The Hindu Business Line : <I>Chasing goals </I>

Most educated young men and women, who take up jobs, usually start their careers at the bottom of the ladder. The industrious and the ambitious among them work their way up and soon reach enviable positions in the hierarchy. Career progression is a priority for such people who usually set their goals high and, that too, immediately on joining an organisation.

These are usually workaholics who do not mind putting in extra hours at the workplace, learning the finer nuances of the job and excelling in attracting the attention of their bosses by their sincerity and dedication. They become assets to their companies from Day One and establish themselves in their careers.

But there are several others who lack ambition and feel that securing a job and a permanent one at that is more than half the battle won and all that they would like to ensure is that by sticking on they do not have to go about the hazardous task of job hunting again. Pretty soon such people turn into parasites and feed on the organisation without contributing commensurately from their side. Fear of transfers, responsibility and, above all, a complacent attitude to work is what characterises such elements who do not set goals for themselves and who do not mind in the least when their peers move up to coveted positions.Needless to add, they lack a sense of pride and have little confidence in their abilities. Some might do a competent job all right but the desire to rise is conspicuous by its absence and this cramps their style and shows them in poor light compared to their more ambitious colleagues.

It is equally important that while opting for a job, due consideration should be given to the opportunity to chart a career path, as there are companies which might offer good perquisites and attractive benefits, but when it comes to a rewarding career there is little that they can assure.

On the contrary, there might be smaller companies where the pecuniary benefits might not be all that enticing, but the position offered and the opportunity to move up might be more attractive and worth pursuing.

More than the job, it is the attitude of the employee that matters and his drive and ambition. Unless you have definite goals in sight, no job however lucrative would be challenging and the motivational levels would sag pretty soon and with it productivity too.

C. V. Aravind

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