Career exploration

Abstract

The aim of this CCS is to have a deeper understanding of myself, my career identity, and career preferences. I have explored a lot in my early and mid-20s, and worked across multiple geographies, roles and organizations of size varying from 3 to 80,000+ before coming to IIM Bangalore for MBA. I chose consulting as an option to explore for summer internship; this choice was made by elimination of what I didn’t want rather than what I wanted. However, after working with a top tier consulting firm during summers and not liking a consultant’s lifestyle, I am contemplating future career strategy. This CCS aims to undertake proven self and career exploration tests and to use this understanding of self and compatible career options to formulate a personal roadmap/strategy for future. The projects aim to scientifically apply relevant principles/theories of HR, psychology, and self-development to for heightened self-awareness and finding my career identity/anchors. The study included consolidation of past reflections done under various stages such as feedback from managers in previous organization, writing B-School essay, MBTI exercise taken earlier, and during the elective course of ‘Personal Values, Goals and Career Options’ at IIM Bangalore. This journey of looking inside was further corroborated with exercise to identify deeply rooted career anchors as defined by Edgar H. Schein. Later part of CCS focused on looking outwards, getting perspectives on life and career goals from the book ‘The Last Lecture’ by Randy Pausch and doing ‘The Flower Exercise’ to find external career interest based on a self-inventory exercise in ‘What Color is Your Parachute’ by Richard N. Bolles. These activities have provided some direction but have the potential for self-confirmation bias. The future action plan is work conduct a 360 feedback to understand strengths and weakness, do MBTI under the guidance of a certified trainer, and work with the project guide to reflect and remove any biases. These insights will be combined with informational interviews of industry personnel to find a suitable career option.