Why Your Career Should Work for You And Not the World’s Opinion

In an age of constant career advice, viral success stories and social media timelines that make everyone else look permanently ahead, one quiet truth often gets buried: a career does not have to impress the world, it has to work for the person living it.

Career pressure today rarely comes from a lack of opportunity. It comes from comparison. Students feel rushed to pick “hot” fields, professionals feel compelled to switch roles frequently, and stability is often mistaken for stagnation. But lived professional experiences suggest that constant change is not always growth.

Abhishek Maitra, a Senior Application Developer and Apeejay Stya University alumnus was trained originally as a mechanical engineer. His career trajectory reflects a broader reality of modern work, one where success is not always linear, loud or externally validated.

“If something is working for you, there’s no need to change it just because it works differently for someone else,” he says. “As long as you’re getting the outcome you need, stability can be a strength.”

This idea runs counter to popular narratives that glorify relentless switching and constant reinvention. In reality, careers unfold at different speeds. What looks like delay from the outside may actually be alignment on the inside.

Another source of pressure is trend-chasing. Entire cohorts rush towards the same roles, technologies or industries, often without asking whether the work suits their temperament or long-term goals. “Everyone wants to be in front-end development right now,” Maitra notes, “but not every trend fits every person. Saturation happens when choices are driven by popularity, not clarity.”

Equally important is knowing when to change. Staying put does not mean staying stuck. The key difference lies in intention. “The moment you realise you’re no longer getting the outcome you need, learning, growth or balance, that’s when change makes sense,” he adds.

Perhaps the most reassuring takeaway is that careers don’t have to follow predefined lanes. Skills transfer, interests evolve, and roles adapt. What matters is whether the work supports your learning, your life and your sense of purpose.

In a world eager to give opinions on what success should look like, choosing a career that quietly works for you may be the most grounded decision of all.