Is there a formula to being successful in your career and life?
How should the professionals make their career shifts? How to inculcate a better culture in an organization?
All of these questions are answered on this episode of The Shape of Work podcast with Dr Frederick Correa.
Dr Frederick is an experienced HR professional who leads the function at a prominent Investment Banking Firm. At the age of 16, he represented India as a Youth Ambassador to the United Nations. His keen interest in Academics led him to pursue a Masters in Labour Law from Mumbai University and also a PhD. focusing on ‘The Employability Studies of Business School graduates’.
Dr Frederick has extensive campus recruitment experience and is on the board of studies in a number of business schools helping them shape their curriculum and keeping employability as a prime focus.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
Inspiration behind the book: “Enhance your employability with Ikigai: A simple 7 step Program to win at work and in life.”
Frederick takes us through the story behind his career shift from Ph.D. to MBA. Many people tried to convince him to stay in the field he had studied. However, he was determined to pursue Human Resources. He felt that a Ph.D. would not be as helpful as HR. This persistence is what Frederick wanted to share with the world. He aimed to offer the clarity of career to those who were confused. This is the reason why Frederick and his father decided to write the book. Their main goal was to share their years of corporate experience in a scientific yet practical manner. It had to be easy for people to understand.
Feedback to young professionals and startups:
Frederick offers a simple yet unique solution for startups or young professionals. It is necessary to start with an end in mind, that is, a goal. It can be achieved through career clarity. When a startup knows the problem it is supposed to solve, it will perform effectively. Thus they need to start identifying goals at different levels. Identifying and developing those skills will initiate better growth of the startup/career.
Reflection as a tool in career development:
Reflection is one of the most significant tools in terms of career growth. You need to have a target and review how you are moving towards it. However, you might not succeed even after that. This is where reflection comes into the picture. You have to analyze what helped you and what went wrong.
Frederick explains how simply practicing will not make a task perfect. Correct practicing with reflection will make it perfect.
Frederick’s thoughts on job switching:
Cultural fitment: When the organizational culture does not meet the requirements of an individual, leaving the job can be a reasonable decision.
When the learning cycle sends: This is an important factor to consider a job switch. Frederick mentions an example stating how staying and learning in one company is more fruitful than learning from two different companies. He also highlights the importance of implementing the things learned.
To sum up, you need to target winning in the second half of your career. Utilize the first half to build a foundation. Frederick explains how joining another job and quitting a job are two separate decisions. Before making a switch, you should analyze what makes you unhappy and how you will achieve it in your next workplace. Moreover, focus on how your next job will offer you a closer step towards your goal.
Follow Fredrick on LinkedIn
Produced by: Priya Bhatt
Podcast host: Lokesh Gautam