Great job or a good career
-Rahul Kapoor

A good article in Economic Times


Every year, thousands of students complete their education and begin their hunt for a job.But when a good job doesn’t come their way, many end up taking the first job they see without giving it as much as a second thought.But problems begin when they enter the organisation.In a hurry to create an impression, they either end up over-doing things or underplaying themselves.Both ways, they end up unsuccessful.The following tips will help you build a sound career, and not just a job:

Don’t be in a hurry
Never be in a hurry to take up a job, especially if it is your first one.Look around, meet people, and go for a few interviews to evaluate what the industry has to offer.Then, sit back and ask yourself what kind of a job you really want to do.You will always have an advantage if you pick a job that you enjoy.Your focus should be on a career and not just that one, particular job.

Great Job Or Great Salary?
The eternal dilemma! Many people evaluate themselves on basis of how much they earn on their first job and give little importance to their job profile.Such people are rarely satisfied with their work in the long run.Therefore,gather as much information as possible about the job you are being offered. Be clear about the profile before agreeing to work for someone. One should work with a great team and a good boss who you can learn from.The size of the company does not matter, what does is the corporate culture, work atmosphere and growth opportunity. Money follows good performers, and it will come to you as well. So, for now, simply concentrate on getting a good job.

Put In Long Hours
Your first job is an opportunity to learn, make mistakes and experiment at the cost of your employer . The objective of the organisation that your work with is to train you as quickly as possible and make you productive from their business point of view.Thus, the time you take to grasp and master things becomes important.This gives you a good chance to create a positive image.Work hard, for long hours and be sincere.Learn as much as you can.The faster you learn, the more you will be noticed .

Be Open To Criticism
It is only natural that you will take time to get things right on your first job, and people may get critical of you.But do not get discouraged or demotivated with such feedback.This happens to almost everyone.The best way to deal with such situations is by accepting your mistake without justifying yourself.Also, express your commitment to perform the job well the next time.

Concentrate On Quality
Every boss loves quality.You must be careful while doing your job and make sure that you deliver results .Your performance can improve drastically by asking questions for clarification.If you have a point of view, discuss it with your boss and take his concurrence on things before executing your idea.Always cross-check what you have done before meeting your boss with updates.There is always a tendency that your boss will look out for mistakes and if he finds some, you will rarely get credit for the good work that you would have done.So be careful.

Do Not Get Influenced
Everyone in the team will have an opinion about everybody else, so don’t get influenced by fellow employee opinions or judge others.This can create bias and may hinder your work. So take your own time and evaluate people on how they treat you. Maintain a positive attitude even if you feel that someone is being negative.

Finally , good luck and have a great career!
(The writer is the Founder-Director of the Kapoor’s Workshop on Effective Communication)