Undecided

What is occuring that with your superior expertise you are not being advanced while others with less skill are? In other words there is something that is keeping you back, you need to figure out if it is you, the situation or both. Either you need to work harder at proving yourself or it is time to move on to something else where your talents are recognized.

"I'm equipped with knowledge and education in adult learning and career counseling." - so what would you say to your client in a situation like this and how would you counsel them? Or why don't you ask for some counseling from one of your colleagues? Or both? Then you could surely see, who's better at what they are doing :))

I understand how you may be feeling. I have completed two MAs, studied PhD, completed numerous summer schools and training courses, worked hard to get work experience, read many books and so on. I feel very passionate about my field and know that I'm very good at it, but despite that, my career seems to be frozen in time. I see other people getting jobs, promotions and higher salaries, but not myself. Should I leave it and pursue something else?

Well, I think the most important thing is to be true to yourself. What is your dream occupation in life? What are you most passionate about? If the answer is "adult learning and career counseling", then stick to it with your teeth and nails and don't let it go! Is there anything else that you may like to do? If not, then don't worry and focus on where you are. If there's something else that you may be interested in, then let yourself explore it little bit more.

My first field is refugees. Since for a long time, I couldn't find any job, I finally decided to go and volunteer in Cambodia. That seemed like the only opportunity for me to get more work experience and also spend my time doing something that I like. It turned out to be a really great experience, but maybe even more importantly, that triggered my interest in management, strategic planning, organization development, capacity building and things like that. I started even thinking that maybe I'd like to become an NGO consultant! When I came back from Cambodia, I went to an introductory course on coaching just to find out that I had done coaching on some of my friends without even knowing that. I'm still not sure what's going to happen at the end, but I'm thinking that maybe I could still pursue my career in the refugee field and spend the rest of my time coaching and maybe also helping my boyfriend with his business. Of course, I would have to complete an expensive coaching school first, but I think with time and patience it is also doable.

Life is a like a puzzle. Sometimes it takes time to put everything into places and get all the answers. Here are some tips that I use for myself. Maybe you find some of them helpful, too:

- Believe in yourself and pursue your dreams and goals no matter what.
- Focus on realizing your full potential rather than comparing yourself with others.
- Be realistic and accept the fact that the rules of the labor market may not necessarily be always fair. We should always do our best, but also be aware that some things may not be in our control.
- Karma. Maybe we need to learn something from this experience. Let's just accept it the way it is. Experiences come and go. If we don't fight it so fiercely inside of us, then it will finally leave us alone and find someone else to stick to :)
- Focus on the solution rather than the problem. Define your problem, set goals, make an action plan and start implementing it! When you put everything on paper, you will start feeling more control over your life, thoughts will get organized and fairs will become more manageable.
- Be patient and don't demand too much of yourself. Roma also hasn't been built over a night. As they say, you may hit the stone 500 times and don't make it split, but if you keep hitting it, it may be as close as the 504th hit that brings you the wanted result.
- Don't focus on the result though. Focus on the process and the present moment. Think about your clients and what you can give to them. The more you give, the more you will receive. Sooner or later. One way or another!
- Look around and make sure that you are really where you want to be. Explore other surroundings. Sometimes there's no ideal place, but you can always choose the best option from the available ones. If there's no better option available, stay where you are and focus on the benefits and opportunities that it provides.
- Stay positive. Focus on your strengths and achievements. Do some other things that make you feel happy and energized. Don't think too much about the situation that you don't like to be in. Love yourself the way you are and remember that your value does not depend on your salary or any other external factors.

Well, even if that doesn't help you, then at least I made some plan for myself :)) I guess that's the best bit of trying to help someone!