Expert advice on choosing the right path

Freedom of choice was the focus of a discussion at CampusToCareer 2020, a webinar series from ABP Education, on the eve of Independence Day.

Educators shared their tips on how to choose the right career at Career Call: How to Know What to Choose. The panel of speakers comprised Dr. Suborno Bose, founder and CEO, Eduguy & Indismart Group; Dr. Wilma Francis Alphonso, behavioural scientist /clinical psychologist; Anindya Ghosh, associate partner, data science & AI, IBM Global Services; and Rupkatha Sarkar, principal of La Martiniere for Girls. The session was moderated by Bratati Bhattacharyya, secretary general/ CEO, Shikshayatan Foundation and Shri Shikshayatan School.

Catch the session, click here 

Bratati Bhattacharyya, Secretary general/ CEO, Shikshayatan Foundation and Shri Shikshayatan School, and co-chairperson, CII Education subcommittee (ER)

We need to ask ourselves — what are our passions? What are we good at? Should we follow our passion or what we are good at? Or, can we do both? If our passion and what we are good at match, then that’s very good. But that doesn’t always happen.

Just a degree can no longer make a career. We need to invest in ourselves. We have to keep developing and learn from others. We are talking about a life-long learning process.

Dr. Suborno Bose,  Founder & CEO, Eduguy & Indismart Group 

Not too many career options were available in our time. I wanted to become a pilot but ended up becoming a CA, and then got into hospitality education. Now kids have many more options beyond becoming doctors, lawyers and engineers.

While discussing careers, we must consider the dilemma of the students in these times of COVID-19. The IIT entrance exam has been pushed back and it may be deferred further. What will the aspirants do? Online classes, dilemma over career choices and uncertainty because of the pandemic have put those who have just passed out of school in a very strange situation.

When there’s a conflict between the heart and the mind, when it comes making a career choice, everyone should listen to their heart. We are living in a world where transferable skills are very important.

Dr. Wilma Francis Alphonso, Behavioural scientist /clinical psychologist 

Taking the help of a career counsellor is not only about guidance. It’s also about assessing what a student wants and helping them make the right choice. Students today are flooded with information and hence, the need for assessment.

The three things to focus on are your aptitude, personality and interests. Your interests may change with time and you may find it tough to choose what interests you more. Taking a psychometric test can help make this choice for you. In collaboration with Dr. Suborno Bose, IBM is building ECPT, a tool which is a blend of psychology and artificial intelligence (AI).

To know what you are good at, spend time introspecting. Get feedback from the adults you trust. It could be that you are not trying out new things. If you stop yourself from exploring, your strengths will not emerge. Don’t be shy, take calculated risks.

Anindya Ghosh, Associate partner, data science & AI, IBM Global Service

How do you bring together aptitude, personality and interest and help students decide on a career? Sometimes we don’t know what we want. Sometimes we are confused about our interests. This is where artificial intelligence (AI) can help. It offers multiple career choices and prioritises them. It is especially helpful if introspection does not give you your SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats).

An AI-backed career mentor can help guide a child right from Class VI. We, at IBM, are developing an app for this, based on AI algorithm. The important thing, however, is that you provide honest inputs, whether it’s a counsellor or an AI tool. Remember that a counsellor or an AI guide will be as good as your inputs.

Rupkatha Sarkar, Principal, La Martiniere for Girls

The most important question to ask yourself is – what are you good at? It is also important to ask — Why do I do what I do? Am I happy doing it? Does it make others happy? Am I only earning money or do I love to work for the people? If you listen to your heart and have a developmental approach to your career, you will succeed.

Here, the role of a coach or a mentor or school or college comes into play. Educators must give students the opportunity to try different skills and develop them. Schools and colleges must allow students to take part in co-curricular activities besides academics.

You need to have multidisciplinary skills. Try different things and experiment with your skills. It’s all right if you fail. Try the next thing and you will do it better than the previous one. Learn from the experiences of others.