Hi sir, I completed my B.tech in 2019 in computer science. After that 4 yrs have passed but I have not been able to stabilize my career till now. I have total 2 yrs of work experience in total 4 IT ompanies. I also have 2 career breaks of 1.5 yrs and 6 months each. The reason for my frequent job hopping and career gaps is that I am not able to handle stressful situations at workplace. Whenever a situation comes in which my boss scolds me or expects me to work in tight deadlines or I make some mistakes or some office politics starts, I start to get very anxious and spiral into negativity. My software development skills are pretty decent and I perform better than many of my colleagues. But my inability to handle these things eventually makes me quit the job in the hope that next job would be better in this regard. I usually get new jobs within few weeks due to my skills but my avoidance behaviour starts the same cycle again in the next workplace as well. Due to this my salary has not also been able to grow much. What should I do to save my career? My options are either sticking with IT ir changing my field by doing mba. I also think about MS abroad but my btech grades are not good enough (6.6 cgpa) to get in good universities.

Ans: Hey

It's understandable that dealing with workplace stress, criticism, tight deadlines, and office politics can be overwhelming. However, recognizing these challenges is an important first step towards finding a solution.

Here are my 2 cents worth of advice

1. Consider consulting a professional counselor or therapist to work on coping mechanisms for stress, anxiety, and handling workplace pressure. Learning techniques to manage stress and maintain a positive mindset can be tremendously beneficial.

2. Develop emotional intelligence skills to understand and manage emotions, empathize with others, and effectively communicate in challenging circumstances.

3. Develop a thick skin. Develop an ability to bounce back from setbacks, rejections, or stressful situations. Strategies like mindfulness, meditation, or even regular exercise can significantly contribute to improving resilience.

4. Be assertive, yet respectful, in your interactions can help you navigate workplace conflicts better.

5. It's possible that the culture or environment of the companies you've worked for may not be conducive to your well-being. Consider exploring companies with a more supportive, nurturing, or relaxed work culture.

Going for an MBA will be a costly affair and I would advise you to be sure of your decision.

Furthermore, post MBA; corporate stress is only bound to increase.