You want a job or a career?

Young professionals must balance long term and short term goals.  While previous generations have always taken a long term view to their professional lives, the current lot is different. Weighed down by loans and spurred on by the plethora of professional options and entrepreneurial dreams, young professionals perched at the start of their careers must walk the tightrope between a long term perspective and short term goals. One step at a time Opines Kartik Kapoor, who completed his Master's in International Relations and is working in the digital space, "My father spent thirty years with the same organisation and gradually worked his way to the top. It is unthinkable for me to do such a thing. The countless options available to me professionally today mean that I'm unwilling to commit to anything for the long term. I can afford to be whimsical and always follow my heart. I will stay at my job as long as I find it enjoyable, and then move on." The role of factors such as educational loans and entrepreneurial ambition in moulding professional perspectives should also be considered. Says Anand Sankar, who recently completed his MBA from Mudra Institute of Communication Ahmedabad (MICA), "Since most students enter their first job with a fairly large educational loan to be repaid, a well-paying job is usually the first thing we look for. From what I know, a lot of young professionals have entrepreneurial dreams (however small). At least, in my case, a long term corporate career is out of question. I'd much rather settle in for a job where I can accumulate enough start-up capital, than try to slowly build a career." Long term wise Others believe that career planning and long-term mapping is as crucial to young professionals even today. "When you think of your time as a professional as a series of jobs rather than one continuous career, you tend to become microscopic in your approach. It is a slippery slope of sorts. Things like building contacts, expanding your professional network, constantly updating your skills and learning ensures that your take away from your current job positively impacts your future as well," explains Bangalore-based Trisha Ramanujan, who recently became a chartered accountant. At the same time, it is likely that chartering your corporate career with an eye on the long term will involve certain immediate adjustments and possibly compromises. "Many reputed companies where you would like to build a career would not pay very well in initially, as they consider the brand value of the organisation as an attractive enough pay-out to the young professional," says Ramanujan. Understand your priorities While young professionals may adopt a short or long term perspective to their careers based on their circumstances and choices, it is absolutely necessary that the perspective come after deliberation and reflection-and not because of lack of thought. Don't adopt a short term view because you haven't invested the time to think into the future, don't overemphasize the future because you haven't entirely considered possible immediate benefits. Priyansh Modi, who graduated from IIM Shillong last year and is now a brand manager at a leading alcohol beverages organisation says, "The long term plans of the individual are very important. If the person is planning a long corporate career, focusing on long term goals is more prudent. After all, your measure of success will be where you reach in another ten years. But if you are working just so you have the financial security to start your own business, then short-term goals are the priority. In my opinion, the young professional needs to define his or her measure of success and understand where they would like to see themselves in life a few years down the line." Abhishek Sampat, research engineer with a major automotive manufacturer shares, "I guess things vary from person to person - some people work to fund their other hobbies, some people work because they are passionate about what they do. The decision can also come down to extenuating circumstances - the educational loan you want out of the way quickly, the 'lifestyle' you see yourself having, peer pressure to be seen as 'in the big league'. I'm not sure if there is a single answer, but I do believe it's a case of the best opportunity at the right time that drives most early career decisions."   TOI