Charting Uncharted Waters: Careers in a Shifting World

Writer: Evangelin S for Innustame

Image: Freepik

I have always been a non-conformist for as long as I can remember. And the same personality trait has worked its way into my career unknowingly unlocking doors to many opportunities. I majored in computer applications and much to everyone’s amazement, I started working in the Non-profit sector in a department irrelevant to my degree and later transitioned into copywriting, marketing communications and social media. None of which, I had a degree for or a solid experience. But the role grew on me. I understood the nuances of social media and digital marketing and slowly began independently running social media campaigns and leading content projects.

How did the leap into transboundary waters happen?

Well, I quit my job to take a short break. This current position was one of the many roles I applied to. I knew that this was a non-marketing role. I thought of it more as an internal communications position. I did not grasp the potential of the role until I started working. My job now includes working on technical reports on climate adaptation, disaster resilience and transboundary waters. While I did have a considerable amount of knowledge on climate change and disaster risk, I had no clue of transboundary waters. It is interesting how a small skill can open up different avenues, allowing you to work on diverse projects and develop a niche. I now work as a communications consultant for a Nonprofit based in Bangkok, Thailand.

What unexpected experiences or opportunities have shaped your professional journey, and how do they reflect the reality of modern careers?

Everything in my career is a coincidence. "I took a chance, and I liked it”, has always been the philosophy of my life. I’ve also observed that I’m not that person who builds a skill and then looks for a suitable role. I find a role and make myself suitable for it. My copywriting/social media and now technical editor roles are merely coincidences. But my contribution was to learn on the job. It could be an unorthodox way of shaping one’s career. But, hey do what works best for you. We are all different types of learners. I’m happy for supervisors who were open to that and allowed someone like me who did not know the subject to take up the job. But the one thing I had was the creative streak. I think that innate skill has worked in my favour.

I also feel that one should be open-minded when it comes to career. Because, ten years from now, you can be bored of what you are doing and would want to explore other opportunities. When that happens, don’t let the fear of the unknown stop you. You never know where life and your unexplored talents can take you.

How has working from home in Chennai shaped your perspective on productivity, collaboration, and work-life balance?

Working from home permanently has its own pros and cons. While you don’t have to deal with rush hour or commute long distances, working from home has its own drawbacks. All interactions with your colleagues are virtual, which is interesting, because you get to meet so many people from across the world. But you also don’t have the luxury of walking to someone’s desk to ask a question or to simply chat. You also have to know where to draw the line. For e.g. you have to remember not to exceed working hours just because you work from home. If you communicate frequently through messages, you need to be careful of your tone to avoid sounding rude.

When working for another country, there is a time difference and one has to be mindful of their working hours while meeting deadlines, etc. Working from home is mostly rosy for an introvert like me. But it would not be something I would recommend for a social butterfly.

How has your career path so far challenged the idea of a linear, singular trajectory?

The conventional linear career path is considered safe and profitable to some extent. There are moments when the thought of saving up for pension, etc. takes over. But when you have something really good to offer, you would always find something to do. It would not be the universally accepted standard career route. But it can open the most unexpected doors of opportunities.

How has your work in transboundary waters and climate change influenced your personal values and lifestyle choices?

While I was aware of climate change and worked on a couple of communications related to the subject, I had no clue of transboundary waters. There is so much more to climate change than global warming, melting ice caps and disappearing fresh water. Something as simple as access to water that runs between the boundaries of two countries can disrupt a person’s life, especially if they have the unfortunate fate of living in marginalized communities. And even more unfortunate if you are a woman. As a woman myself, it is disheartening to know that women bear the brunt of water shortages. They go to great lengths to find water for their families but, sadly, are not given the recognition they deserve.

Personally, I am becoming more environmentally conscious in my own way. I do my best to avoid hoarding, wasting electricity, or misusing water.

What advice would you give to someone starting their career in environmental work, especially in a world where remote work and short-term projects are becoming more common?

It’s a good place to start. The world is working towards saving the planet and there are plenty of environment-related jobs opening up. If this is something you would like to work on and have a relevant skill that can help you contribute, I’d say go for it.  Remote work also demands an amount of discipline. There is no one watching you so you have to be accountable for your own time. However, there is often a sense of fear attached to short-term projects and unconventional roles. My advice is to remain open to exploring opportunities like these—they could work in your favor and lead to many other possibilities. Even if they don’t, they will still add value to your resume. Either way, they will challenge you and push you out of your comfort zone. Don’t miss out on opportunities like this.

Where do you see your career heading, and how do you plan to continue making an impact in the face of global environmental challenges?

I plan to continue working with Nonprofit organizations, regardless of their thematic focus. However, if I get the opportunity to work on climate change or in the corporate sector, I’d be more than happy. It’s more about where life takes me next. I also try to stay relevant by keeping up with new developments in communication and social media.

How do you hope to inspire others to embrace a non-linear career path and find meaning in diverse experiences?

So it’s basically a perspective. Do you want the traditional linear career path, or do you want to be someone who explores different fields and opportunities? What do you want to do? I like communications, and I try my hand at different aspects of it - marketing, internal comms, social media and now technical reports. Once you are confident or know what you are good at, you can capitalize on that skill. There will be challenges, no doubt. It’s your choice to either break free from fear and step out of your comfort zone or to play safe and stay in your lane. 

Evangelin has been working in the nonprofit sector for more than 14 years. A chance interview turned into a career path. As a communications professional who has worked across various thematic areas, she believes her content makes a difference to someone, somewhere—and that makes her day. This blog post has been solely written for Innustame