The Solutions

1. Differentiating between a Job and a Career (A real case study)

At 21 Mahesh finishes his B.Com and looks for a job, he is told that a multinational bank is hiring and interviews are on, Mahesh goes there with his certificates and on facing the interview panel he is asked whether he is ready for sales, he declines. After sitting at home for next two months he again comes across an interview advertisement of a bank, he goes to attend but the same story is repeated. It is extremely frustrating for Mahesh as the jobs available are not matching his aspirations.

One day he gets a call from his friend Vikram saying there is a vacancy in the office he works, Mahesh goes for the interview in his Vikram's employer's office M/S Sameer Shah and associates, a CA firm, he inquires about the job profile, it would be data entry, managing MIS and day to day operations, Mahesh likes the profile but is disappointed to know the salary is only INR 6000pm. Having no other option Mahesh accepts the offer as it is certainly better than being jobless sitting at home.

It has been six years since Mahesh joined M/S Sameer Shah and associates, now his salary is INR11000 and is soon going to get married. Over these years Mahesh has become much more aware of the job market and growth possibilities in the company he works.He realizes that he works in a proprietorship firm and unorganized sector, he will never have the growth here that he can expect in corporates. 

Mahesh starts searching for jobs again, he gets lucky with an interview with a leading bank, he goes for the interview and is asked the same question 

Interviewer "Are you ready for sales?"

Mahesh "Yes.I am"

Interviewer "What are your salary expectations?"

Mahesh "Sir i have an experience of 6 years and am currently getting 11000, so i expect some increment over that"

Interviewer "Where are you working?"

Mahesh "Sir, i have been working with M/S Sameer Shah and associates for last five years"

Interviewer "Sorry Mahesh but we will not take that as an experience, because the experience of unorganized sector is not counted. As regards to your candidature we will treat you as a fresher and for freshers our policy grants a maximum salary of INR 10000 pm. Tell me if you are interested?"

Noe Mahesh is in a typical catch 22 situation. The mistake Mahesh made at the start of his career is a common story in metropolitans. This not only robbed Mahesh of valuable six years of experience but now he starts his life with people five to six years younger to him. Its like having a feeling of failing in a class for six years and being with your juniors.

I always tell my students in various MBA colleges and the candidates who come to Evolve XL looking for jobs that if you are looking out only for jobs, chances are that you will be spoilt for choices but if you want a more fulfilling and a richer life concentrate on career look at a long term and a holistic vision of 20 to 25 years. Probably that's the reason why most of the interviewers ask the candidates" Where do you see yourself in five years from now?" Having a myopic vision will only inhibit your chances of having a great career.

2. Identifying the Sectors you would like to work for

Have you seen a surfer, he jumps on to a tide which is growing and the moment he feels the tide is about to collapse he jumps on to another which is growing? Similarly candidates should also identify which sectors are growing? In my seminars i always ask the candidates "Why do you want to get into banking?" and i get all sorts of answers. But the bottom-line is banking is growing and will continue to rock for next 20 to 25 years purely because the industry penetration is sub 30% levels which simply means 70% Indians are yet to open bank accounts. Which are the industries which are bound to grow faster than the others, my first five would be banking, education, retail, infrastructure and healthcare. Smart candidates choose growing sectors. I always maintain that you might be the smartest guy in your B School but god forbid if you choose a wrong industry you will go nowhere, had i been a fresher in today's time i would not dream of getting into a telecom company or a BPO. 

3. Zeroing on the profiles matching your skill sets

In my teens i was madly in love with Jennifer Lopez and wanted to marry her, not that my affinity to her has changed but i had an aspiration, when i tell this to my candidates they laugh and i ask them "Why are you guys laughing and then i tell them  "I know why you laughed because whenever someone aspires you start matching his skill sets to aspirations, she is an international star i am no-one, i am 5"7, she is maybe 5"10, she is a billionaire and i am a small time entrepreneur she has amazing head of hair and i am bald. Having aspirations is good, each one of us have a right to dream but then they should be achievable with the skill sets we have and if it is beyond our current skill sets we need to upgrade them to achieve our dreams and aspirations.

Whenever i ask candidates what is the dream profile they want in a bank i get different but very  interesting answers, but the most common is "Sir, i do not know what exactly i am looking for but one thing for sure i do not want three words in the job profile which are sales, targets and field." I always tell candidates job search is like searching for a new girl friend. If you have 20 girls in your class and you go out after all of them chances are quite bright that you will end up with none of them so you have to narrow your search to one particular girl and then see what it that she likes and dislikes. When you are ready with all the skill sets that she likes propose to her. Similarly zero down on the profile that matches with your skill sets in the industry you want to work for and how do you do that. Do your own research. If you want to get into banking industry go to the nearest bank branch meet the branch manager and gently ask him for two minutes of his, its highly unlikely that he would not entertain you. Ask him what are the job profiles according to your skill sets you can get if there were any vacancies. Hear it right from the horse's mouth, that might give you clarity of the job scenario in the sector you want to join.