I know, I know! The title of this blog is a little ominous. But, true.

A wrong career choice can lead to years of agony, pain, and misery. Not just emotionally but also financially. While quantifying the actual cost of an intangible, like a wrong career choice, may be tricky. I can undoubtedly simplify it by taking you on a journey with me.

Beware. This journey is going to be a little bumpy, a little humpy, and a little heartbreaking. But read on because the lesson at the end is worth it. Let’s get started.

Arun was an average student at best. He struggled at science and math but did manage to excel at language and social sciences. He came from a family of engineers and believed he was also destined to be an engineer. He thought if he worked a little harder and focussed just a little more, he would get enough marks to get into the science group in 12th. He wasn’t wrong. His 10th standard report card read 90%. His family was thrilled. Yes, his marks in maths were not as good as they had hoped, but it didn’t matter. He did get into his dream school in the science group in the 11th standard. His philosophy up to this point had been simple.

“If I work a little harder and focus more, I’ll be fine.” But, much to his dismay, he quickly realized that his philosophy was failing him. He was unprepared to deal with maths and physics in the 12th grade. No matter how hard he tried, how many coaching centers he went to, and how many hours he spent trying to understand concepts, he just didn’t. He was failing. Miserably. But he still had hope. He couldn’t let his parents down. He just had to work hard enough to get into an engineering college. He studied for hours and hours on end, and before he knew it, he had written his 12th exams and received his results. 60%.

His friends and relatives had all scored more than him. But, he had failed. He was depressed. His parents were shocked. But they did what they thought was best for him. They got him a management quota seat in a reputable engineering college. He promised them he would try harder, work harder and make his family proud. But, the weight of an engineering degree started pulling him down. He struggled to clear papers every semester and had 15 arrears to clear before he knew it. He stayed back in college while his friends graduated and got placed in reputable companies. His self-confidence plummeted, but he still hoped to get a good job once he cleared his arrears. He took 2 extra years to clear all his arrears, and he finally had an engineering degree in his hand. He was finally proud.

But, he was quickly met with disappointment, No company wanted to hire him. Every door he knocked on seemed to close just as quickly. Even his father couldn’t find an opportunity for him. After 1 year of rejections, a startup offered him a job. The pay was dismal, and the job was extremely monotonous. But, it was his way into the corporate world. What could he lose? He accepted the job. He didn’t realize that this opportunity came at a heavy cost - his happiness. He hated everything he had to do. He struggled daily. He was depressed, almost suicidal. Every day had become a painful struggle, and he suffered more consequences than one could imagine. Let us now examine the losses he endured because of one wrong choice.

Does Arun’s journey mean he is an incapable individual destined for an agony-filled life?

No, absolutely not. The right information, at the right time, from the right source, could’ve helped him greatly. We spend approximately 60% of our lives at our jobs, yet refrain from seeking out help when we struggle. We believe that our parents or peers know everything there is to know. This refusal to seek help can cost us dearly.

Arun always excels at language. He could’ve easily become a great writer, digital marketer, or even poet. But he didn’t even know that these career options were lucrative. He didn’t know he could pursue them to earn a good living. Had Arun approached a good career coach at the right time, he could’ve pursued a great career where he would’ve thrived and excelled.

Are you a student like Arun trying to figure out the right path for you?

Schedule a career coaching appointment with our expert career counselors.