Last December I braced the coldest winter in the last 50 over years to be in Beijing for a speaking slot – “STARTING RIGHT” – at one of the universities in Beijing. The objective of my talk was to prepare undergraduate and graduate students for the world of work and business by increasing awareness of the world that awaits them.
Having had similar speaking engagements in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, as well as having worked closely with students from the UK, US and Australia, I realized we have a UNIVERSAL PROBLEM – fresh graduates are ill-prepared for the “harsh” realities of the world of work and business. In my professional experience, I have come across fellow professionals who chose to remain status quo despite the whiplash of change that stare right into their eyes. Furthermore, with little or no effort to learn new skill sets to remain relevant in the marketplace, retirees who are not mentally, physically, emotionally and financially ready for their golden years have sought my counsel.
My motto – Start right so that you have a higher chance of ending right. So, what must we do? Let me share with you some of my thoughts:
- Accidental future vs planned future – Accidental career vs planned career
Let me paint you a scenario – the moment we graduate we apply for a job and the next thing we know 20 years has passed us by. Suddenly, a sense of reality emerges and we find ourselves caught for “it is not a job we like”… too bad it is too late to do anything; it is too late to change! Many people out there are facing this predicament, what I often refer to as the “trapped generation”. Frustrated we may be but, still too afraid to change the status quo.
In The Straits Times article dated August 5, 2008 “50% of workers regret choice of study”. Kelly Services reports: “Many Australian workers regret their education and job choice according to new international survey”. I have no doubt in my mind that these people will become the future “trapped generation”.
I was no different from everyone else. In my younger days I wanted to be a teacher, a uniformed officer, a graphic designer, a stage actress, and the list goes on. But never had I dreamed of starting my own business. It took me 15 years to realize I was in a dilemma – I had a good paying job, well respected by many but I wasn’t sure I liked it anymore. Yet, I couldn’t exactly say I hated it too. That put me in a limbo for it dawned on me that I invested so many years into a profession that was merely an accidental career.
Start right by PLANNING your future and PLANNING your career. Don’t join the many who, at best, accept or tolerate their career. It is no fun! Start right, if not immediately, quickly so that you can achieve your career goals and derive more satisfaction in what you enjoy doing.
- A Career Of Choice – is not one that is dictated by your qualifications, training or your past. That is the traditional approach. I would like you to approach your career journey with this in mind – what are your qualities, what do you like, what are you passionate about – it is the ability to capitalize on your strengths and passion that is going to make a difference in your life – that will make you successful. Use your qualifications to help you pursue what you like successfully. For example, I may be pursuing a finance qualification but it does not stop me from joining the musical theatre industry. This is precisely what my colleague, an ex-research head of a brokering house did – pursued his passion which is now translated in him being one of the owners of a successful local production house. An envy of many as he can pursue his passion by capitalizing on his technical qualifications and experiences namely using the same vigour and meticulous research skills to write, create and produce musicals and plays. He is at his epitome of his career – a career of choice!
aiyat
dfhoe
