Myths and Truths about Career

“If someone asks me a question, ‘What is it you see when you look out the window that is visible but not yet seen by others’ I will answer, ‘I see a world filled with people with a huge potential lying untapped. If I can identify their strengths and inspire them to unlock their potential, I feel that I have made a difference in the world.’” —Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D. 

There are several myths associated with the career.  Here are a few myths with truths. 

Myth # 1:  Career and job are synonymous. 

Truth: There is a difference between career and job. A career involves passion and pleasure while a job may involve pressure and pain as employees may work purely for monetary gains. There is advancement in career while there is a limitation in a job. A career is meant for the long term while a job is for the short term.  A job may not involve risk while a career involves risk. Job is associated more with the mind while a career is associated more with the heart. Contractors pursue jobs while consultants pursue careers. Job is the means while career is an end as efforts are to journey and success is to destination. Succinctly, a job is something very close to pocket while a career is something very close to heart.  

Myth # 2:  There is one job that suits me.

Truth: Don’t limit your mind and scope as several other jobs suit you. Check yourself thoroughly for the jobs that match your passion, profile, and proficiency.  For instance, if you think that you are suitable to become an educator you are equally suitable to work as a researcher as research is an integral ingredient of teaching. Similarly, if you find that you are suitable to work in an educational institution as an educator you must equally look at another option of working as a trainer in any corporate since both involve sharing knowledge with a slight variation in handling audiences and method of sharing knowledge. 

Myth # 3:  Lacking experience is a liability.

Truth:  Nobody is born with experience. Everyone has to start from scratch.  Hence, don’t have any apprehensions for lack of experience. What is needed is the attitude and inclination to learn and contribute to the workplace. Most of the time the recruiters emphasize attitude than skills while recruiting as skills can be learned when the candidates possess the right attitude.  

Myth # 4:  Academic excellence is imperative.

Truth: It is an asset if you have academic excellence with good grades.  However, if you display extracurricular activities that support your nature of work displaying leadership skills, team spirit, emotional intelligence, and soft skills then it is an asset. Even if you are not very good at hard skills your other skills especially soft skills take you to greater heights of career glory. Hence, don’t have regrets for not being good with academic excellence. There are leaders such as Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Michel Dell, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg who are college dropouts but succeeded as entrepreneurs. It is essential to know that your hard skills get you employment while your soft skills ensure career success. 

Myth # 5:  It’s too late to change your career. 

Truth: Peter F. Drucker emphasized parallel careers.  He started his career in consulting and teaching after his forties. I started my teaching and consulting career in my forties. Some people spotted their talents late and pursued them in the later part of their lives. And some people want to pursue certain careers having reached saturation in a particular career. Hence, age is not a deterrent to shift from one career to another. What is needed is to leverage your past experiences, expertise, competencies, and qualifications effectively and align them towards your next career, and there lies the key to your career success.

Myth # 6:  Big organizations provide better career opportunities.

Truth: There are small organizations that are fast-growing economies often pay more salary and provide better career opportunities than the so-called big branded companies. Big brands have an edge over others and get the best employees based on their credibility and brand image for less salary. Hence, don’t go by big brands but go by companies that have a promising career where you can prove yourself and grow quickly. Besides, it is tough to stand out in big brands while it is easy to get recognized and noticed in small branded companies.  

Myth # 7:  Frequent job changing pays.

Truth: Currently job-hopping has become the order of the day in the corporate world globally.  However, it doesn’t ensure longevity. As rolling stone gathers no moss, it is not desirable to shift from one career to another within a short span just because of the higher salary offered elsewhere. You must have a foothold in your current career to acquire domain competency and expertise.  At times job hoppers are not appreciated and not valued by employers. Hence, before shifting your career think several times whether there will be greater returns in terms of job satisfaction leaving monetary benefits aside.

Myth # 8:  Networking alone helps.

Truth: In this globalized economy network is essential to put the right employees in the right organizations.  What counts ultimately is your performance. At times luck may get you to the right slot for time being but you must prove yourself through your hard work and smart work to stand firmly on your feet. Hence, you must effectively integrate hard work, smart work, and network to stand out. 

Myth # 9:  You have to be a big fish in a big pond.

Truth: At times size of the pond teaches how to swim and survive various pulls and pressures. You must remember that you must strive to be a big fish irrespective of the size of the pond. For instance, Steve Jobs carved a niche for himself as an innovative guru by following the road less traveled finally became a big pond. Hence, strive hard and succeed unmindful of the size of the pond. 

To choose your career successfully, you must find out your passions first.  If you don’t know how to spot your passions, take online tests that indicate the areas that are suitable and compatible with you. If necessary, take the assistance of career counselors who will help you pursue the right career. 

Don’t go by money alone as you end up in misery. When you pursue a career close to your heart you don’t feel you are working any longer as you enjoy every moment of your work and you derive immense satisfaction and deliver amazing results. And then money follows you automatically. To conclude, while choosing your career debunk the career myths and look at 4 As such as attitude, aptitude, abilities, and awareness to stand out and succeed as a successful professional. 

Written by Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.
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