don’t have to like the people that you work with but you should be inspired by them, they shovel bring out a competitive side to you and they should make you better. It also helps if you do get on with your co-workers of course, but the real key here is to be motivated by them and feel that you are in fact part of a team.
Passion
The reason why I went into a career in finance was simply because I was good at it, I had a natural flair for numbers and finding solutions and that lent itself perfectly to a career in finance. At no point did I ever stop and think about whether or not I actually enjoyed it. This is why I didn’t last, because I had no passion and you ahem to ensure that you genuinely are passionate about the industry or the company that you are working in. If you don’t have passion then you will never perform well and you will never find true happiness in your career.
Matches Character
The reason why I am so happy working in PR is because it is a position which matches my character. I can speak to people and build relationships, I am able to be creative and I can work in a positive team environment. If your position doesn’t match the natural characteristics of your personality then it may well be time to switch careers and find one which does.
