From Survival to Thriving

Going through a series of unsuccessful short term jobs can discourage and deflate even the most resilient, positive person. Read on to learn about our client Shelley* (not her real name), who was supported by us over a period of 15 months as she moved from a survival mode into a thriving and performing mode in her job.

"Am I really suitable for this job?"

When Shelley first approached AVODAH People Solutions Pte Ltd in November 2023, she was at a crossroads in her career. Having gone through a series of short work stints, she struggled to find a role where she could truly thrive. Her past job choices had been more of an exploration—trial and error rather than a structured path aligned with her strengths. After several unsuccessful experiences, her career self-efficacy was at an all-time low, and she found herself questioning her abilities and career direction. Whenever she was in a new job role, she would doubt and question herself if she is really able to do well, stay on and perform.

"Rebuilding Career Confidence and Clarity, Overcoming Self-Doubt and Workplace Challenges"

Over the course of six personalized career counselling sessions, spanning from November 2023 to February 2025, Shelley worked closely with our team to reshape her career narrative. One of the key areas of focus was transferring her past successes into present-day solutions. By reflecting on her previous achievements, we helped Shelley reconstruct her work self-concept, which had become blurry over time. This shift allowed her to see herself as capable and resourceful, rather than stuck in a cycle of uncertainty.

Another significant aspect of Shelley's journey was learning how to cope and adjust to the demands of a difficult and challenging new work environment of her new job. She was placed in a fast-paced role with a heavy workload, a setting that initially felt overwhelming. Through our sessions, Shelley learned how to leverage her strengths and her faith to navigate these challenges. By focusing on what she did well and drawing from her inner resilience, she was able to regain confidence in her abilities.

At the same time, we worked on addressing some of the negative self-sabotaging thoughts and lingering trauma from her past work experiences. These thoughts had been generating negative emotions that affected her wellbeing at work. By helping Shelley recognize and reframe these limiting beliefs, she was able to approach her work with a renewed perspective.

"Setting Realistic Expectations and Thriving at Work"

Shelley also gained insights into the types of jobs and environments that best suited her strengths and personality. Instead of feeling lost in trial and error, she developed a clearer understanding of what she needed in a workplace to succeed. In addition, we guided her on setting appropriate expectations—both for herself and her workplace. This was a crucial step in preventing burnout and frustration.

Learning to adapt was another key milestone. Shelley discovered how to work with her supervisor to negotiate tasks, seek constructive feedback, recognizing that not everything was within her control while applying her recently acquired career self-making skills to truly adapt to new environmental demands. This shift in mindset helped her manage her workload effectively and navigate workplace dynamics with greater ease.

Through persistence and guidance, Shelley not only managed to stay in her role for an extended period—something she had previously struggled with—but she also moved from a state of mere survival to one of adaptation, growth, and performance. She learned to embrace her strengths, set boundaries, and approach her work with a balanced mindset.

"Shelley's Testimony"

"I had been in contact with AVODAH People Solutions for many years, since returning from my studies abroad by first attending their workshops/seminars. Having been struggling with career issues since returning from studies abroad, suffering from career complexes (because my career looks radically different from most of my peers from university), ending up with multiple career switches and finding acute difficulties staying in one organisation due to high job mismatches, I sought AVODAH's help. Attending AVODAH's customised career management counselling sessions had helped immensely in helping me to crystallise issues and understanding my struggles, as well as to attain my goals, including but not limited to cultivating stability in my career, finding meaning and purpose and developing critical skills which are pivotal for establishing work-life harmony. The initial intake personalised call was very well targeted. A big shout out and special mention to my career counsellor, who had been extremely dedicated in supporting me through every single-curated customised career management counselling session we had. This level of quality of help received is impeccable and extremely remarkable - beyond words. My career counsellor had been extremely attentive and meticulous in paying attention to my career struggles and identifying issues. I do not think I will ever have enough words to express the entire gamut of appreciation and gratitude which I have for the help received. What is most fundamental is that at AVODAH, there had never been a single tinge of judgment of the circumstances that I had been through. AVODAH had been extremely encouraging. Big plus: You form a real relationship with your career management counsellor. If you ever need genuine, authentic, purposeful, meaningful and concrete help, go to AVODAH."

By the end of our support, Shelley had transitioned into a confident, self-assured professional who was no longer defined by past setbacks. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance, guided support, and the belief that career success is possible, even after a series of challenges.

These career stories belong to clients of Avodah People Solutions

To protect the privacy of our clients, we have changed the names and omitted some details of their stories.

In sharing these stories, we hope to inspire you in your own career journey.

Seeking career direction or thinking of a career change?

Find out more about how we can help you with your career. Get help from Avodah People Solutions today!

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