Career development is always challenging, since the youth will have to overcome plenty of misinformation that is offered, fed and at times forced into their minds by parents, teachers and well-wishers, which is inclusive of the peer group. It is also true that the youth will have to go through stress and strain, particularly finding it difficult to come to a stage of decision making in the globalised competitive field. There is also the element of the basic situational fact that the youth are prone to fall victim to misconceptions that are related to career development.
T
hese are some of the common misconceptions that are related to career development and also some key inputs that would be helpful for the youth.
Choose a career and everything will go fine: This is not true since every employer and sector will call for candidates with specific qualities and skills so as to be productive and effective. If the candidate cannot stand up to the expectations then they will not have the desired success. It is therefore necessary for the young graduates to have an insight as to what is expected of them in the job environment and get oriented to it. These days, corporates do not want to spend too much money and effort to train graduates since the job market is filled with candidates who match every single expectation that they have.
Follow your brother, sister or your friend: This could be disastrous for any graduate, as each individual will respond in a particular manner to the same environmental conditions. It is not fair to compare and contrast individuals rather we should inculcate the aspect of respecting a person’s individuality. The graduates must do some soul-searching about their own potentials and make an honest effort to be determined to succeed in the choice of their own career based on a reality check.
A huge salary will bring great happiness: The trap of ‘huge salary’ can often be a situation of overexertion and be burdened with unmanageable responsibilities. This can suit only a few and not all others generally. The graduates must learn to accept the fact that they need to be comfortable in a job with a reasonably good and supportive salary to meet their lifestyle needs and avoid early burnouts which will have a monumental influence on their peace of mind.
The career counsellor’s word is final: These words are most often heard in many families who send their children to career counsellors. Yes, of course, the opinion of the career counsellor must be weighed during the decision making process for career development, but this cannot be the one and the only end of it all. The youth will have to use their own reasoning power based on their mindset, taking all factors into consideration.
