Finding A Job - Short-term Excitement or Long-term Satisfaction ?

Before embarking on a long journey, one should ensure that one is in good health and has the stamina plus sufficient provisions and funds to complete it.  To make the journey in the shortest time possible one should plan the route, make bookings well in advance and have some contingencies built-in for any unforeseen delays along the way.  Next to life itself and possibly marriage, our career will be the longest journey any of us will make, even for those of us who make a habit of interrupting this journey with a number of unscheduled, and perhaps unnecessary, stop-offs!

Some people have a rare talent that singles them out early on in life as a footballer, a composer, an artist, a scientist, an engineer, or perhaps even a genius.  Most of us however, are not blessed with the exceptional ability that would make one of life's toughest choices a foregone conclusion, no matter how many dreams we may have to the contrary.  Therefore, a mature and rational appraisal of our talents and desires invariably results in the conclusion that a compromise is required.

Appreciating our own strengths and weaknesses sounds easy, but most of us have had confusing signals en route due to the different influences of parents, teachers and others in our lives.  As an example, most of us experienced one or more subjects at school that we enjoyed or suffered dependent on the particular teacher we had at the time.  Whether it was History, Mathematics or Latin, is irrelevant to the point that our natural ability in these subjects was not necessarily reflected in our level of enjoyment of them.  In fact, it is possible that the most significant influences on our lives pushed us in a direction opposite to that in which our greatest talents actually lie. The influence of our parents is even tougher to genuinely assess as the inheritance of ones genes suggests children should have similar dispositions to their parents but even if they don't, parents themselves are often guilty of imposing their own preferences on their offspring.  The age-old question of whether it is our genes that make the decisive difference in creating a genius over a great talent can be argued with examples that support either opinion.  While Mozart's father, Leopold, was a musician and his mother, Maria Anna, was an excellent pianist, Leonardo da Vinci, was speculated to be the illegitimate son of Ser Piero, a notary, and of the wife of Acattabriga di Piero del Vacca da Vinci, neither of whom are noted in history for their talents as artists, scientists or philosophers. The universal answer is that while our natural parents undoubtedly have influenced our physical characteristics, we are all individuals molded by the experiences we have been exposed to and it is up to us how we apply whatever abilities we were born with.  One should bear in mind, however, that the lessons of our experiences can actually be more important in achieving a successful career than whatever raw talents we may possess.  Therefore, rather than attempting to assess our own capabilities at a relatively young age, it is perhaps simpler and wiser to first determine the destination we wish to reach through seeking the advice of others, whose objectivity we respect.  Once a practical destination that represents the optimum compromise of our assessed talents, experiences and desires, is decided upon, we can then begin to plan the journey.  This plan can be constructed in the knowledge that even if we veer off course, the fact that we are committed to our destination should give us the confidence and determination to make whatever corrections are necessary along the way.   If, unfortunately, good third-party advice is not accessible or still leaves us confused, or we are not naturally decisive individuals, then we may simply have to head in the direction that appears to be the best option at the time.  (Extending one's education to a realm of unrelated and perhaps irrelevant subjects may satisfy a few whose main ambition is simply to keep occupied, but for most this approach is simply likely to lead to a frustrated career.)  This more tentative course may not be the fastest route to our eventual destination, but provided we take each step enthusiastically and attempt after each step to better define our destination, then barring natural disaster or personal injury, the journey should still be productively and enjoyably completed.

Taking that first step into the unknown of the workplace is scary even for the most confident and exciting even for the most inhibited.  Certainly it helps us to get where we want to go fastest if we start off in the appropriate direction.  But, providing we are prepared to be flexible, this first move is not critical and in fact we may be richer for the experience if we don't proceed directly to our final career destination.  Laying bricks can be a totally satisfying career move in the lives of those who enjoy the part they play in the construction of useful buildings or works of art or who gain fulfillment in areas outside of their careers.  Even if one was not destined to be the world's fastest bricklayer this does not mean that one will not learn important lessons from undergoing such experience.  It is a myth to believe we can learn all we need to know about our fellow man, or woman, and thus ourselves, from books.  It is also wrong to think that we can truly relate to our fellow man, or woman, if the only 'work' we have undertaken has been without fear of failure thanks to the constant support of rich or influential parents.  In the past few doubted that having aristocratic or wealthy parents was a huge advantage, particularly when stepping into the 'workforce'.  Today, many people are coming to the realization that while this 'short-cut' still exists for some, its importance in achieving a roundly successful life may be overstated in some instances and a distinct handicap in others.  It is no coincidence that drug-abuse and suicides are not confined to the so-called 'working-class', with reports of the demise of those with the largest 'silver spoons', and presumably the highest of expectations, apparently increasing daily.  Having to survive on a laborer's or a waitress's wages may not be a lot of fun, but may provide a strong foundation for successful careers as diverse as the chief executive officer of a multinational conglomerate, a lawyer, a doctor, a rocket scientist, or even a footballer.  While the relevance of these positions to one's chosen career may vary, a basic appreciation of the fundamental values of life and the ability to interact sympathetically with one's fellow human-beings is important for everyone who does not want to follow in the foot-steps of Robinson Crusoe.

Without delving into personal character traits, workers fall into two primary categories; those who are prepared to use their initiative and who chart their own career course and the majority who are prepared to accept a career course plotted by others.  The careers of the former invariably include at least one attempt to found a company or work in a small company environment; the careers of the latter invariably include a long period of employment with a single large company.  It is ironic that the innovative qualities that are becoming increasingly necessary to compete in the global economy are rarely found in the leaders of long-established major corporations or senior bureaucrats, who have frequently gained their positions via inheritance or long-service rather than through successfully exercising entrepreneurial judgment.  The question though, when setting out on one's own journey, is which is more important - the enthusiastic desire to chart one's own career and accept the associated uncertainty or the inherent security of letting others plot one's course and accepting the frustration that may go with the associated positions.  This may appear like a very difficult question to ask of someone who has never had a job.  However, it is an important question to ask before one joins the ranks of the employed because the former will generally become frustrated in large companies while the latter will generally feel insecure in small companies.  A medium-sized company might be the appropriate start for those who cannot easily categorize themselves as a leader or as a follower, but most will eventually have to make the choice sooner or later.

In addition to evaluating the size and history of any prospective employer, it may be just as important to make an assessment of the "Three P's", Principles, Policies and People before deciding on one prospective employer over another.  The Principles by which a company operates are best assessed via independent reports that are increasingly available via the media and The Internet, but a company's 'Mission Statement' may give an idea of the general direction in which that company is headed.  Policies now are fairly well defined in most companies, especially those boasting an ISO quality rating, so it makes good sense to ask for copies of these in relation to topics you personally may feel are important such as the environment, racial equality, maternity leave, etc.  Unless you are starting your own business, you are probably going to be spending time with people who may either help you progress or hinder your progress.  Aside from political, sexual and appearance issues, all of which may come into play in varying degrees in even the most righteous of workplaces, the most important assessment to make is of your immediate boss.   Whether this individual is sincere and realistic in his or her representation of the job and the potential advancement associated with it are important considerations.  Assessing those who you will work alongside or have report to you is generally of lesser importance unless they are likely to have a large bearing on the assessment of your performance and you have no control over their recruitment or promotion.  It should be remembered that although you may feel you have no choice but to accept the only job you have been offered, a fair and reasonable company will be happy to discuss fair and reasonable concerns.  It is always advisable to be cautious of a business or individuals that arouse negative instincts.  While indicating that the direction of one's first step in employment is not necessarily critical, one does not want to endure avoidable friction and aggravation or suffer the stigma at the very beginning of one's career "left due to irresolvable personal conflict&quor;, in other words 'beware trouble-maker'.

Also important when considering accepting that initial job offer, is whether the job will allow those personal challenges that are not conducive to long-term commitments to others to be confronted before commitments such as marriage and raising children are assumed.  One such consideration may be travel, because if one wants to work abroad and 'see the world', it is usually much easier to do this on one's own than expose a whole family to the vagaries of a first international assignment.  Some companies have a relatively strict policy regarding foreign assignments and may even require a new employee to serve five to ten years in their home country first.  Such companies are unlikely to be the best choices for those wanting to gain early experience abroad before seeking a fulfilling family life.  Similar to the consideration of the impact that foreign travel may have on a young family, is the consideration of other issues such as the achievement of tertiary study or further training ambitions and the provision of fundamental assets like a house, car, furniture etc.  While it is not necessary to have totally completed one's education or training ambitions before marriage, or to be able to cover the costs of owning or renting a fully furnished house, the pressure on one's time and financial resources generally increases as the number of family members increase.  So, providing one doesn't leave the decision until too late in life, generally the more one can achieve in such areas before making long-term commitments, the greater the chances of achieving a fulfilling combination of work and family life.    

There are many good career development and employment agencies that can assist individuals in deciding careers appropriate to them as well as the appropriate level of education/training required.  While recommending that each individual seek as broad a spectrum of advice as possible, the better one can assess oneself and one's short and long-term career objectives, the more likely it is that such advice will be relevant and will result in the best personal compromise being selected.  Even the best initial selection however, comes with no guarantees, and as with life, your career will primarily depend on what you personally are prepared to put into it.  The more one is paid, the more valuable one's time is - the more one wants to get paid, the more 'invaluable' one should make one's time.  

There are a few truly altruistic employers around, but rather than bank on crossing the path of one of them on your introduction to the satisfaction and frustration of employment, one might wish to consider some of the following:

Suggestions On Finding A Suitable Job

	Make sure you know exactly what education/training requirements are necessary for the job you want and endeavor to obtain these as a minimum  you don't need to wait for your study or training to be completed before submitting a job application, but you should make sure you are doing the right course for the job.
	Research the companies you intend to apply for a job with  in addition to writing for copies of Annual Reports, Mission Statements and particular policies, use government agencies and The Internet to supplement your knowledge of past performance and inferred direction.
	Don't automatically follow the path of your best friend, brother or sister  we are all individuals and what is the best course to follow for one is unlikely to be the best course for most others, including, and sometimes especially, friends and relatives.
	No matter how hard the decision, do not dwell on the potential outcomes of alternative choices  start your job with absolute commitment to doing the best job you are capable of because anything less will reflect much more on you than the much larger entity that employs you.
	Assume the best in your new work-mates but be guarded about depending on their logic, fairness and morality   most people manage to positively justify their own actions to themselves, but as most people are also victims of their own experiences, and in worst instances their own prejudices, these actions are more likely to favor themselves than others, including you.
	Remember that specialization may aid the development of your career but not enrich your personal life   people who become totally focused in a very specialized area of work, may not only limit their personal contacts and future relationships, but may also handicap the development of inter-personal skills generally required to sustain long-term relationships.

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