How and when to select a profession<\/p>\n
Heru Prasetyo, Managing Director, Accenture Indonesia<\/p>\n
Educational background often has nothing to do with one's
\ncareer. A medical doctor was recently given an award for his
\nachievement in developing a modern approach to public
\nadministration. An agricultural engineering graduate also
\nachieved great success in developing and managing one of the best
\ninformation technology higher education courses in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
In another example, an economics graduate became one of the
\nmost prominent music arrangers in the country.<\/p>\n
The association of professional engineers has a hard time
\nrecording the names of its members that are actually working in
\nthe \"pure\" engineering field. Does this mean that education has
\nnothing to do with one's career?<\/p>\n
I recently came across a book with the provocative title, \"Do
\nwhat you love, the money will follow.\" I have an instant urge to
\nadd the word \"smartly\" behind \"love\", because while the main
\nmessage seems to be correct, being smart is essential. A career,
\nto me -- and I have walked this path for the last 28 years, is
\nwhat you believe you want to do next with happiness. This is, of
\ncourse, a simple statement with a complex meaning.<\/p>\n
To believe something you need to understand what it is to
\nbelieve in it. Lack of this understanding is normally the case
\nwhen you have just started your working life. Your knowledge
\nabout the company and the work you are applying for, may be very
\nlimited. I see people preparing many application letters without
\nknowing what they are applying for.<\/p>\n
The argument normally given is, \"The most important thing is
\ngetting a job, the industry or the company are secondary.\"
\nActually, what you need to consider is that you are confident of
\nyour ability as a result of what you have learned before.<\/p>\n
Once you have the confidence, then you need to do your pre-
\nwork research. If your educational institution has a career
\ncounselling organization, it could help you in terms of profiling
\nyour strengths. If not, you can do the profiling on your own or
\nwith help from career counseling professionals.<\/p>\n
Next, you may need to conduct a search of the market through
\ndifferent means -- attending career days, Internet searches,
\nusing your past graduate network of friends, or looking at
\nnewspapers.<\/p>\n
The next homework is to understand the screening processes
\nused by the targeted employers. The process could include the
\nfollowing: If tests are used, what do they measure? If
\ninterviews, what type and what is being evaluated? If a full-
\nblown assessment, how does it work and what preparations are
\nneeded?<\/p>\n
This is knowledge about techniques, not content. Because
\ncontent is what you have, and faking it is like a lamb donning a
\nwolf's skin to mingle with wolves -- you will soon live to regret
\nit.<\/p>\n
Now, assuming you have an idea of where you want to head (even
\nif it is still in several directions) and you are prepared for
\nthe various techniques, the key will now shift to using your
\nassets -- confidence, drive, determination and capability or
\n\"CDDC\" for short. You will need to brush up your \"CDDC \" prior to
\nany interaction with a potential employer.<\/p>\n
All these considerations need to be reflected early in the
\ninterface with the company, in fact as soon as you write your
\napplication letter.<\/p>\n
A lot will need to be done to prepare for your career -- the
\nfirst job is the key -- choosing it and working diligently to get
\nin is just a beginning. Always remain aware that your career is
\nyour life.<\/p>",
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