Planning your professional journey

[This article written by me was published in the Deccan Herald Career page on February 17, 2026. You can find it at https://www.deccanherald.com/business/jobs-and-careers/planning-your-professional-journey-3900833 ]

Image for representational purposes.Credit: iStock Photo

Freshers entering today’s workplace face a dizzying mix of expectations, options, change and uncertainty. Many start their careers with an “I’ll see how it goes” attitude, drifting along. And one year into the job, they want to change their job to earn more, but have no idea what kind of job they would like and whether their current job, or the next one, is really ‘adding value’ to them as professionals.

This is risky in a fast-moving job market and a world full of uncertainties. And it often leaves people feeling overwhelmed, stuck, helpless, and anxious. The most successful early-career professionals don’t just work hard—they work with direction. They craft a compelling vision, translate it into SMART goals, and cultivate a growth mindset that keeps them learning and moving forward. So how do you start?

Start with a clear vision

Imagine planning a holiday without a destination in mind. What would you pack, budget or even visualise? Careers work the same way. A vision isn’t a fuzzy dream—it’s a crisp, personal picture of: 

Who do you want to become? 

What impact do you want to have? 

What values do you want your work to reflect?

It is like your personal compass, guiding your daily choices and keeping you grounded when things get noisy. Without it, you react to circumstances, feel scattered or stuck, and drift from role to role. With it, you can prioritise and say “no” to distractions and build resilience when challenges hit.

Make your vision practical by finding your Ikigai, i.e. the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Let this be the reason for you to wake up every morning. When your plans exist within your ikigai, you stay motivated, increase your odds of success, contribute where it matters, and sustain yourself better. Early in your career, you may struggle to find your ikigai—that’s normal. Use it as a compass for experiments, internships, projects, and learning choices that gradually move you toward that sweet spot. 

Gain traction with your vision using SMART goals

SMART — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound — goals help transform wishful thinking into reality. 

Choose a goal area (e.g., “become proficient in data analysis”)

Draft your goal in one line (e.g., “Improve my data analysis skills using Excel”) 

Refine it using SMART

Specific: What exactly will you do?

Measurable: What metric will prove progress? 

Achievable: Is it realistic, given time and resources?

Relevant: Does it advance your vision?

 Time-bound: What’s your deadline?

Take a break and then review and adjust.

Create a simple action plan and schedule.

An example of a SMART goal could be “Complete an intermediate Excel course, build two dashboards from team data, and present insights to my manager by June 30.”

Grow faster with a growth mindset 

Nelson Mandela once said, “I never lose. I either win or learn.” That’s the essence of a growth mindset, popularised by psychologist Carol Dweck: the belief that abilities can be developed through effort, feedback, , and strategies. For freshers, this matters tremendously. 

Believe skills can be built. Set learning goals for yourself instead of trying to protect your image of knowing everything.

Treat challenges as opportunities, not threats. 

View setbacks as learning opportunities, not failures. 

Value effort over innate talent.  

Actively seek feedback for better self-awareness and performance. 

Be inspired by others’ success. Don’t let it become a comparison trap. 

Assess the support you have access to — people, strengths, and resources — because career growth doesn’t happen in isolation.

Understand who encourages and challenges you? Who can mentor you? Who is doing what you aspire to? Expand your network intentionally, but remember that relationships are a two-way street.

Personal strengths, knowledge, and skills 

What are the strengths that people rely on you for?  

What do you understand well in your domain?

Which new skills do you need for your next step? 

Identify courses, projects, or mentors to close the gap. Work with a three-column sheet — I have | I need to improve | I need to develop. 

Resources and tools

List what you already have — time, access, budget, platforms — and what’s missing. Look for smarter, not harder, ways to execute—templates, automations, peer study groups, shorter feedback loops.

Build your professional growth plan. Define your vision by stating the professional you want to become, the impact you want to make, and the values you will uphold.

Set SMART goals and break your vision into 6-month, 1-year, and 3-year milestones. Know yourself. Evaluate your strengths, knowledge, and skills and document them. Revisit this every month.

Leverage support. Name two mentors, two peers, and one community to engage with this quarter. Identify one course and one on-the-job project to do. 

Act and reflect. Track progress, adjust goals, and celebrate wins — however small. 

Why is all this important? Because vision gives direction — it aligns choices and sustains motivation. SMART goals turn intention into measurable progress. A growth mindset fuels resilience and helps you learn faster and bounce back stronger. Knowing the resources you have access to helps you multiply results. Don’t walk the path alone; build your system. The first years of your career set habits that last. Choose clarity over drift, learning over ego, and consistency over bursts. Your journey is yours to design—start now. 

Chart your course carefully - Ask your counsellor Q&A column

[The following column answered by me appeared in the Deccan Herald Education supplement on August 3, 2017]

Dear Madam,

I’m a 15-year-old girl in Class 10. Everybody tells me I’m pretty, but I don’t have a boyfriend. All my female friends have boyfriends, crushes or some guy who likes them. I feel very left out because of this. I feel there is something missing in me because no boy likes me. How do I deal with this? Please help.

Priyanka

Dear Priyanka,

Have you ever considered the fact that the reason you don’t have a boyfriend or a crush right now is because you have not liked anyone so far? Could it be possible that no one has yet matched up to your likes? It is not only about your being good enough for the other person that is a benchmark of your worth. It is also about the other person being good enough for you and meeting your expectations. Why would you settle for anything else? May be your friends are not as discerning in their choices as you.

After all, you don’t want just anyone for a boyfriend. You want someone who deserves someone as special as you. You are valuable and worthy – don’t let someone else’s choices decide your worth or who you are. Use this time to learn from others about relationships. See them make mistakes, because, at age 15, that is probably what they will make.

Learn from their mistakes. And then step into your own relationships when you are ready and wiser. This is not a race that you have to win. This is the journey of life and each one is allowed to go on that journey at their own pace. And in the meantime if someone asks you why you don’t have a boyfriend, tell them you haven’t found someone worth your time yet.

Dear Madam, 

I have recently joined my first job. Though I’m satisfied and happy with my work, I have realized I don’t belong here and can do something more. So I decided to prepare for competitive exams and joined some weekend classes to be regular with preparations. I have so many plans in my mind but I can’t complete or stick to the plan. I can’t understand if I’m lazy or a procrastinator. I just keep telling myself I want to do this and that, but end up doing nothing. Because of this habit, I have started feeling low and have developed a feeling of inferiority. There is a constant reminder that I’m good for nothing. How can I overcome this and stick to my plan and routine?

Ashwini 

Dear Ashwini,

Whenever you chase a lofty goal, it is important that you chart the course carefully and document the milestones along the path so that you don’t lose your way. This is as true for an ambitious journey as it is for life. So, what is your destination? What are the milestones you have marked along the way?

What are the timelines you have set for reaching each milestone? And how do you plan to celebrate reaching each milestone? All this becomes easier if you mark your milestones. You then can quantify how much of the path you have covered and how much is left. You can also celebrate each milestone you cover, as it brings you one step closer to your goal. Do the same with this. Document your main goal. Break it up into smaller goals. Set dates and timelines to the smaller goals.

Celebrate each success, and take stock whenever you miss it to see what you could have done differently to have achieved it. Learn from your missed targets and celebrate the achieved targets. Please remember that often we are our own worst enemies. By thinking negatively about ourselves and predicting doom about the future, we are doing ourselves a great disservice. Take time to understand why you choose to predict doom, and think negatively about yourself, rather than predict a bright future and believe in yourself and your worth.

Dear Madam,

My son often gets anxious and stressed around the time of his exams and when he has a lot of homework. While I do try to help in alleviating it to some extent (such as making him do deep breathing), it does not seem to help. Could you kindly suggest some ways as to how I can help him deal with his anxiety and stress more effectively?

Rekha

Dear Rekha,

I have written a lot in these columns about exam-related stress and anxiety. You can access two of my articles on this subject which will help you understand the phenomena better. 

Demystifying exam anxiety - http://personalorbitchange.blogspot.in/2013/11/demystifying-exam-anxiety.html  

Why exams are nothing to worry about - http://personalorbitchange.blogspot.in/2010/09/putting-exams-in-perspective.html 

It may be helpful for you to let him work with a counsellor to help him overcome this. Exam-related anxiety is all about how you interpret the importance of exams in your life, and how you interpret your own success in life to be a function of your marks. Counselling will help him gain a new perspective on this which will hold him in good stead.

Dear Madam,

My daughter, who is in Class 7, doesn’t get along well with kids of her age. Fights and conflicts with friends have made her think that no one likes her. She is very straightforward and says things to their face. But she feels bad that she doesn’t have friends whom she can count on. Please help.

Vivek
Dear Vivek,

Friendships during the teen years can be very challenging as children try to find their own place in the world, and often base their worth on what their friends think of them.

I would suggest that you let your daughter get the help of a counsellor, because at that age, when values and beliefs are still in their formative stage, it is easier to influence them positively, than it is at an older age. The dynamics of peer relationships are often a reflection of one’s own relationship with oneself.
Understanding that can really help put them in perspective and interpret them more positively. A little bit of help at this time may facilitate her being able to enjoy meaningful friendships going forward.

Focus on What You can Control - Ask Your Counsellor Q&A column

[The following column written by me appeared in the Deccan Herald on July 13th 2017]

Image for representation.

Dear Madam, 

I am an extremely shy person. As a result, I often get bullied for not talking and socialising with others, and get called studious and serious all the time. However, this is not the case. How can I overcome this situation?
Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,
It may be helpful for you to understand your shyness a little more. Shyness often is the result of fear of the judgement of other people. We fear what they will think about us and how they will judge us. We fear a negative impression that we may make on them. We fear that if we interact with them, then they will come to know who we really are and their opinion of us will not be good. We predict this negative judgement from others about us. So, try and talk to a counsellor who may be able to understand this fear of judgment and help you interact with others more easily. Being shy is different from being an introvert. Being an introvert means you prefer to be by yourself in a quiet, less stimulating environment. Being shy means you fear negative judgment. Decide who you truly are and then act accordingly.

Dear Madam, 
I am a recent graduate and will soon start working in a corporate environment. However, as this is my first job, I fear that I may not fare well in my new role. How can I overcome this fear and give my best?
Recent graduate

Dear Recent graduate,

A first job is an exciting time. You are about to enter the next phase of your life. Congratulations! Remember, success in the workplace is more often a result of your confidence, your ability to learn on the job, your ability to solve problems and think out of the box, your ability to be an effective team member, and a leader, your communication skills and several other such soft life skills, than your existing knowledge about the job. That is something you are meant to learn on the job, not necessarily possess beforehand. Your ability to learn quickly and adapt to situations is what will hold you in good stead. All change is scary and often difficult because it requires you to step out of comfort zone. It may be helpful to talk this through with a counsellor who can help you understand why you are interpreting it negatively and what your fears are. Good luck and give yourself a chance before being a fortune-teller who predicts failure!

Dear Madam, 
I tend to worry and fret over tiny things that occur due to circumstances beyond my control. Due to this, I am unable to finish the task at hand. What can I do to 
ensure that I do not get stressed?
Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,
I think it is important for each one of us to focus only on what we can control. We often have a need to control everything that is going on, not only in our lives, but sometimes even in the world. The reality is that we cannot control anything outside of ourselves. We cannot control our family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, the man on the road, the weather, the world. There will always be things, people and events that we cannot control. We can only control ourselves – our thoughts and perceptions, how we interpret things and people around us, and how much we allow them to rule us and influence us. So, whenever you feel you are getting into this downward spiral, ask yourself what you can control and focus only on that. Let the rest of the world go on. And if you have difficulty doing this on your own, take the help of a counsellor. In case you cannot access a counsellor, call the free Parivarthan Counselling Helpline at 76766 02702.

Dear Madam, 
As a Class 12 student of Science, I am often expected to either get into Engineering or Medicine. However, I do not have interests in either of them. As I am artistic, I either want to take up interior design or be an artist. While my parents support me, they do not fully agree with my career choice. How can I make them understand my choice and create a balance between my passion and work in the future? Kindly guide.
Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,
Your parents will be happy, so long as you are happy. Talk to them about your passion for the field, what you hope to achieve, how you think it will be fulfilling for you. But more importantly, talk about how you plan to make a living in that field. That is probably their utmost concern and if you are able to help them see your point of view and understand your plan, it may put some of their fears to rest. But to do that, you must give it some thought yourself and see how you are going to leverage your interest and passion to make a living. This process will force you to think through your options and take the necessary steps to not only pursue a particular area of interest, but to pursue it with a passion that will make you excel in it and make a difference. It may be helpful to talk to people in the field to get ideas from them and understand what you need to do in your journey to succeed. Once your parents understand your passion for the field and are confident that you have thought this through, they will come around, because ultimately, all that they would want is ultimately for you to be happy. Good luck!

Predict Positive Outcomes - Ask your Counsellor

[This column written by me was published in the Deccan Herald Education Supplement of June 15th, 2017]



Dear Madam,
I am studying in Class 10. I am really tense about the board exams next year. I have difficulty in studying Maths and Science. I don’t know if I should take up extra coaching. I am an average student who scores between 75% and 80%. I am always distracted during studies. Please give some advice on how to score good marks and concentrate on studies.
Arjun
Dear Arjun,
I understand that you are tense about your upcoming board exams. It may be useful for you to pause and think about what is your biggest fear of these exams. The reality is that no matter what the worst thing we predict to happen, if we can rationalize our thoughts around it, and learn to think about things a little differently, we will be able to live beyond that episode. What do you believe about yourself and your worth? That is what will give you the confidence and power to succeed in life, not your marks. 

So, remember to put your marks into the perspective of your whole life. One week, one month, or one year after you get them, do they hold any relevance in your life? Study to learn, enjoy and understand. Put in your best effort, because that is the only thing you can do. Don’t focus on marks and don’t let the fear of marks drive you to inaction. Enjoy the journey. Anxiety happens when you predict a future negative outcome. Stay in the present. You do not have fortune-telling powers to predict the future. And even if you do, why do you choose to predict a negative outcome? If your anxiety is unmanageable, it will be helpful if you consult a counsellor to develop a more helpful perspective on life. All the best.

Dear Madam,
My son has just turned 13, and I see many behavioral changes in him. He is more into video games and doesn’t do his school work properly. When I discussed this with him he said he wanted to enjoy life and would choose fun over studies. He has become cranky and is always in a lazy mood. He has lost interest in reading too, which once was his favorite pastime. How should I go about to bring in a positive change in him. Please advice.
Kala

Dear Kala,
As children grow into adolescents, it is irrational for us as parents to expect them to be the same person that they were as children. Interests change, influences change, priorities change. While we can influence these changes to some extent, the parental influence and control only decreases from now on.

The most important thing you can do is to develop and maintain a level of communication that allows you and him to have meaningful conversations. And to let him know that home is his safety net while he experiences the world; that you accept him non-judgmentally for who he is; that as he grows he will make choices for himself, but with the freedom to choose also comes great responsibility, and that he has to face the consequences of his choices.

You need to be able to set your parental anxiety aside, or deal with it outside of your parent-child relationship. 

We often focus on fixing behaviours. We need to remember that behaviour is always a result of thoughts and feelings a child is experiencing. It is far more effective for us to focus on trying to understand the thoughts and feelings that are resulting in the behavior, than to try and fix behaviors in the absence of that knowledge. And when you are struggling on this journey, please reach out to a counsellor for support. All the best.

Dear Madam,
I have joined my first job recently. I am on many WhatsApp groups and interact regularly on WhatsApp with friends and relatives. Thus, I have the habit of checking the messages frequently to see if people have read my message and responded to it. Sometimes, I feel that it is affecting my quality of work. How do I overcome this? 
Usha
Dear Usha,
While technology has its advantages, it is proving to be a big distraction and addiction, something that people are struggling with. Try and understand what need this constant checking of messages is serving. Are you interpreting it to be a sign of validation for yourself? Are you seeing it as a way of trying to find out how much you mean to other people? Are you feeling you will miss out on ‘life’ if you don’t check them? Understanding what is driving you to do it will help you change the pattern.
You will probably need to take some steps to change behavior gradually, maybe by keeping the phone out of sight and reach for small chunks of time and gradually increasing the time you are able to do this. You may want to take the help of a peer to support you. Find your reasons for the addiction, find your motivation to end it, and get on with living your life and doing your work meaningfully. And if you are struggling to do this, take the help of a counsellor.

Dear Madam,
I am a teenager, and until recently, I was an enthusiastic student with many interests, and excelled in most of the subjects. In the last two months, I have lost interest in studies and want to have fun. I want to watch movies, gossip with friends, play video games. Nothing else interests me. I don’t feel like spending time with my parents. I am in Class 10 and I am worried that this will affect my performance in the exams. Please help.
Manoj
Dear Manoj,
As children grow into adolescents, they feel a need to create an identity of their own and distance themselves from their parents. Peers become more important and everything peers do and say become a ‘must do’ and everything parents do and say become a ‘must not do’. Feeling that way is entirely normal – the only difference is a question of degree. It is up to you to make choices in your life. Beyond a point, this is, and will be your life to live the way you choose, and you must be prepared to face the consequences of your choices, whatever they are. So you can make choices that have a higher chance of driving you to success, or choices that make your attempt at success more challenging. Whatever your choices, they are choices you make for your future life – they are not choices you make for the happiness of your parents. The happiness of your parents is a byproduct of your happiness and success. 

So find your motivation. Discover and recognize your strengths and interests. Maybe talk to some adults and mentors. And carve your path forward, one step at a time.

Dear Madam,
I am a college-going student. Though I have good friends, some people in class ignore me. I feel very low when I realize this. Also, I keep remembering my interactions with friends, thinking if I was at my best or not. This distracts my attention from studies and I am not able to concentrate on anything. Please help.
Meena

Dear Meena,
Don’t worry about what others think of you — focus instead on what you are thinking of yourself and what are you telling yourself about yourself. The world ultimately reflects to you what you think and feel about yourself. If you keep doubting yourself, then, you will always look to other people to validate you and tell you that you are good enough, and you will always interpret what they say and do to mean that you are not. If you believe in yourself and your abilities, you will not look for validation from others. Find your strengths. Discover and recognize your worth. Ultimately, it is your assessment of yourself that will determine your path and its outcome. Don’t let other people decide if you are good enough or not. That is one decision you want to take for yourself. It is helpful to take the help of a counsellor on this journey. If you are unable to access one, please call the Parivarthan Counselling Helpline at 080 6533 3323 and you will be able to talk to a counsellor on the phone.

Ask your counsellor - Q&A column

[The following column written by me was published in the Deccan Herald of May 24, 2017]

Dear Madam, 

I am active in the extracurricular activities organised at the school and at outside platforms. However, I often find myself lagging behind in my studies. Most of my good grades are because of last-minute cramming. I do try to plan a schedule, but it often never works out. What is the best way to achieve a balance between the two? 
Sebastian

Dear Sebastian,

If you are able to manage good grades along with all the other activities that you are involved in, I am not sure why you think there is a problem and things are not okay. The fact that you have a schedule and/or that you follow it is not important, it is the end result that is important. 

If you were just wasting your time and procrastinating, and there being able to only do last-minute cramming, there may have been a problem. 

But if you are doing things, that in my opinion may actually add more value to you than a few extra marks ever could, and you are still able to attain good grades, then where is the problem? You are in an enviable situation and many others would love to be in your shoes. All the best.

Dear Madam,
Thinking before acting has never really been my forte. Neither has been listening. This often results in fights between me and my close ones. Kindly guide me as to how I can remedy this and ensure better listening.
Anonymous 

Dear Anonymous,

The first step to change is to acknowledge that there is something to change. And I see that you are already acknowledging that. So that’s great! Once you know what you would like to change, it is easier to change it. After any event when you have acted before thinking, stop and reflect on the event. 

Initially, you will only be able to reflect after the fact, but gradually you will be able to catch yourself in time and reflect before the fact. Reflect on how you acted, and how you could have acted differently if you had thought of what to do. And compare the end result of what happened now, and what could have happened if you had thought before acting. How would you have been better off if you had thought before acting. Remember to respond, not react.

What often prevents us from truly listening is the fact that we tend to listen to respond, not to understand. Most of the time when someone is saying something to us, we are already getting ready with the answer in our mind and our emotional energy is taken up in getting our response ready, rather than in trying to understand what the speaker is actually saying and feeling. 

Active listening, in a way that people can experience the fact that you truly listened to them, is an art and a skill that takes effort to cultivate. It involves putting the other person first, and that is not always easy for many of us. It also does not seem to come naturally. 

But like I said before, for us to make any change, we first need to be aware of what we want to change. And you have already taken the first step. So good luck on your journey.

Dear Madam,
I am a Class 8 student who wants to eat out, watch movies and play with friends during school holidays. My parents want me to volunteer or take up some course or new learning during holidays. But I feel holidays are not for studying but for spending time leisurely. My parents get annoyed when I get up late and laze around. How do I convince them? Kindly guide. 
Sharan

Dear Sharan,

Before you take an opposing position to what your parents are saying, it is important for you to understand their perspective and why they want you to take extra classes. You don’t need to agree with them, but you do need to try and understand them. And the same holds true for your parents. They need to understand your perspective and needs, and why you feel it is important to use your vacations to unwind.

You will find that if you are able to have this conversation with them where both sides are trying to understand the others perspectives, you will be able to arrive at a path that will work for both – you and your parents.

Don’t view this as a battle, you win – they lose, or they win – you lose. You are not on opposing sides of the situation. You and your parents are on the same side of the situation, and that is wanting the best path forward for you. So this is not about confrontation. It is about collaboration. And that’s an important life skill to learn, so why not try to develop it at home first.