Career by Choice

Ravi Bhushan

In today’s competitive world, choosing a career is a difficult task. Over the last 10-15 years, the world has changed drastically. It does not seem too long ago when there existed a very distinct feeling among parents that their children should pursue either medicine or engineering as a career.

Today that outlook has begun to change and parents along with children are thinking about other options. Presently there are numerous choices available to young people, ranging from subject and streams in school to a variety of short-term and long-term courses.

Today’s youth is looking not for jobs but for careers. Not just for monetary rewards but for personal fulfillment – scope for self-improvement and growth.

Often a student has a little information and even less awareness of the alternatives available as who to turn to for guidance to make the all important decision of the career. There is a fog of confusion when student is at crossroads immediately after completing 10+2. Collecting information, being aware and planning for the future is of paramount importance.

Careers today come in three major streams.

· A career pattern in the government bureaucracy or corporate world consists of formal movement from jobs to job and is defined by logic of hierarchical advancement once initial entry is obtained.

· Then there is a professional career defined by craft and skill – specialized knowledge and reputation. Engineers and lawyers, doctors and teachers, media persons etc. are professionals who may keep the same title and the same job over a long period, if employed or make their skills available for fee-based assignments. They grow career-wise as their skills grow.
· The third pattern is the entrepreneurial one of creating a product of service of value. Small business ventures and services and so on fall in this category.

One should work out a career plan to become successful in the first place. Everybody cannot be successful but those who plan have a better chance. A job is not a career and this distinction must be kept in mind. Your job is a gateway to your career leading to your dream life. A career is an integrated life-long plan of life – not just a living. The job one may hold at a particular time is only a rung on the ladder. We need not consider jobs as entities in themselves but a stage to get ready to make adjustments for the right career goal.

Thus my question ‘does the word career exist ?’.... is something to ponder over so that we may look for various options for the betterment of your child. If you feel you do not wish to slot yourself in existing careers or are up against a wall in finding a job, never hesitate to seek advice of a career expert.


The author is Director, PEPES Educational Consultancy.Ravi Bhushan

In today’s competitive world, choosing a career is a difficult task. Over the last 10-15 years, the world has changed drastically. It does not seem too long ago when there existed a very distinct feeling among parents that their children should pursue either medicine or engineering as a career.

Today that outlook has begun to change and parents along with children are thinking about other options. Presently there are numerous choices available to young people, ranging from subject and streams in school to a variety of short-term and long-term courses.

Today’s youth is looking not for jobs but for careers. Not just for monetary rewards but for personal fulfillment – scope for self-improvement and growth.

Often a student has a little information and even less awareness of the alternatives available as who to turn to for guidance to make the all important decision of the career. There is a fog of confusion when student is at crossroads immediately after completing 10+2. Collecting information, being aware and planning for the future is of paramount importance.

Careers today come in three major streams.

· A career pattern in the government bureaucracy or corporate world consists of formal movement from jobs to job and is defined by logic of hierarchical advancement once initial entry is obtained.

· Then there is a professional career defined by craft and skill – specialized knowledge and reputation. Engineers and lawyers, doctors and teachers, media persons etc. are professionals who may keep the same title and the same job over a long period, if employed or make their skills available for fee-based assignments. They grow career-wise as their skills grow.
· The third pattern is the entrepreneurial one of creating a product of service of value. Small business ventures and services and so on fall in this category.

One should work out a career plan to become successful in the first place. Everybody cannot be successful but those who plan have a better chance. A job is not a career and this distinction must be kept in mind. Your job is a gateway to your career leading to your dream life. A career is an integrated life-long plan of life – not just a living. The job one may hold at a particular time is only a rung on the ladder. We need not consider jobs as entities in themselves but a stage to get ready to make adjustments for the right career goal.

Thus my question ‘does the word career exist ?’.... is something to ponder over so that we may look for various options for the betterment of your child. If you feel you do not wish to slot yourself in existing careers or are up against a wall in finding a job, never hesitate to seek advice of a career expert.


The author is Director, PEPES Educational Consultancy.