Friday, February 7, 2014

CAREER CHOICE - MILITARY versus BUSINESS and INDUSTRY

CAREER CHOICE - MILITARY versus BUSINESS and INDUSTRY

DEFENCE SERVICES – A GOOD CAREER CHOICE IF YOU LIKE A LIFE OF MEDIOCRITY AND OBSCURITY
Muddled Ramblings of a “Retired” Mind
By
VIKRAM KARVE

Disclaimer:
These are my personal views, muddled ramblings of a retired mind, to be taken lightly, and these personal musings do not constitute career guidance advice. Please choose your career after carrying out your own due diligence. 
Copyright Notice:
No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.
Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

a SOFTWARE CEO and an AIR FORCE CHIEF 

For the last few days the media is going all gaga over the appointment of an American (of Indian Origin) as the CEO of a Software Giant.

Recently, a new Indian Air Force Chief was appointed.

This event was ignored by the media and I did not see the new Air Chief being featured or interviewed on any prime news channel.

There was just a brief mention of the appointment of the Air Chief during the news and a small news item in the newspapers.

On the other hand, the appointment of the Software CEO was headline news in the print media and is being discussed widely on many features pages in newspapers and magazines and on all TV Channels.

The Software CEO is an American.

He left the shores of India, his country of birth, and migrated to the USA to seek a “better” future and realize his “American Dream”, and we, back at home, celebrate his success.

The Air Chief is an Indian who remained in India to serve the nation.

We entrust him to guard our skies.

But it is the Software CEO who is in the limelight and no one seems to be taking any notice of the new Air Chief – in fact, most Indians who are celebrating the success of the American CEO may not even be aware of who is the Air Chief of their own nation.

A day may even come when the American CEO may be awarded an Indian Civilian “Padma” Award, like so many Foreigner “Indians” (NRI and PIO) have been given in “recognition” of their achievements abroad, whereas many deserving resident Indians, who spend their entire lives serving the nation, may be ignored.

Today’s youngsters admire successful business icons and achiever entrepreneurs much more than the obscure soldier who quietly performs his hazardous and tough job in some remote place, on the ground, on the seas, or in the air – and some people will even insensitively remark that the soldier is “paid to die for his country”.

You may like it, or you may not like it, but these are today’s modern priorities.

There was a time (in the pre-liberalization days) when defence services were considered a good career option.

Liberalization, Globalization and the Software Boom has changed all that.

Values and Aspirations have changed owing to the opening up of opportunities.

In the world of business and industry, especially if you migrate abroad to the developed world, there are great opportunities to achieve power, wealth and fame, if you have merit and are prepared to work hard.


A MILITARY CAREER

Let’s come back to the successful newly appointed CEO of the Software Giant.

The 46 year old CEO graduated in Engineering in 1988 obtaining a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering.

Just imagine – suppose he had chosen a Military Career, and joined the Army, or Navy, or Air Force, after his Engineering Degree.

Where would he have been today?

Even if he had got all his promotions, most likely he would be serving in obscurity as a Colonel, Captain or Group Captain in the “Technical” Branches.

By the way, Technical Officers are considered “second rung” in the defence services and have limited career opportunities vis-à-vis generalists.

In the military, at least for most technical officers, opportunities for power, wealth and fame are limited.

So, no matter how brilliant or mediocre he was, he would have been trudging along in the professional straitjacket of military anonymity.

Like in most government jobs, seniority matters more than merit, career progress is slow and time-dependent, you will be put in the queue and both the meritorious and the mediocre will be promoted when their turn comes.

And even as far as career prospects go, the government civil services (IAS, IPS etc) are much more attractive than the armed forces.


CAREER CHOICE

If you are youngster on the verge of choosing a career, the choice is yours.

Do you believe in merit?

Are you ambitious?

Do you yearn for material success and have a hungry desire for power, wealth and fame?

Are you prepared to work your ass off to achieve your dreams?

Then, the world of business, entrepreneurship, finance and industry beckons you, and I am sure you know what to do, and, maybe you are already doing it.

On the other hand, if you want a steady job with “lifetime employment”, and if you are content to live a parsimonious life of mediocrity and obscurity, then the defence services may be a good career option.

VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work. 
© vikram karve., all rights reserved. 

Disclaimer:
1. These are my personal views, muddled ramblings of a retired mind, to be taken lightly, and these personal musings do not constitute career guidance advice. Please choose your career after carrying out your own due diligence. 
2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Copyright Notice
No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.
Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

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