First take a test-the eye-opener test-which has nothing to do with your IQ. It measures your career aptitude, temperament and capabilities against 3,840 options. You will be ideally suited to about 15 to 20 options.

I. Start the elimination process. For example, you might like a job but not be academically qualified for it, so have to rule it out. Ultimately, you will be left with five to six options. Select the best and prepare yourself for it. The ideal situation would be one or two fields. The selection must be methodical or you’ll be all over the place.

II. Don’t give up your old job and jump into something new till you get your groundwork done. Use your lunch break or after-office hours wisely.

III. If possible, test a new job before quitting your old one. Take your accumulated leave to shadow people already in the fields in which you want to work. Check the ground level reality and match it with your perception.

IV. If possible, avoid drastic changes. Instead, do a hop and skip by bridging what you already do and what you want to do. First, look around for opportunities within the organization. Make a lateral move. If you have been with an organization long enough, you are valued and the management will be willing to move you. This way everything will not be different at once. You will have a comfort factor that will help absorb the shock of transition.

V. As you age, it is difficult to adjust. Move only when you feel ready.

VI. Another smart move is to pitch in within the organization. No boss will say no as long as you are doing your existing job well. I know many who have done it, from being an announcer on radio to become a producer.

VII. Always take courses. Today, to even serve in the job you are already in, brown bag courses are popular. Earlier, companies would send employees on training; today not a day can be spared. So employees meet in the cafeteria at lunchtime, have light packed lunch and train simultaously.

VIII. Upgrade your skills. Online courses and correspondence courses are very convenient and crucial and are a virtual treasure chest.

IX. Women tend to pitch a little low and undervalue their skills and achievements even at interviews. As women, even at appraisals, we tend to take it for granted that everybody knows what we’ve been doing. So catalogue your skills and achievements, even the smaller ones. And that for sure, will take you to the new heights of achievements.