How and when to select a profession

How and when to select a profession

Heru Prasetyo, Managing Director, Accenture Indonesia

Educational background often has nothing to do with one's
career. A medical doctor was recently given an award for his
achievement in developing a modern approach to public
administration. An agricultural engineering graduate also
achieved great success in developing and managing one of the best
information technology higher education courses in Indonesia.

In another example, an economics graduate became one of the
most prominent music arrangers in the country.

The association of professional engineers has a hard time
recording the names of its members that are actually working in
the "pure" engineering field. Does this mean that education has
nothing to do with one's career?

I recently came across a book with the provocative title, "Do
what you love, the money will follow." I have an instant urge to
add the word "smartly" behind "love", because while the main
message seems to be correct, being smart is essential. A career,
to me -- and I have walked this path for the last 28 years, is
what you believe you want to do next with happiness. This is, of
course, a simple statement with a complex meaning.

To believe something you need to understand what it is to
believe in it. Lack of this understanding is normally the case
when you have just started your working life. Your knowledge
about the company and the work you are applying for, may be very
limited. I see people preparing many application letters without
knowing what they are applying for.

The argument normally given is, "The most important thing is
getting a job, the industry or the company are secondary."
Actually, what you need to consider is that you are confident of
your ability as a result of what you have learned before.

Once you have the confidence, then you need to do your pre-
work research. If your educational institution has a career
counselling organization, it could help you in terms of profiling
your strengths. If not, you can do the profiling on your own or
with help from career counseling professionals.

Next, you may need to conduct a search of the market through
different means -- attending career days, Internet searches,
using your past graduate network of friends, or looking at
newspapers.

The next homework is to understand the screening processes
used by the targeted employers. The process could include the
following: If tests are used, what do they measure? If
interviews, what type and what is being evaluated? If a full-
blown assessment, how does it work and what preparations are
needed?

This is knowledge about techniques, not content. Because
content is what you have, and faking it is like a lamb donning a
wolf's skin to mingle with wolves -- you will soon live to regret
it.

Now, assuming you have an idea of where you want to head (even
if it is still in several directions) and you are prepared for
the various techniques, the key will now shift to using your
assets -- confidence, drive, determination and capability or
"CDDC" for short. You will need to brush up your "CDDC " prior to
any interaction with a potential employer.

All these considerations need to be reflected early in the
interface with the company, in fact as soon as you write your
application letter.

A lot will need to be done to prepare for your career -- the
first job is the key -- choosing it and working diligently to get
in is just a beginning. Always remain aware that your career is
your life.