So I am having all new range of experience nowadays. It is disappointing to see an organization killing its own fortune. Anyway, It made me think about what should be the ingredient of a good job and a good manager? In government jobs, the ability to influence system, social status, and job conditions are the most important parameters to judge the attractiveness of the job. Sometimes the media focus, international exposure, and some fringe benefits are also added. However, when it comes to a corporate job, the scene changes entirely. In the government job, one has the certainty on the job. For example, In case you are fired, your file must move to the table of President of India. The snail pace at which our rails and buses move, this takes two to three lifetime of a person in order to become reality. However, In the corporate world, such things are guided by the whims and fancy of your manager. So one should be very careful in choosing a job and choosing a manager. And don't be surprised if I say that "My Baap" culture is not just limited to the centralised governance paradigm. Unfortunately, in the private organisations where work culture is not so strong, "my baap" culture not only exists but it thrives.
Anyway, coming directly to the topic: I think the three most important ingredient of any corporate job is "Learning", "Network", and "Salary". Learning refers to the opportunity to expand your horizon of knowledge, working on new ideas and cracking some or other challenge in your day to day task. This learning happens not all by yourself. It is very important to have right kind of people around. People who are more competent than you and people who are differently competent than you. People who are ready to share their knowledge and people who are not insecure. Unless you have all these things in place, you may be losing something. As a computer science guy, the principle is simple. At least one new technology, one new project and one new team should be added to your professional profile.
Second is Network. It is of extreme important. Especially in the scenario when you face a manager who shows bias in his behaviour and who is insecure about his own standing in the organisation. You never may when you may be fired or deputed to some shitty work. What to do in such situation? I remember, somebody gave me a very good advice in the early phase of my career. "In a corporate job, make sure you maintain a contingency fund. Have a separate bank account and save your six months operational expenses into it. This will be used when you get fired or when you are in the process of switching the job." So in a situation of having a critical situation in one job, the first thing to do is remember your contingency bank account. Second and more important is to explore your network. In a country like India, it is not your skill but it is your network which gets you the desired job. In USA, It is your network + skill which lands you in the dream job. And how do you make a network? Primary network comes from your alma mater. But a much larger network is formed in the job settings. It is not about the company. It is always about the people who you work with. Any big task is always a team work. One man can not play an orchestra. Therefore, networking, meeting people, working with good people is not only necessary but an essential part of any job. You peer group ignites and sets your ambition bar. They influence your dream as you do theirs. Therefore it is necessary to work in a company where you can expand your network and leverage it to move higher up in an organizational ladder.
Third is salary. It is very important to have a right pay package which matches your skill set. Because the day you sense the mismatch in the salary-skillset tuple, you will not be able to work in a calm manner. If your salary is higher than your skillset then you will feel insecure and vulnerable. If salary is lower than skillset then you feel exploited. Therefore, salary must match your skillset. And this is where the manager also comes into the picture. A good manager must ensure that people get what they deserve. Or else, sooner or later things are going to burst. And when they burst in such an unceremonious manner then it is neither good for an organization nor good for the personal relationships.
A good management is all about connecting things. Skill with the right project, skill with the right salary and people with the right people. The moment they fail in doing so, they sow the seed of future troubles.
Anyway, will write later. There is lot of observation and lot more to write.
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