The Hindu Business Line : `Foresight key to career planning'

Putting this in context, Mr R. Raghavendra Ravi, Strategic Consultant, told the MBA and MCA students of Sri Manakula Vinayagar Engineering College, Pondicherry, that most of them are in the age group of 22 to 25 and have a career span of 40 years. "You cannot predict and plan for these 40 years. A plan is a moving target. Hence, you must start with a basic plan and keep improving it as you go along," he emphasised after the inauguration of the Business Line Club in the college.

Elaborating on the topic `Building and Managing Your Career,' Mr Ravi told the students that the MBA course looks at management from the CEO's or MD's point of view, but that they will begin their career probably as a management trainee. "You should learn to manage these disconnects. You will have to start learning several skills on the job, which will enable you to practice what you have learnt. Theory and practice are not opposites — they are just different versions. Theory is a more generalised version that deals with the important features of reality whereas practice deals with a lot more details of the same reality."

No underestimation

Do not underestimate subordinates at work though they may not have your qualifications, he advised. "They may be older than you and most often, have better implementation skills. They can relate to things better and also know the reality and practicality of things," he explained.

On choosing a career and delivering 100 per cent performance, he said, "Your career span is 40 years, and, therefore, choose a career that you enjoy, which you are likely to do well in." "Do not do anything that is good for you but bad for your team," Mr Ravi cautioned. He further stated, "If you are selfish, your team will disown you very quickly. If your team comes to a different conclusion that is different from your recommendation, accept and honour the collective wisdom. Be positive, no team likes a pessimist. Being positive does not mean agreeing with everything but participating enthusiastically."

Keep in touch

He recommended keeping in touch with classmates, schoolmates, neighbours, seniors and friends from time to time. "Twenty years from now, they may be in powerful positions. The networking will help you gain knowledge on vital issues, a degree of trust, in faster decision-making and also in cutting down on wasteful expenditure," he said.

Mr Ravi also advised the students to learn to coach, train and teach subordinates to build a strong team. Apart from nearly 250 students of MBA and MCA, others present were Mr N. Kesavan, Founder and Chairman of the institution, Mr M. Dhanasekaran, Managing Director, Mr S.V. Sugumaran, Vice-Chairman, and Dr V.S.K. Venkatachalapathy, Principal.

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