To The Chief(s)
To The Chief(s)
Part I Setting the Stage
Advice
I want to start by saying I am not pushing off my career outcome due to others. I was the player in the outcome. I want to tell a story to help others choose better career strategies and make better decisions. Learn from my mistakes. I like corporate life; it has plenty of fun and engaging things. Finally, I will provide my thoughts on what I should have learned.
I titled this To The Chief(s) as this story happened during the tenure of two chief engineers at the company where I worked. I aspired to have that position. I had spent considerable time understanding the product line and the engineering, product, and project management required to produce a high-quality electrical, electronic, and embedded system.
I worked at a company a few years back. For a host of reasons, I ended up leaving that company. My younger brother gave me some counsel in advance of this eventuality. If you are an older sibling, you know how this goes. I did not think it was terrible advice; I just chose not to take it. After living through the story I am about to tell, I think his advice was spot on target. This is a rather long story.
For the record, I did not tire of corporate work; however, when one sees no future in one’s work, it is possible to surrender to the status quo.
The Relationship
For the record, I like the folks involved in these stories. I personally like both Chief Engineers. If they discover and read this, I hope these chief engineers understand that I am glad to have known them if I do not appreciate my “career” outcome at the company. Much of this is on me for the work, but I think some outcomes result from their involvement – or lack thereof- in my career. Ultimately, I will write my thoughts on what I, or someone in my position, perhaps should have done. My learning from this, and I will provide more information on this at the end, is that your career is more than the work one does. In retrospect, spending just as much time lobbying, practicing politics, and developing relationships that lead you to your next job and build your career. Perhaps as much time accomplishing the organization’s objectives as working on your career is appropriate.
Advice Not Taken
My brother advised me to discuss the facts with my boss before leaving the company. The new chief engineer acknowledged me for one thing he believed I had done for the company: successfully delivering one big project. That will be explored later below.
My Career
As some of you may know from my earlier writings, I am the son of a Vietnam veteran. Somewhere along the way, I concluded that doing good work, saving the company money, producing things the company made money on, and doing a myriad of productive things would put me in a position to be promoted.
I have spent considerable time, and I still do today, growing my skill set related to product development. I have served in many capacities and developed processes where processes did not exist. Some of these processes were applied company-wide and sometimes for specific projects. This includes multiple master’ s-level degrees, globally recognized certifications, and intellectual property generation.
I had a job offer from outside the company, and the chief engineer wanted to talk with me about leaving before I accepted the offer. I told him I wanted a career with the company; I aspired to have his job one day. He told me a couple of things of interest. First, I should have notified him long ago about my thoughts on this. How was he to know? That was a fair enough point. The second thing he said was that people of my generation, my youth, though I was deep into my adult years, had a problem with delayed or deferred gratification. I did not think this very accurate, and I replied that those with a problem of delayed gratification usually do not invest much of their time in advanced degrees and certifications associated with product development. I did not take the other offer, and soon, a management position came open, and I applied.
We think there is some differentiation between a job and a career. I have provided my breakdown to ensure you know where my thoughts and perspective originate.
Job Versus Career
We should define a few things before we go any further. Some may say, “Aren’t jobs the same as careers?” That is a reasonable question, more reason to note these two things. I have had both jobs and what I thought was a career, but it likely was just another job with the illusion of a career. I’m not sure the illusion of a career is helpful. At some point, we wake up and see that it is an illusion.
Job
- Definition: A job is a specific position of employment, often temporary or part-time, that is typically focused on the completion of particular tasks or duties.
- Duration: Jobs can be short-term or long-term, but they are often seen as more immediate and transient employment.
- Purpose: Jobs are primarily undertaken to earn income and meet immediate financial needs.
- Commitment: Individuals may take on multiple jobs over time, and the commitment level to a particular job may be lower than a career.
- Development: Jobs may or may not provide significant opportunities for skill development and career advancement.
- Focus: The focus is often on the tasks and responsibilities of the specific role rather than long-term career goals.
Career
- Definition: A career is a lifelong pursuit of personal progression and professional goals through employment, training, and other professional experiences.
- Duration: Careers span a more extended period, involving a series of connected employment opportunities, where skills and knowledge are used to progress personally and professionally.
- Purpose: The purpose of a career goes beyond immediate financial needs; it includes personal and professional growth, fulfillment, and achievement of long-term goals.
- Commitment: Individuals commit to a career path, making strategic decisions about education, training, and employment opportunities that align with their long-term objectives.
- Development: Careers offer continuous learning, skill development, and advancement opportunities through various roles and positions.
- Focus: The broader professional journey focuses on skills development, career progression, and achieving personal and financial goals.
Comparisons:
- Duration: Both jobs and careers involve a duration of employment, but jobs are often perceived as more short-term or immediate, while careers are long-term pursuits.
- Purpose: Both provide a means of earning income, but a career involves a more profound sense of personal and professional fulfillment, growth, and achievement of long-term goals.
- Commitment: Jobs may be taken on with varying levels of commitment, while careers involve a more significant and intentional commitment to a chosen professional path.
- Development: Both can offer opportunities for skill development, but careers are more explicitly focused on continuous learning with advancement over time.
- Focus: Jobs tend to focus on the tasks, while careers encompass a broader perspective, considering the overall professional journey and long-term objectives.
Summary
In summary, a job is a more immediate and task-oriented form of employment, often undertaken for short-term financial needs. At the same time, a career is a lifelong pursuit involving a series of connected employment opportunities to achieve personal and professional goals. Individuals may engage in jobs as part of their career journey, but the distinction lies in the long-term commitment, development focus, and broader purpose associated with a career. I would say my multiple advanced degrees and global certifications – the entire ball of my work effort essentially, are more in the realm of my career rather than my fast-food working days.
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