By: Ranjan K Baruah
Career choice and getting into government services may not be the same. Most of our students from the north east prefer government jobs. It is not only in our region but in many urban or suburban and rural parts of India young people like students prefer government jobs to private jobs. We must remember that all of us are not going to get government jobs. It is important for our students to understand the present job market and prepare themselves for jobs or to become self employed.
I have been conducting a few career awareness programmes in different parts of Arunachal Pradesh under the aegis of Kargu Kardi Students Union (KKSU). KKSU is conducting career counselling as part of their foundation day celebration. While interacting with the students I have learned that students are mainly trying to get government jobs and they are appearing in different examinations conducted by state or central governments. Recent graduates or postgraduates should try for government jobs but they should also learn that all aspirants will not get government jobs as the competition is high.
After interacting with many students I would like to appeal to students to keep other options like joining the private sector or to become self employed. It is not only the matter in Arunachal Pradesh but all over the North Eastern region. It’s time to think beyond government jobs and we must prepare for the same from an early age.
One of the reasons why job aspirants prefer government jobs is for the salary. Everyone believes that financial security is there in government jobs as people are not fired like private jobs. As we are aware that all of us are not going to get jobs in the government sector so we must prepare ourselves for any kind of jobs.
Few attributes which need to be placed include employability skills apart from qualification like graduation or post graduation. We must be well informed about options, possess skills, and passionate to be placed. Apart from this, aspirants must have the spirit of team work; have good and proper planning, language skills, technological skills, patience, self confidence, etc. One who posses’ life skills are always ahead of others and easily placed in different sectors or become self employed.
I would like to appeal to teachers and guardians to guide the students in the right direction. A young person cannot be blamed as they are always influenced by parents at home, guardians at other places and teachers in schools or colleges or even universities. Teacher or guardian may orient the students well about the present job market and how one may start their career planning. In this case one may take help from professional career counselors or career mentors.
I would like to appeal to all students to start their career planning early. Just remember that getting jobs in government does not mean that others are failures. All of us can do wonders by working for others or even starting our own ventures. Apart from all attributes one of the most important attributes is having a positive attitude. With a positive attitude we get solutions instead of getting confused with our career. Any job is good when we do it with passion and dedication. I would like to thank KKSU for getting engaged in a career awareness programme and guiding students from remote parts of Arunachal Pradesh and at the same time I would appeal to the other students union from different parts of North East to organise similar programmes for the benefits of our students and other young people. (The author is a career mentor and skill trainer and can be reached at 8473943734 or bkranjan@gmail.com)
