My story of reinventing my career at an age others deemed risky. #storis, #career, #reinvention, #neversaynever, #proudibmer

Dear Friends, Colleagues and LinkedIn Network 

Most of you connected, networked, following me know me as the HR leader, Recruitment leader and so on with IBM and through this post I wanted to connect with all and relay a message. After spending over 12+ years as an HR professional and at an stage/age where others feel being adventurous in career moves dangerous I MOVED CAREER TRACKS. 

From an HR, which is considered support and indirect and an internal support role, I moved into #consultingwhich #client facing, business development and #delivery all in one role. 

1st of April is when this changed happened in my life and surely, I must confess I was nervous and worried. 

From being termed the Wikipedia of recruitment by my colleagues in IBM both at IBM India and IBM Middle East and Africa, I was going into something so new and with a clean slate. Having never faced an external client, never conducted workshops, never sold anything in consulting this seemed risky. 

The tools I had on this new adventure were, the passion and enthusiasm to work and for IBM, the 12+ years of HR experience working for IBM and very strong network internally with IBM, the backing of my friends and colleagues at IBM, the faith of my leadership in me and the tremendous support of my wife and family and with these I set out on this journey. 

I must say reflecting on these past months from 1st of April, I must say I am the happiest person, I am working on one of the most interesting project and I am traveling extensively, meeting clients and working with them every day, consulting with them in building a unique service, working on growing the scope of work, setting new unique shared service center, leadership training, digital reinvention, target operating model and so much more. 

A few words of advice and suggestions 

1.     Don’t hold yourself back, if you want to change careers then you are never too old or never too late. 

2.     Try new things, you will never your full potential until and unless you have pushed yourself to the extreme of the spectrum.

3.     Listen to your heart, opinions matter, advices help, but do what your heart has been telling you to do and if you fail then you failed trying and on your terms and not of others. 

Apologize for the long post, for those who spent reading the whole thing Thank you, for those who read few lines Keep in touch, for all others, we will always be connected no matter what. 

Also for those who sent me messages in the last couples of months please connect with the right teams in HR and recruitment at IBM MEA and redirect your emails and queries. 

Wishing you all the best in your careers and with regards

Javeed Ashraf Khan

Senior Managing Consultant 

Talent and Engagement 

#happyconsulting