The journey of finding the right career
Ever find yourself wondering if you’re in the right line of work? You’re probably not alone. Aaron Chua, a director at a global consulting firm talks about his career discovery journey.
Some people figure out their calling very early in their careers but many of us go through a journey to find the right fit. It’s often a difficult and lengthy process.
I spoke to Aaron Chua, Director at a global management consulting firm to understand his career discovery journey, and how he overcame his initial struggles to find the right fit.
Q. You’re currently working in a global management consulting firm but you’ve done quite a few other things in your career. Could you tell us a bit about the path you took to get to where you are today?
I started my career fresh out of university as an auditor, went on to do structured finance at a bank (during the Lehman crisis no less), and then moved on to manage a digital marketing program at a technology company just prior to its acquisition (with my role made redundant) by a tech giant in 2012.
I finally embarked on phase two of my career in management consulting where I’ve experienced a range of subjects from corporate finance to people and organization advisory and digital transformation.
It’s been a varied career and an interesting journey; I got a lot of experience across a range of subject matters over the years and managed to identify an area of work which I am comfortable with. Many lessons were learnt, and I met many amazing people along the way - mentors, colleagues, and friends.
Q. We’ve known each other since we were teenagers. I wouldn’t have imagined that you would end up doing what you’re doing today. What were your aspirations like at that age, and how did your plans change as you continued with your education and eventually graduated and first went into the workforce?
I’ve always been identified as a creative type, both by myself and by those around me. Most expected me to end up becoming an artist, musician, or media and communications professional. Like many Asian kids of our generation, there were expectations placed on us either by our parents or subconsciously by ourselves based on societal pressures on what to do with our lives.
At the University of New South Wales where we both studied, I embarked on a double degree in Arts & Social Sciences and Commerce but was quickly encouraged to take a more business-focused path just after a year. I eventually dropped my studies in Political Science and Psychology, both of which I enjoyed very much.
When I completed my degree in Accounting, I felt a certain social pressure to go straight into the workforce rather than “waste” another two years to complete my double degree in Arts and Social Science and hence started my career in auditing at one of the Big Four accounting firms.
Q. Would you describe those initial years of your career as a journey to figure out your calling?
Many of my peers (and certainly the youth coming into the workforce these days) appear to have a strong affinity for what they want to do very early in their careers. I wasn’t one of those “lucky ones” with that clarity.
During the initial years of my career, I pursued professional paths which I thought matched what was expected of me. Within the first three years, I very quickly realized how important a career and role fit was to building a sustainable, fulfilling career. This was during a time when career literature and professional guidance were not as commonplace. I had to figure this out the old-fashioned way - via firsthand experience on the job.
During the initial years of my career, I pursued professional paths which I thought matched what was expected of me. Within the first three years, I very quickly realized how important a career and role fit was to building a sustainable, fulfilling career.
I did not do particularly well in my first two career roles and spent a lot of time feeling confused and frustrated. Confused mostly because I had no idea what type of work would make me happy, especially since many of my colleagues and peers had so effortlessly “figured it out” and were doing so well at work. Frustrated because I worked very hard to improve my skills in roles and subject areas which I was not keen on, without much success.
It was only towards the fourth year of my career that I decided to do things a little differently, and take some risks towards a path with less clarity and certainty.
Q. What was your thought process during those years?
To be honest, I didn’t give much thought to my career path during the early years. I just worked hard at my tasks without taking a step back to understand the “why” behind what I was doing. I did not understand that prioritizing purpose and well-being was critical to a fulfilling, sustainable career.
One thing I do remember was being taught to focus on working on my weakness to be better at my job rather than pursuing discussions on role fit and playing to one’s natural abilities and strengths. I have since developed a deep belief that focusing on improving your weaknesses can only take you so far. Focusing on building your strengths, however, will allow you to experience exponential growth. A bird will struggle to learn to swim and may even drown, but with the right guidance, it can learn to fly, as it was born to do.
I do remember…being taught to focus on working on my weakness to be better at my job…I have since developed a deep belief that focusing on improving your weaknesses can only take you so far. Focusing on building your strengths, however, will allow you to experience exponential growth.
Q. Were you working in roles you didn’t enjoy? How did you deal with it?
Idealistic during the early years of my career, I engaged in roles which I thought aligned with conventional ideas of successful careers. These did not play to my strengths and were not a good match for my personality. I tried to stick to a career in finance for a while but had to work harder at my craft to make up for any disadvantages I had next to others who had a natural flair for it.
After several years of hard work and disappointing results, I didn’t want to settle for mediocrity, especially not when it came to my career which is a significant part of my life. I sought answers by reading the available literature on career advice and looked for guidance from professional career counsellors.
Q. What were some things that helped you to discover that management consulting was something you wanted to do, and something you wanted to make into a long-term career?
There are four things I can think of:
Reading relevant material and using frameworks helped to guide my thought process. You could use a simple framework of three criteria important to you (e.g. financial, passion, time) and use this to guide your career conversations and choices. The Japanese concept of Ikigai is another very useful, holistic and widely used concept.
Dedicating time and allowing myself the mind space to figure things out. We can’t get clarity if we’re constantly distracted by daily activities and are not intentional and deliberate in our approach to seeking answers.
Reaching out to my network and talking to a lot of people in different fields of work helped me to understand what was out there and how people in other fields experienced their work. This helped me to narrow down my options.
I identified some rituals which help to ground me and promote a positive state of mind, that’s when inspiration usually comes. Some rituals that have worked for me include meditation and doing a daily gratitude list.
Q. It took around seven years, but you successfully redirected yourself in a new direction that you wanted. What would you say to others who may be in a similar situation (in one profession but not feeling like it’s the right one and thinking about what to do)? Is it ever too late to make a switch? What are some ways they can think about whether to make the change or not and how can they prepare for it?
Again, there are four things that come to mind and they all have to do with your mindset:
A perfect career doesn’t exist, all career pathways have their merits and challenges. The key is to work towards being clear on what works for you.
You’re not going to have all the answers quickly. Trust yourself to make the right decisions based on the experience you have gathered to date, and trust that the right people, the right information, and the right opportunities will come to you if you keep your eyes open to look out for them.
You are not alone in this journey. Many have walked this path before you and are more than happy to provide you with the guidance you need at your stage of your career. Don’t be afraid to ask those you trust as mentors for help or even to seek out professional guidance.
In your quest to define your purpose, focus outwards on how you can be of service or create value. We tend to focus a lot on the negative when we look inwards. You’ll be surprised what happens when you shift your perception towards how you can contribute with the skills and capabilities you already have.
A perfect career doesn’t exist, all career pathways have their merits and challenges. The key is to work towards being clear on what works for you.
Q. Do you have any regrets or things you wished you’d done differently with your career?
Through my journey of self-discovery, I’ve learnt that everyone has their own personal journey to take. You may provide the best sage advice in the world but if the recipient isn’t ready, he or she may have some ways to go, or some lessons to learn before they are ready to receive and act on the advice provided.
I wouldn’t be who I am today had I not gone through the journey I had taken and the lessons I had to learn along the way. All of this has prepared me for where I am today, and the journey I am on will continue to prepare me for what comes next.
Q. Any last pieces of advice for others who may be struggling to find their calling or making the decision to change careers or not?
Take time to check in with yourself, ask if you’re doing well at work.
If you’re not, allow yourself to have the mind space and time to understand the real reason why you’re not doing well in your current role and organization and if there’s anything you can do differently in your current situation before you decide it’s time for a change. It may not always be about your current role, team, or organization.
If you do decide it’s time to make a change, understand that your career is an evolving journey. Never shy away from reaching out for help. Trust yourself to make the right decision for that specific point in time, stand behind your decision and make it work for you.
Don’t take all of this too seriously; be curious, get to know yourself better, and enjoy your journey of self-discovery while you craft a path which works for you.
Don’t take all of this too seriously; be curious, get to know yourself better, and enjoy your journey of self-discovery while you craft a path which works for you.
If you’re reading this or know someone who feels lost in their career journey, take comfort in the knowledge that most people go through similar experiences at some point in their career, and we’re all still figuring things out as we go along. I hope this helps you in some way, no matter how big or small, on your path to self-discovery and a fulfilling career.
Special thanks to Aaron for sharing his very personal journey of career discovery!