Last Saturday brought a mentee all the way from Mumbai to my side to discuss his current state of frustration with his career and his inability to do anything about it.
We had a long discussion on it besides other earth shaking matters like politics and ideology which too were quite invigorating for me to fence with such an intelligent and young, less-corrupted-by-life mind.
Addressing his specific problem of his frustration, I shared with him experiences of my time as a boss when reports used to come to me with similar problems. I used to advice them to find their market price and would even help them with the resources needed to prepare their resumes (pre computer days when one typed out documents and used copying machines for copies) as well as good references. I did lose some but mostly the good ones found that they were getting their market price and would stay on and flourish. This would of course need additional training and motivation which in those days, I could arrange for in an enlightened company.
My mentee had been applying for other jobs and attending interviews with no success and was increasingly getting frustrated with his current situation. The problem was that he was already getting a price higher than what the market is willing to pay and this is galling for him. I adviced him that the problem was with his attitude towards colleagues and superiors and guided him to accept his reality till his situation with his current employer changed for the better or he found another employer. There were a number of other advices that I could come up with to improve his relationships. I also cautioned him that the market price should be calculated not only in currency terms but in a package which would include non cash elements.
I think that the discussions were fruitful and he went away satisfied and convinced that the trip was worth his while.
As it happens often in my life however, synchronicity struck again and this post was inspired by this cartoon strip that appeared in this morning’s newspaper. I know that my mentee is reading this and hope that he will see the humour in the similar situation.
Please click on the image to get a larger resolution.
Wonderful advise gurudev
Rajinder, you are a classic example of someone who found his market price by quitting what he was doing to find something different. And you seem to have flourished. And though you call me Gurudev, I don’t remember giving you that advice!
There’s more to a job than just money. Sometimes it’s best to take a job that pays less but is a lot more rewarding.
I agree and you will observe that I have covered that in my advice to my mentee though not in exactly the same words.
You have to market your brand – and your brand is you. But CM is correct -sometime the biggest paying job is not the best one to take.
I agree and I covered that in my advice to the mentee and I reproduce it here: “I also cautioned him that the market price should be calculated not only in currency terms but in a package which would include non cash elements.”
so much is changing! and changing fast. especially in the job market.
it’s incredible how many young couples here are living out of SUV’s that have been rigged for it and are making a living through their video channel and other ways. they’re refusing the business “pathways to success” that worked for their fathers.
what will be interesting is how they’ll survive when they reach the age where everything hurts or slows down and/or catastrophes strike. as they will.
sociology is just fascinating!
India has not quite reached that stage but, I won’t be surprised if it does sooner than later. Quite what happens to them at the stage that you describe will be something that, hopefully, I won’t be around to see.