Memories of a Traveler

Myth Three: “You do not have to love what you do. It’s just a job” Too bad if you were told this many times over in the duration of your life. And worse. You believe it. I can’t imagine the horror you are going through to get the job that fits your academic qualification. Currently, a lot of organizations are either planning or already into “Talent Management & Succession Planning”. Succession Planning is the result of Talent Management. You manage talents, i.e. good people, put them through a fast track program that includes development programs and also projects, work assignments with increasing responsibilities, difficulties and risks. The ones that survive will be in the running for the Succession Planning i.e. prepared and readied to take over some senior positions in the organizations. I was attending a Forum on developing financial professionals recently. One of the items discussed was Talent Management. Of course, we ended up talking about these so-called pool of talent...

This article first appeared some 5 - 6 years ago. So, some of the details may no longer be accurate. However, the essence of the article, I am certain still remains. Myth Two: “I must work in the area I studied. If not I wasted those years of studying.” How did this come about? In the days of 30 – 40 years ago, career planning is done on what you can do best. Well, that isn’t necessarily wrong. The only challenge is that what you do best isn’t what you like most. Also, back then going to school is not considered learning and development. Going to school is a vocational training. You studied a trade 4 – 5 years and then off you go to work. That is where the notion that you did what you studied. It does not matter whether you studied at a trade school or university. The end product is the same, to get a job. Now, people go to school for self-fulfillment. To learn, to expand knowledge and horizons. In fact, if you mention such words to your elders, they might look at you rather str...

MANAGING YOUR CAREER – DISPELLING THE MYTHS I am not going to approach this quoting statistics and studies conducted by this company or that university. I will approach this quoting what you see and hear around you. Then you be the judge. MYTH ONE: “I must get a job.” How did the myth came about? Well, it is more historically cultural than hereditary. Working for yourself is hard work. The hours are long and the returns are usually, small and inconsistent in comparison to the effort you put in. Having a job is seen as glamorous. You get a fix monthly income. You get the perks, like medical, hospitalization, some even get cars and to be able to travel. Yes, it is glamorous. Since this is on managing your career, let’s work on getting a job first. What most unemployed graduates fail to see is that, jobs are limited . As I said before, there are about 60,000 unemployed graduates. Do you think there are 60,000 jobs available? Don’t know? Simple. Just buy the Saturday newspapers, and...

This is an article I wrote for a local daily some 5 - 6 years ago. Was rummaging my hard disk and stumbled upon this. If you have a relative whom you think, this article is helpful, do forward it to them. Enjoy!!! MANAGING YOUR CAREER Graduates! Are you unemployed? Or, are you employed, but not doing what you studied? Or, do you feel you can do better? Unemployment or lack of proper employment among graduates is an interesting issue that has struck nerves on all fronts in Malaysia and especially the unemployed graduates. Currently there are about 60,000 unemployed graduates. This number has not dwindled for the past 5 – 6 years and will undoubtedly grow bigger. Why is there such a lingering problem in this country? Bad management on the education industry? Bad choices by students? Bad choices by parents for their children? What? There is no simple answer, but what I hope to bring is putting things in perspective so that we as graduates, can help ourselves. Also, there are no ma...