Career Means Commitment

It has been a while since I last wrote. Wished to revisit with an introspective post. Having traveled close to 8 years along, Media.net stands only second to my Matriculation Board in years of association with an institution. Starting a freshman out of graduation, I now stand as a Lead helping my peers shape a career for themselves. As a part of the parcel, peers resigning from their positions stating reasons varied between studies and other exciting opportunities in hand had to happen once in a while. From my 8 Years, having experienced a mix, I would be seen discussing from one end of the table with hopes to bring clarity in minds of peers over the other end, before they will call it curtains officially. Not so golden, still writing the discussion down might help a few I felt. These might be very specific to my organization or even team, still, recommend reading once.

Rule of Expectation:

  • Criteria to MEET EXPECTATION
    1. Deliver Consistently and Reliably (primary reason we are hired for)
  • Criteria to EXCEED EXPECTATION
    1. Understand WHY have you been asked to deliver something
    2. Connect with the product
    3. Invest Time & Create opportunities
    4. Deliver them
    5. Don’t complain, improve instead
    6. Contribute to the good of fellow developers (team members)
At the end of every cycle evaluate yourself on the category you fall. If you MEET then you deserve a Standard appreciation. If you EXCEED then you deserve a Positive Deviation from Standard. Understand the evaluation. Question if there is a disagreement. They help you grow. As well accept, that magnitude of appreciation can’t be same every time. But cumulatively you’ll be happy if you can EXCEED every time and stay longer.
“Career is at least 20 Years Long. Don’t be Myopic”

Rule of Patience & Growth:

By nature, everything takes time to grow. Given we keep the seeds nourished consistently and wait with patience. Stages of growth according to me

  • Year ONE - Become proficient within your Boundary and Deliver
  • Year TWO - Create opportunities within Boundary
  • Year THREE - Experience Mentorship
  • Year FOUR - Excel Art of Delivering through a Team & Break the Boundary
  • Year FIVE - Let your Team Create opportunities

That I call is a foundation. And it takes its own time. But once it is laid, you lead. If you lose your patience and focus anywhere in this process, be ready to restart.

Rule of Trust:

No organization can run on experiment mode every day. Every project will naturally follow phases of development. After a few initial phases, there will come a phase when there will be close to nil experiments. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be opportunities anymore. Have patience but be hungry. Trust leadership. Everything around us happens for a reason from where you sit till what you deliver and where you stand now in your career path. Trust leadership.

Rule of Switching:

Switch Career, not Yet Another Job (If you don’t hate current one to the core or it is at risk)

  • Studies
  • Building your own Idea or Co-Founding
  • Change of Field (Outside of Development or your area of work)
  • Whole new level of responsibility

Why NO to Switch to yet another Job?

  • You destroy the foundation you laid
  • You destroy the reputation you earned
  • You might lose peace of your mind
  • You are likely to switch again
“Experience is measured in Years, Career rather by growth”

Rule of Silence:

Never be vocal about appreciations, evaluations or switching with peers. That’s underestimating yourself. If you think you are denied what you deserved, talk to people who can change it.

Rule of Communication:

Always communicate to right contact before coming to conclusions. There might be a solution or a reason with them.

Rule of Acceptance:

Feedback is a very important process of career development. Ready to accept feedbacks that are given to improve you. They don’t blame or judge you, instead of wishing you to enhance and grow. If only way to skip suggestive feedback is switching, then there won’t be a career. But if ears are kept open for honest feedbacks your growth will be inevitable.

Rule of Ageing:

When you grow older in a place, you are likely to get laid back and pushed towards a comfort zone. Never Settle. Stay Hungry.

“When you die, you must die as a hero”
Some Careers to Look out for And many more @our own workplaces. They all stay not because they couldn’t switch, instead, they understand what makes a career.
Even an organization whose mission is what your passion is can only give you a Job. Making it a career is left to you. Hence never switch a Job for Job. Instead Choose Careers Wisely.

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