“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life” ~ Confucius
Making a choice of which profession to choose is not easy. Students or job seekers simply follow or do what their parents want them to do. In many cases a mismatch-match occurs leading to dissatisfaction. 
What goes unnoticed unheard is the young persons hidden talent. How can one understand or identify his or her own talent? In some cases the school or college keeps track of the students innate abilities and skills and guides him or her further. Or there are qualified psychological counselors who do their assessment using subtle approaches.
Fortunately the young folk of today are very well informed and quite sure of themselves. They follow their heart and are risk-takers and know that switching from job to the other is not a big deal.
In my own case I completed my engineering but soon discovered that it is the Army for me and was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers – enjoyed every moment 🙂
Do share your thoughts or experience 🙂
Breath of Joy 
I agree with your view! Doing what we love to do is important and will affect our productivity in the long run!
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Your words are so encouraging Indah and I am glad our views are in sync.
Thank you.
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very true what you said about fish climbing a tree. Its an exact symbolism for our educational system in India. I am from Bangalore and at the best of times, I am left frustrated at the study pattern my teenage sons have to go through. Sometimes I want to leave my profession and start a college just so that they get taught life skills and not just ‘education’!!
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I entirely agree with you. Let’s hope things change for the better in the near future. Good to know you are ex-army 🙂 🙂
Best regards.
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🙂 there definitely is a kinship being ex-army isn’t there! I too checked your blog because of that and I find it quite invigorating. The one about the wonderful blossoming of the lotus was so charming.
I have a strong suspicion the educational system in India is NEVER going to change. That being said, I feel the education imparted in western countries in not too great either, although they are more practical in technical colleges. Hence the reason I am sending my elder son out of India for his engineering in comp sc.
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Thank you Doc. True the future of our education system does look kinda bleak yet we could at best contribute in our own small ways. Thanks and regards.
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I have a different opinion on this issue. I think, our education system is designed to “discipline” us, than “teach” us anything. If one can survive 20 years of nonsense in the name of education, they can as well survive 40 more years of nonsense in the name of career!
Of course, there are always exceptions. Like you. And me. These people will do what they want anyway. The system is for the majority of them. I think.
Destination Infinity
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Ha ha Rajesh I like that “Of course, there are always exceptions. Like you. And me”! 🙂
I agree with your views on our education system barring few exceptions such as IIT’s, IIMs and the like.
However career choices are with us and we are free to choose on what suits us. We must not get influenced by others to decide on our profession.
Thanks and cheers 🙂
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We are never free, how much ever the word ‘freedom’ might appeal to us. We decide our career based on our creator’s whims, passed on through genes. But such hard-truths doesn’t appeal to human fantasies – both the ones that force career choices on others, and the ones who think they decide based on their own free will.
Destination Infinity
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Aha my friend ‘well said’ indeed yes it is our creator who does make things happen His way. Putting it in a lighter vein –
(Tu karta woh tu chahata hai,
par hota woh jo mai chahata hun,
Tu kar jo mai chahata hoon,
phir hoga woh jo tu chahata hai)
Thank you for you interest. With kind regards.
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When I was picking as to what I should major on, I couldn’t pick one. I’m good at math, but it’s hard for me to see myself as a teacher. My job isn’t necessarily “me”, but I have learnt to adjust, compromise, and have a kick out of it. That’s what I think people should do, be content on whatever life throws at them, try to think of it as a challenge or a new experience, and have fun with it!
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That’s so true whatever comes our way we should do it with interest and enthusiasm. And adjusting with the situation is a great strength for a professional. If the situation just does not fit into your value system it is wise to move on.
Thank you.
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Absolutely agree. I envied the younger generation for the varied opportunities they have now. But too many choices and resulting decision making starting from middle school seems daunting and stressful as well. You were lucky to have been able to switch to a job you loved.
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Very true. Yes I was lucky perhaps because I followed my passion for join the army and enjoyed both worlds engineering and combat.
Best regards.
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Reblogged this on God and Love and commented:
Dear Dilip,It is a good articulation of how a job should be chosen. Once a youngster was confused and came to me for advice. I read out to him from the Gita, which says it is good to follow one’s Dharma than do some other job not to one’s liking. A job should give satisfaction and environment that encourages creativity! Love, Surinder
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Its gracious of you to appreciate. By drawing on the knowledge enshrined in the Gita you have set the youngster on right path. He will be able to ride through the worst of storms without wavering.
Kindest regards and thanks for the re-blog. I am honored.
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It is daunting to choose a path. A lot of us simply just didn’t know what is that we really want. My current is so not me, but I learned to embrace it. That’s one thing you can do – get a kick out of whatever situation you are in, and staying positive. I’ve been in this job for 10 years. 😀
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Hi Rommel that’s really being positive and few can do it. And that is surely the right way to deal with life. Eventually a day may (or may not) come when the inner urge to do something you are deeply passionate about may emerge and a switch happens. I know of quite a few such cases here.
I enjoyed reading your frank views 🙂
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you are right sir.. these days kids know what they want mostly and parents too are getting liberal in allowing the kids to follow their dream..
I know when i was studying it was or IT HAD to be for a engineer or a Doctor.. Nothing else .. and the likes of me who were s obad at studies had a tough time even to pass the exams.. it was a constant challenge..
Here I uk I found a good thing.. equivalent to our 9th class in india.. what they do is allow the kids to choose 8 or 9 subjects for this year.. so the kids study those subjects .. end of the year they will all get evaluated at what they have chosen.. Teachers input, parents input is also taken in consideration .. So In this one year the kid themselves knows if they want to change a subject or do something else .. I think a year is a good amount of time
then comes the 10th class equivalent .. out of the subjects they did in this year they can chose 5 or 6.. which THEY want and which the Teachers think they are good at .. and that is what they study for there O levels or A levels ..
I was so bad at almost everything other than maths, always 100/100.. and thats the reason i enjoyed doing computers .. thank god for the beautiful girls of chandigarh going to these computer centres for the one year course , I joined too and I dont like boasting but I think I found my place or what i wanted to do .. and it helped ..
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Hi Biks it’s an interesting take on the UK school education system. What I like is there seems to be less chances of overload and stress on students. Unlike in India where the poor kids are always under stress with little time for the outdoors.
Wahji wah 100/100 consistently in maths is an excellent score. Ha ha your computer classes had wonderful motivation ‘चंडीगढ़ diyan kudiyan’ 🙂
Keep well buddy and continue spreading the joy around 🙂
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Agree, great post!
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Thanks 🙂
Regards.
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What you say here is a good synopsis of my story. When I was in High School, I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted t pursue something along the lines of writing, journalism and counselling.
Somehow, all that got lost when the principal of my school decided that I was more suited for Engineering. And here I am today. A Communications Engineer who longs to go back to that childhood dream. Today i know that it wasn’t just a childhood fascination beause my self-discovery keeps leading me to that same answer. And everyday, I do what I can to get to that place.
Dilip, it’s true that lots of youth know what they want to do. However, we are overwhelmed by the fear of disappointing our guardians. Sometime we are swayed by the promise that we will make more money in this other field than in th one that lies within our heart.
With this experience, I vow to teach my children to look within and discover their calling and support them to pursue that. This world will be a better place if people do what they love.
The quote is spot on, by the way.
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Wow dear Atuhairwe great to know you are a communications engineer. An I understand perfectly well why you wish to go back to your childhood dreams.
Yes at-least we can make-up with our children and gently nudge them forward but not on any fixed line.
Thanks dear friend for you lovely response and be very well.
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I’m a part of the millennial generation and things are still very confusing. If you see my post ‘Cheat sheet for 22 year olds’, you will see some of the things that made me arrive to certain conclusions. It ain’t easy to be a swimmer in an ocean of decisions. I’m trying to be one now. I’ve gone with the tide, the flow and I’m not sure where I am now. Still learning and exploring options.
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Wow Anuja I like that response. And yes surely I would love to read post “Cheat sheet for 22 year old’s very soon. After reading a bit of your lovely blog I can say you are an excellent swimmer in a turbulent ocean 🙂
Being a learner for life makes living worthwhile.
Many thanks for you comments. Best wishes.
Dilip
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That’s kind of you, Dilip. Thanks. I look forward to read your blog.
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Thanks and cheers Anuja 🙂
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Absolutely agreeing with you! But, I was lucky enough that my parents let me do what I wanted to do!
Regards,
Sindhu
Tantu
The Arts & Me
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H Sindhu how nice to hear from you. Yes you sure were lucky and I am sure you are enjoying what you are doing now. Best of luck 🙂
Dilip
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Very true Dilip, but to be in the race of our modern life sometimes hasty decision are made by either the youngsters or the parents. On many ocassions youngsters are found confused by the fact that what they actually want to be….Lucky are those who get a job of their liking with good prospects…
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As a teacher taking MBA classes I know exactly what you mean. And its true that hasty decisions are taken which land them in trouble. But the good part is that these days lateral cross-over points exist to join another stream.
Many thanks Shelley 🙂
Good mentoring can solve many such problems.
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Do what you like!Well said Dilip but sometimes it is difficult to follow what you want. People tell you to think realistic and according to them what they feel right is put on us. I was a successful Senior Finance Executive with the big goals set in my mind. But who knew what life had stored for me. One small thing changed my life drastically and now my goals have changed. Life teaches you many things and we have to accept something and move on.
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Wow Heta good to know you were a Senior Finance Executive before you found what you really wanted to do. Yes life is a great teacher provided we have belief in the natural flow of events.
You are right It is difficult to follow what the voice within tells you as it may be totally opposite to where the world is going 🙂
Thank you and kind regards.
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That’s what I did. It’s been great!
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Knowing you from your writings I am quite sure you do follow your inner voice. 🙂
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I wish I’d had more guidance when choosing a career. I went to college and earned a Bachelors of Science in Psychology, however I’ve never worked in the field. I wanted to do graphic design but my parents encouraged me to go to college and choose a profession that earned more money. (Joke was on them – Psychology is one of the lowest paying 4-year degrees, haha!) It all worked out okay, but it was an interesting path!
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Nice of you Janna to share your career path and how you feel now feel looking back. I agree psychology may be less paid but it’s theory is so powerful in a subtle way.
When we as senior officers were sent for a 3 months course in practical Psychology we were not happy but at the end of the course all of us agreed this was an eye-opener and an excellent course..
We realized we had made several mistakes all our life. From then on my attitude towards my children and wife changed completely 🙂
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I’ve long said that if everyone could live up to their full potential, the world would be an incredible place. Everyone would be much more satisfied and fulfilled, and we could ultimately achieve much more as a society.
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Well said everyone can live up to their full potential if they make up their mind to achieve their dream 🙂 And yes society would be the gainer.
Thanks my friend.
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Life teaches a lot… sometimes you need to change quite few jobs to get the way to learn another lesson! this was my case… nowadays you need to be flexible and open minded. Too many young people think is best to continue with university studies, then many jobs are not employed (professions always necessary… alike electricians, masons, carpenters…) At least this happening here in Switzerland!
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How nice of you to share your thoughts on this topic. You are right being flexible and open minded is a key to many good things happening ahead. University education does not answer all the questions and being good in occupational trades like electricians carpenters and others is equally important as in Switzerland.
May I add I found Geneva a very beautiful place.
Thank you and best wishes always.
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I’m going through this decision-making process myself at the moment. I think I have finally hit upon what I’m supposed to do, it’s just which direction to go with it that I’m struggling with. Since life is an evolutionary process, I have felt that my own career choices have been the same…a process of evolution. I hope that then world-wide education system will begin to focus more on the talents and “genius” inside of everyone instead of trying to mold them into one role. I think people in general would be happier if they weren’t always trying to become something someone else wanted them to be.
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As you are going through the process there is excellent clarity in your thoughts. I find them precise and insightful. Yes surely the corporate world considers talent as its most valuable asset as such international colleges will do well to focus in this area.
Wishing you an excellent career ahead and thank you for your comment.
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I have said for a long time that the hardest decision in life is answering the “What do I want to be/do when I grow up?” Through every ebb and flow of professional life, I frequently faced that question is it didn’t go away. Cheers to those who can answered earlier in life and find happiness as well.
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Hello Frank you are right this is a question which keeps popping after every few years or maybe more. I feel this happens because we live and work in a fast changing world. Both things happen quicker than before our process of aging as also the changes in business/professional environment.
Yes cheers indeed to those lucky few exceptions who hop-step through 🙂
Thanks dear friend!
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Good points!
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Thank you Frank!
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Hi, Nice to read your blog.All great men think alike and so do the Course Mates.
My views are same as yours. I would have been miserable had not joined the Army.
Going to a factory day in & day out is not my choice. Incidentally, we saw quite a bit of India.And some one went abroad too.
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Ha ha course mates always think alike 🙂 Glad you too enjoyed the army days 🙂
Thanks buddy
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A thought provoking article Dilip. As a parent It made me to think and support my daughter. Thanks for your article
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Gracious of you Chitra to visit and leave behind such a positive thought!
Trust you are having a nice week-end. Regards.
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LOVE the Einstein quote Dilip!!! Very thought provoking post. For me, education was only to give solid foundation. Once I started working, THATS when I discovered where my talent and interests were a best fit. I was lucky to be able to move around until I settled where I most belonged. It would be great if there were more career counseling in schools as well as some more real-life practical education.
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Hello Tina I really appreciate your your take on the choice of career dilemma. A broad based foundation is essential to navigate through one’s career path. The person is better equipped to make right choices.
You are right on the need for “more career counseling in schools as well as some more real-life practical education”. Your own example vindicates this need convincingly.
Many thanks and have a great week-end.
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Enjoed this post ! 🙂
And I thank you for your visit and appreciation! 🙂
A weekend as nice! 🙂 🙂
Sincerely and respectfully,
Alyosha.
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Dear friend Aliosa it is always a delight to hear from you. I enjoyed the lovely music on your blog today 🙂
Thank you for you kind wishes. Best always.
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I fully agree. We should not do the job we can’t enjoy because we are troubling ourselves and others too. It affects certain professions more, like teaching. I know a lot of teachers who hate the job and all they care about is the monetary benefits. Wonder if they ever realize what great crime they are doing to the generations.
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I am with you on this and I will share a live example. Once I was enjoying some coffee in my Institute staff room when in walks an ex-student who is now going to teach. I felt a sense of pride that my student has taken up to this noble profession so early in life.
Guess what he tells me? “Sir I have researched the MBA teaching industry and the trend is encouraging its soon going to boom and I want a piece of that action”! Isn’t that rather disappointing? BTW very soon he had to leave as students were not happy with his teaching.
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This post comes at a time of my life that I’m contemplating changing career again.
“We need to evolve with changing times and have an open mind – and that happens when remain learners all our life.” ~ What was true and enjoyable for us at one time may not be true for us now. Which is why you are so right about us evolving and remaining learners. I think if we are “open” our lives and our true path reveals itself to us. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
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I am delighted to welcome you and to know that you agree on the importance of having an open mind and remaining learners. Only then can we evolve seamlessly with changing times.
Grateful to you and for your encouragement. Have lovely week end 🙂
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Choice of career is made in an extremely simplistic way:
Good marks in Science and in Maths: Engineering
Good marks in Science, not in Maths: Medicine
Good marks in Maths, not in Science: Commerce
… etc., etc..
Nobody looks at aptitude, liking, etc.
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Wow that’s very well put my friend you’ve hit the nail on its head 🙂 It happened to me I scored distinction in Maths and Science in High School but wanted to take up arts. The reason being I had an ambition to appear for the IAS exam 🙂 But wavered under pressures of well wishers (not my parents) and joined engineering college and realized midstream it was not for me.:)
Yes you are right an aptitude test by a well reputed agency is helpful but in my times we never had a clue of such stuff 🙂
Many thanks and have a nice weekend.
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Lovely post Dilip.. So many parents think they know what is best for their children… And often set them upon a path that may well not have been their first choice.. I know from my own experience in leaving school.. I had no idea what I wanted to do.. I loved drawing, and my teacher had encouraged me to go to art school.. But funds were not sufficient within our large family, I was the eldest and the family needed my wage.. So with limited choices I went to work in a sewing factory…
However this start set me in good stead. I went back to sewing after my children were born and were in school, and worked my way up the ladder to work with designers and then become head of training travelling to places like Sri Lanka to set up training methods there .. ( in very modern factories which were better than our English ones ) ..
So we never know if the first step on our career path is what is meant!.. and its shows everything has purpose, And we are always Free to choose another road if we are determined enough to make a different choice of something we prefer..
See how I ramble… apologies!.. But your post brought back all those choices I made too 🙂
_/\_ Sue
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Dear Sue I read every word of your inspiring comment and I can’t but help getting overawed. Starting from a from the basic level in the sewing factory you were selected and sent to Srilanka establishing their training is something to be very proud about. Overseas assignments are meant for a companies most trusted and competent operational executive.
And you are right we are always free to choose any other line at whichever stage we may be.
Dear Sue sharing one’s rich experience is beautiful as it emanates positive energy. It certainly cannot be termed as rambling 🙂
Thank you and wish you loads of happiness 🙂
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Well written Dilip…we often fail to discover our hidden talent ..and there is always pressure from parents and relatives..every child has faced it . It’s always wiser to guide an individual through his way of life that to indicating a definite path which , they expect , he shall follow blindly…
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You are right parents need to limit themselves to guidance and avoid pressure. They could provide information on different options and avenues available too.
Thank you so much and have a lovely day 🙂
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Education is continuously evolving for me. I must have change professions and studied plenty in order to have a good job. And I enjoyed all of them.
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From you writings and your thoughts I can understand what you mean. We need to evolve with changing times and have an open mind – and that happens when remain learners all our life.
Thank you dear Seeker you comment is perfect.
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This is so true, Dilip. Parents usually project their own aspirations to their children making it hard for them to make a clear choice. As you say though, today they are more informed but they must be cautious of not falling into the trap of too many choices!
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Hello Marina what you say is true the young folk today have numerous choices leading to confusion. I feel could research the nature and broad scope of different disciplines which they have short-listed and understand whether it matches their own interests.
They could discuss with those who are already in that field too for validation of what they have read.
Thanks and kindest regards 🙂
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Everybody has to climb the tree. This is soooooooooooo characteristic of the school systems esp here in Miami Dade County. Everyone has to meet certain benchmarks to get promoted and then to graduate high school. They want all these kids to have mastered algebra I leaving the 8th grade. Then comes the upper level maths. So many kids can’t do it, this increases the drop put rate. By whose standard must everyone have passed pre calculus and trig? These kids are not going to work for NASA and now they have been denied a diploma. I have two BA’s and two MA’s and I can’t do 8th grade algebra. I can’t do music and this or that either.
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That’s exactly the point Carl. I still cannot figure out why kids across the board must be loaded with the heavy stuff. Some may not be cut out for or arithmetic or calculus but have competencies in other skills. It demoralizes them and they lose confidence in themselves and start feeling they are inferior when they really are not.
Our education system must be made more objective. Attempts in India are being made but still a long way off.
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