How To Identify And Pursue Your Passion?

It was the year 2004. I got admission to pursue MBA at an institute in Mumbai.

Right from my first year, I developed a fascination for HR. I was especially interested in Training & Development or Learning & Development (L & D) as it is known today. 

I researched the roles in L & D. To my dismay; I discovered that one requires at least 3-4 years of experience to get into an L & D role. All the jobs that were offered to freshers were for recruitment.

I was not interested in the usual transactional HR roles and started wondering how to break the chain. I wanted to dive straight into L & D.

My dad’s older days management lessons came in handy. The young management trainee who once came home to give us some Gyan (remember my post about my childhood story? If you haven’t read it, check out the featured section on my profile) was now the Vice President-HR of a multinational FMCG company.

I went to meet him. We discussed my aspirations. He suggested I try opportunities in consulting firms. Consulting firms partner with organizations across industries on an assignment basis. He explained that one gets to work on various projects, and there are plenty of learning opportunities. 

I was looking forward to working on core L & D issues. I was jumping with joy inside but maintaining a composed demeanor in front of him. I thanked him for the guidance.

I found my calling; a consulting firm specializing in L & D is what I wanted to join.

In Campus Recruitments, I got selected for the ITES wing of a leading IT company. I did not resonate with the ITES culture. I felt I would be a misfit there. I refused the offer.

My friends and family thought I was a fool to reject three luring corporate roles in a row. College was over, all my friends got placed, and I was still at home searching for a good opening in a consulting firm specializing in L & D.

After putting up with my tantrums (that’s what they felt it was), my dad gave me an ultimatum. He gave me a timeline of one month. If I do not manage to land a job in a consulting firm of my liking, I will have to settle for a generalist HR role in a corporate firm. That was the deal.

It’s said when you desire something; the whole universe conspires to help you achieve it.

And that’s what happened to me. I got a call from a recruiting agency. They fixed the appointment for an interview with a consulting firm specializing in L & D.

Like a good student, I researched the firm, brushed up on the fundamentals of L & D, made of list of probable questions, prepared well, and went for the interview. The position was directly reporting to the CEO.

On D-Day, I was nervous and excited. The CEO conducted the interview. He asked rapid-fire questions. It was like a typical stress interview. I answered all his questions, but I knew I could do better. I had my fingers crossed and did not want to lose the golden opportunity.

He pretended not to be impressed by the interview, which added to my stress. The truth is, he liked my clarity and passion for L & D. He was happy to learn that I refused offers from MNCs only to find my dream role.

There I was the next day to complete my joining formalities.

Yessss, I got the job, hurrraaayyyyyy!!!.

The job that I wanted, I dreamed about, I nurtured for two years, a role in core L & D.

The clarity in your thoughts and actions always yields results. 

You need to have the conviction and keep trying. 

No matter what happens, DON’T GIVE UP.

Reach out to people who can guide you. 

Learn from experts. 

Follow their advice.

You never know how close you are to achieving the result. That one last step makes all the difference.

Happy Reading

B.Jayasree