Career Chat at Age 27 (Year 2025)

Note: This is the fourth conversation in the seven-part series. You can start with the first one here. https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/1-career-chat-age-12-rajat-taneja

In the age of Game of Thrones, why do you have that Friends tune set as your ringtone?

Just like that, sir. You had called me? Is everything fine?

Not quite. Come, have a seat.

Thank you. So, what’s the matter?

Meera, I have realized that your performance is not picking up pace, even after your two long holidays this year. So I feel it’s not about the burn out. What do you think is the matter?

Well, I think it’s about my inability of focus. My last holiday helped me introspect about life, beyond the usual hustle and bustle. And now, I’m less focused because of that realization.

And I thought you'd taken the holiday to get your focus back. Anyway, what did you realize?

I recognized the fact that I’m not really happy with what I’ve become. My monthly salary gives me comfort, but not emotional well being. Despite having lots of friends, I don’t feel like meeting any of them. And I’ve lost touch with what I really wanted to become during my college days.

And what did you aspire to become back then?

I wanted to be a civil services officer. After studying engineering subjects for four years, I had decided to give myself a break after college before getting back to full-fledged UPSC exam preparation. Hence, I sat for the on-campus placements in my final year. And here I am today, still trying to be a good data analyst.

You were aspiring to crack perhaps the toughest competitive examination taken in India?

Yes. That dream did get lost somewhere, but I still feel the need to serve my country.

You should realize that, sometimes, you’re unable to perform at par with even some of the ordinary data analysts at office. How can you still hope to excel at an exam taken by the best doctors, engineers, lawyers, MBAs and PhDs of the country?

That was really kind of you sir, but it’s just one way of looking at it. Taking the UPSC exam is much more than analyzing data. I won’t like to judge my personality based on just number crunching.

Maybe you’re right. And what about the work routine?

What about it?

I’ve heard that a civil servant’s daily routine isn’t predictable at all. You get posted at peculiar places and have to be on your toes all the time, especially during elections and calamities. Why would you want to get into that just for some job security and a car with red beacon lights?

It’s not just about the job security and position of power. I want to do it for the satisfaction I’d get from improving the lives of my people.

Your people? You already sound like an officer. Good, good. But what about the mundane work?

Which part of it is mundane?

Signing hundreds of files and being at the whims of a minister all day?

Unfortunately, these are things we’re repeatedly shown in the news or Bollywood movies. Civil service is much more than that, as it offers one of the most versatile work experiences. I could be working in agriculture, business, finance, law and order, not-for-profit, public administration, security, and many more fields. There is no way this job will become monotonous for a person like me.

So you mean your present job has become monotonous for you?

I didn’t mean to put it in that way...

When people get bored of their 9-5 jobs, they always come up with three options: MBA, Startup or IAS.

Sir, I too have watched TVF Pitchers. My brother-in-law is an aspiring entrepreneur.

Oh, Jai’s brother. Good, good. How is Jai doing now?

Not very well. He couldn’t keep up with his software development job, so he’s preparing for the CAT now. God knows when he’ll get a great percentile in that exam.

He wanted to become a chef, right? Why isn’t he pursuing that now?

Even he feels that now it’s too late to pursue that. Trying out something like that just a few years before marriage. Doing it earlier might have helped.

All right then. So, have you two considered how your married life would pan out? Usually the spouse of a civil servant doesn’t get enough opportunities in areas the civil servant is transferred to. Same goes for the child in terms of getting admission into good schools.

I know, I know. Jai and I haven’t really been able to talk this through, as we both are out of mindspace right now. Things aren’t going the way we thought they would during our college days.

That’s what I’m trying to hint at. If he has already lost stability in his career, why do you want to take a career risk at this time? You do have some years before crossing the UPSC exam age-limit. I feel you’re in two minds and that’s messing up your performance. Take the call on this and you’ll be at peace.

But sir, I have been trying to do that for more than four years now. I end up binge watching Friends episodes every night to keep myself happy, to retain my sanity. Though that happiness is temporary and I’m back to square one the very next morning.

And you think you’ll not go insane while trying to secure an All India Rank of less than 100 while competing with several lakh candidates? And that too with your better half trying to bell the CAT year after year?

I don’t know, and I think I don’t need to know either. Sometimes you just have to go with what your gut says.

This lack of analysis is what got you to sit for your on-campus placements at college, right?

Well, yes. But I couldn’t think of any other option back then. That’s how I usually decide on everything. Right now I see so many IAS officers making a positive impact in their areas of control. It’s something much bigger than myself, and it can help anyone do away with the guilt for the past or worry for the future.

Words of wisdom. You seem to have been enlightened during your recent holiday. But did you also think about Roman Saini during that? The guy who first quit his MBBS job for IAS and then left his IAS post for an e-learning company. Isn’t that crazy! Why does someone have to waste so much time and energy? Some other aspiring doctor and civil servant would’ve made good use of his seats.

That is just one way of looking at it, sir. Life is not always linear. We discover it on the way, and improvise whenever needed.

And that’s exactly what you have to do right now. Your life might have been linear if you would’ve quit your corporate job in a year, to pursue UPSC exam preparation. You realized that you needed more time and continued for some more years. Now is the time to give it your best shot and prove to yourself that all these years were worth the effort.

I’m not really sure about this, sir.

You just said that you don’t always have to be sure. Anyway, you have your appraisal coming up in three months. Give it your best shot and quit like a winner next year. You will feel much more confident when you start preparing.

I think you’re right. I should quit like a winner.

That’s more like it! You should get back to your workstation now. The employee engagement programme could be starting at any time.

Oh, right. Thanks for reminding.

And Meera, here’s some advice. Whenever you feel that you’re having a bad day, just look at the mirror and ask: How you doin’?

PS: Here's the next conversation.https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/5-career-chat-age-32-music-rajat-taneja