You’ve spent several years – and countless thousands of dollars – getting that magic piece of paper. You’ve put in the hustle, built an admirable professional network, and nabbed your all-time dream job.

2. As with any time of trauma, the first and most important step is to take a deep
breath. Acting right away means making rash decisions, and that’s the surest route
to further trauma. This moment is not a time for action. Sit tight and suck air. When
you’ve calmed down some, that’s the moment to move on to step two.

3. Now that you’re in this pickle, you’ve got to determine the length and breadth of the
actual problem. Your dream job hasn’t lived up to its billing, but it’s important to know
exactly where it’s falling short. If it’s something comparatively simple, like poor fit with
your actual place of work, you may need to look elsewhere. However, during
assessment you may discover that there are one or more aspects of the job itself that
you find distasteful. At this point, just take note of these things for further
consideration.

4. For this stage, examine your options, based on your assessment from the previous
step. Can you discuss the situation with HR? Would the same job at another company
be better? If you’ve decided that no job on this career path is right for you, look at the
kinds of lateral moves you could make based on your skills and experience. Or,
consider whether you need to get further schooling, if not retrain entirely. Come up
with several plans and weigh your options carefully. If you need to, take a quick
detour back to step one before moving on.

5. You’ve taken several deep breaths, examined the problem in detail, and picked a
plan. In this step, take the plunge. Whatever you’ve decided to do, take that
famous shoe company’s advice and “Just do it!” Feeling a twinge of fear? We’ve
got you covered over here. And remember, if at first you don’t succeed, it’s not
the end of the world as you know it. Many, many people who became successful
started down some blind alleys, career-wise. It’s vital to know you’re not the only
one, and that getting help can be as easy as asking for it.

6. So, what if you find that taking a specific action isn’t necessary – or just isn’t in the
financial cards? What if the problem is one of perspective? If this is the case, take a
few moments to reflect on the aspects of your chosen career that may not be as bad
as you think they are. Just because something doesn’t turn out as expected, it does
not follow that that thing is bad. Even if you’re able to find reassurance in the fact that
you are employed when so many aren’t, surely that’s better than moping around and
wishing you were doing something else. Take in the larger picture, and understand that
while a big change may not be viable today, there’s always tomorrow.

7. The AMCAT is India’s first employability assessment test that help fresh graduates
to get their first job quickly and efficiently.