Mystory@Kamlesh Tripathi: Careers should not be based on qualification alone

I always wanted to be a Science graduate. I got into Science stream thinking, I would either be a Doctor, Engineer or get into the administrative services. There was no pressure from my parents to choose any particular stream. During those days we did not have internet and social media, and even education in India was rationed. We generally went with the flow or if any known person got into a particular stream and did well, we followed him. A lot even depended on the type of teachers we had around us as even teachers were our role models then. Some teachers who were smart and articulate and knew their subjects well, influenced us in a big way. I still remember we had a science teacher in class ten who was extremely brilliant from the word go. He really influenced me in taking up Science stream. Later I had an English teacher who really influenced me. She was a lady. Movies also had an influence in what we intended to do in life. But surprisingly, I was never influenced to take up politics as my career even when India had just gained independence and there were too many politicians around.

I did BA from Lucknow University, Lucknow, and PGDBA, PGDM from Annamalai University, Chidambaram.

Coming to career, I chose to start as a salesman in a company. I was located in the confines of the hinterland where I didn't get to interact with too many people from production and projects as they were not there. But markets existed everywhere and so did the salesmen. That gave me a chance to mingle with them and that cajoled me to become a salesman. Even in sales, the products were limited. And India was only India and not global.

Today the world is my oyster. One would choose a career which will set you up globally. So I would select from the global options and corporations.

My career to me was more of a gift of the available circumstances. I did not have too many resources nor were there too many options then. India had just about begun to grow up and we were under the scourge of a tremendous license raj then. For some reasons our politicians had kept everything under wraps. So, I for certain can say that the career I initially chose was not the career I wanted to be in. But having entered it, there was no looking back. Initially, I started with a drag but later on I reconciled to the fact that this alone is my destiny and I need to be in it thick and thin.

While, on my way to success, I realised that if I do what I have to do only as a job, I surely would continue to work half-heartedly. I therefore tried to inculcate certain habits and traits in me that helped me enjoy my job – something like roaming in the market to have a good feel of products. I even looked for variety in terms of location and products and people around me.

But today when I look back I find a career should not be based on qualification alone. For that is a big risk. One needs to have a good mix up of talent and qualification. Qualification now has even a shorter shelf life. But talent is ever expanding. So, to qualify is something different in life and to follow a career is something totally different. There are many Engineers who are working as Finance Managers, many are playing cricket, and some are acting. The other panacea required for today is to continuously train yourself to continuously keep doing something new.

About the Author:

I have over thirty six years of work experience in reputed corporates of India at senior levels and across many industries, at various locations and functions. I am also the author of four books and my fifth book is under publication. I also run and NGO where I work with Apollo Hospitals for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases.