Very few of us started out being sure in the career path we've chosen. Even though we thought we did, things may have changed along the way. Desires. Expectations. Demands. And if not fulfilled, we feel frusfrated.
Only yesterday, I had three friends who shared with me about their frustration at work. One said she told her boss she wanted to quit, but her boss asked her to stay on. Another one said it has been her lowest week ever while the third one said it was not what she wanted to do. On the other end, there are those who are payed well, have favour with boss but are uncertain if there should move on to full time in church to serve in their gifting. Is it too early?
As Solomon says, 'To everything there is a season...'
I've been there before. It would be too much to share here but what I've learnt is to first talk to God about it. Friends advice are good but is not what will direct your path. God's Word will. Obeying His voice will. Do what you are gifted in and find life in. The rest will follow.
I love what my friend shared to me below. I could almost identify with her. A few hours of waiting for the HR lady to call me back makes a world of difference. But in the whole process, one thing is evident. The favor of God. That is just all you need to get the job or promotion you want above everyone else in your imperfect state.
If you're wondering who this person is and it sounded like one of your lawyer friend, stop guessing. She's not from our church or Singapore. Heh- Hope you are blessed by her sharing! =)
For those who have been watching my status updates in the last week with intrigue, I really should explain. I applied for a job as an assistant to the events coordinator at church about 3 weeks ago, and that was the start of the roller coaster ride. I had seen this job advertised about 5 weeks ago and looked at the job description, was interested, but didn't really think much of it then.
My heart hadn't been in my current job for months now. There were a lot of things that started to grate at me, things that I felt were not compatible with who I was or who I wanted to be. This affected the whole of me, which in turn affected everything else I was involved in or put my hand to. What broke the proverbial camel's back was when I became extremely annoyed at events and people for matters that were of little consequence, and for a while, I couldn't work through those issues.
This was about a week before the deadline to hand in the application for the job. During this time, one of my colleagues went on paternity leave, and the aspects of being a lawyer that I didn't like showed itself more clearly than ever. Without being conceited, I consider that I am a good lawyer, with solid skills at my chosen field, with great relationships with my clients and I care, perhaps too much. After all, I became a lawyer to help. For most of the seven years I've been a lawyer, there was also the expectation that I would do marketing, networking, credit control, financial management etc. These things do not come naturally to me. I started the job being uncomfortable with doing these things and over time I had grown to hate, loathe and despise them.
So on Sunday night, the day before the deadline, I quickly completed the application form, drove it to church on Monday morning, and started fretting about it for the next two days. Maybe I shouldn't have done it. Maybe I should have spent more time on it. Maybe they can't read my handwriting. Maybe I should have typed it. Maybe, maybe, maybe...
Tuesday, on the way to pilates, I received a call. She wanted to know whether I was serious, especially given the much lower pay of the job I had applied for. I had done my research and told her the range of pay for similar jobs. Having satisfied her, she said that someone would call me the next day for an interview.
The interview was on the following Monday, after work at 5:45 pm. Coincidentally, my boss had organised me to sit in on an interview with a lawyer for a position at our office on that same Monday night at 5:00 pm. I sat in on that interview until 5:30 pm, then rushed off to my own interview right after. I was keen to have my boss employ a lawyer, in case I was going to leave, and was relieved that this candidate was a decent one.
I had been in many interviews, on the other side of the table, and knew that there was nothing worse than a candidate who was nervous and not themselves. I resolved to be honest and open, to tell them anything that they wanted to know. I also wanted to ask questions about what I was required to do, particularly since I did not have relevant experience. And as interviews went, I enjoyed this one. Obviously the big question for the 3 interviewers was why did I want to leave my current job and why am I applying for this job in particular.
On Wednesday, I was called for a second interview and personality profiling over lunch. Typically, I knocked my orange juice all over the table and we spent a good 5 minutes mopping things up. *sigh* Despite that, I thought this interview also went well. I was told that I would be called on Monday or Tuesday following.
I hoped it was Monday and was disappointed when it wasn't. I was still checking my mobile phone at 7 pm on Tuesday to see if there was a call. By Wednesday morning, I thought that they weren't as interested as I thought they were. But right at 1 pm on Wednesday, HR called (they said they would call during my lunchtime) and offered me the job. The salary was not entirely unexpected, but I started to really worry about whether this would work for us financially.
This held the major factor in convincing me to take the job, a prophetic word to me in 2004:
"I feel that there is a direction coming, you’re going to be at crossroads and you’re going to find that Lord I’m confused, I don’t know whether to turn right or left, God says don’t focus on the path forward but on your now. Make the most of your now and God will unfold the path before you."
It is with faith that I took on this job. I have received much affirmation from friends and family whose input I value. And on Friday night, as I closed my eyes at the end of a worship session at lifegroup, I felt God reminding me of the time that Jesus was baptised. I felt Him say that he was pleased. I am certain that the path ahead of me will not be easy, but the important thing is that I am on the right path, the one chosen for me by God.
My heart hadn't been in my current job for months now. There were a lot of things that started to grate at me, things that I felt were not compatible with who I was or who I wanted to be. This affected the whole of me, which in turn affected everything else I was involved in or put my hand to. What broke the proverbial camel's back was when I became extremely annoyed at events and people for matters that were of little consequence, and for a while, I couldn't work through those issues.
This was about a week before the deadline to hand in the application for the job. During this time, one of my colleagues went on paternity leave, and the aspects of being a lawyer that I didn't like showed itself more clearly than ever. Without being conceited, I consider that I am a good lawyer, with solid skills at my chosen field, with great relationships with my clients and I care, perhaps too much. After all, I became a lawyer to help. For most of the seven years I've been a lawyer, there was also the expectation that I would do marketing, networking, credit control, financial management etc. These things do not come naturally to me. I started the job being uncomfortable with doing these things and over time I had grown to hate, loathe and despise them.
So on Sunday night, the day before the deadline, I quickly completed the application form, drove it to church on Monday morning, and started fretting about it for the next two days. Maybe I shouldn't have done it. Maybe I should have spent more time on it. Maybe they can't read my handwriting. Maybe I should have typed it. Maybe, maybe, maybe...
Tuesday, on the way to pilates, I received a call. She wanted to know whether I was serious, especially given the much lower pay of the job I had applied for. I had done my research and told her the range of pay for similar jobs. Having satisfied her, she said that someone would call me the next day for an interview.
The interview was on the following Monday, after work at 5:45 pm. Coincidentally, my boss had organised me to sit in on an interview with a lawyer for a position at our office on that same Monday night at 5:00 pm. I sat in on that interview until 5:30 pm, then rushed off to my own interview right after. I was keen to have my boss employ a lawyer, in case I was going to leave, and was relieved that this candidate was a decent one.
I had been in many interviews, on the other side of the table, and knew that there was nothing worse than a candidate who was nervous and not themselves. I resolved to be honest and open, to tell them anything that they wanted to know. I also wanted to ask questions about what I was required to do, particularly since I did not have relevant experience. And as interviews went, I enjoyed this one. Obviously the big question for the 3 interviewers was why did I want to leave my current job and why am I applying for this job in particular.
On Wednesday, I was called for a second interview and personality profiling over lunch. Typically, I knocked my orange juice all over the table and we spent a good 5 minutes mopping things up. *sigh* Despite that, I thought this interview also went well. I was told that I would be called on Monday or Tuesday following.
I hoped it was Monday and was disappointed when it wasn't. I was still checking my mobile phone at 7 pm on Tuesday to see if there was a call. By Wednesday morning, I thought that they weren't as interested as I thought they were. But right at 1 pm on Wednesday, HR called (they said they would call during my lunchtime) and offered me the job. The salary was not entirely unexpected, but I started to really worry about whether this would work for us financially.
This held the major factor in convincing me to take the job, a prophetic word to me in 2004:
"I feel that there is a direction coming, you’re going to be at crossroads and you’re going to find that Lord I’m confused, I don’t know whether to turn right or left, God says don’t focus on the path forward but on your now. Make the most of your now and God will unfold the path before you."
It is with faith that I took on this job. I have received much affirmation from friends and family whose input I value. And on Friday night, as I closed my eyes at the end of a worship session at lifegroup, I felt God reminding me of the time that Jesus was baptised. I felt Him say that he was pleased. I am certain that the path ahead of me will not be easy, but the important thing is that I am on the right path, the one chosen for me by God.
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