Sir, should I join the
forces or pay out?
Surg Cdr Vivek Kumar,
Veteran (MD Internal Medicine and Intensivist) Z Batch AFMC
Page 119 Dhanvantari 2016
It is always a pleasure to write for the college
magazine. There are many stories which come to my mind instantly, however this
time around I will write on the most common question posed to me over the last
few years – Sir, should I join the forces or pay out?
I have seen many students take a well-thought of decision
in this matter and also an equal number who just tagged along with the decision
of their friends. Like all processes in today’s corporate world, decision
making is a structured process and I will suggest a way to go about making a
career choice.
A few months back I was approached by an International
recruitment firm for the post of Consultant, National Health Service, United
Kingdom. I had to prepare for an interview and it was while doing so I realized
how systematic the NHS team was in assessing candidates for recruitment. While
preparing for the interview I had to go through a standard set of questions, at
the end of which I realized that making a career decision is a structured
decision making process and not a series of chat sessions at the college
canteen.
An interview usually starts with “Tell us about yourself”
followed by “Take us through your CV”. This is followed by the obvious question
“Why do you want to join this trust?”, “Why should we give this job to you?”,
“What can this trust offer you?”, “How will you contribute to the trust?”,
& “Why did you quit your last job?” In answering these few questions you
speak about yourself and your work but more important about your resolve to
join a new organization and how you will align your career plans with that of
the trust. This single question “Why do you want to join this trust?” sets you
thinking. I had to open a diary and keep writing the points as they crossed my
mind. This too at a stage of my life when I have completed 22 years of
commissioned service and 2 years of private practice in a corporate hospital. I
had never gone through this exercise before, or even spent 5 minutes on
pondering over a similar issue at any time in my life. I remember my friends
who payed out – for some, the decision was part of the patriarchal hierarchy
and for others it was a default decision reached at by the process of
exclusion, i.e. excluding the option of joining the forces. If you spend time
pondering over this question it will become clear that you need to have a good
knowledge about the organization, a fundamental flaw with all of us whether we
join or do not join the forces. Our knowledge of the Indian Armed Forces or the
British or American health systems is paltry and most of it based on hearsay.
As far as the Armed Forces medical services is concerned my knowledge at time
of commissioning was limited to that about AFMC, a few establishments, some
flag ranks, availability of liquor, sixty days of annual leave, and the options
for post-graduation. I spent 22 years in an organization I joined based upon
this limited knowledge! Today when I prepared for the NHS interview I had to
read up a lot about the organization, hospital I had to join, their future
plans, the job requirements, besides being clear about my career plans. A
proper answer to this single question will definitely clear your understanding
of the system you wish to join.
The basis of your decision to join the new organization
has to be very clear, e.g. NHS is a leading health care delivery system, it
will give me a platform to excel in my field, it is
fulfilment of a dream to be part of an evolved medical system, and so on. Similarly
you should write down the points you feel are for and against your decision to
join the forces. This process can start in the first term and culminate after
the IX term results. At no stage should your career option compromise your
academic performance. The desire to excel must outplay all career choices. Your
first goal must be to achieve merit in all subjects. Once you have achieved
this goal you can go ahead and navigate through your list of pros and cons
about joining the forces.
The next set of thought provoking questions was “Where do
you see yourself in five / ten / twenty years from now?” I must admit I never
thought on these lines when joining the forces. One has to sit down and look
ahead at life form a different perspective. Our foresight is usually ends at
post-graduation or speciality examination. We all suffer from a short foresight
and very long hindsight. Try imagining yourself in an appointment ten years
down the line. It is a totally different experience. I wish I had imagined
myself in specialist appointments outside AFMC. The truth is that there are
numerous postings beside AFMC & life in AMC is different for those posted
to AFMC versus those posted to other units. You must have an idea of how life
is for those working in other medical & non-medical units. Before my NHS
interview the organization had sent a brochure which described a day in the
life of a consultant in my speciality, the call duty rotation, the leave
programmes, familiarizing me with the job requirements and expected lifestyle. Similarly
you should be familiar with the working schedule, duty requirements, and
standard lifestyle of a serving AMC officer. It is preferable to find out the
details yourself rather than through hearsay. Ask yourself “Can I fit into this
job profile?”, “Is this I want to do in life?” Clear all your doubts by
personally interacting with the concerned officers. Iron out all the
discrepancies between your perceptions of the job and the actual scenario. Test
your comfort levels on completion of this exercise. You will know what you are
getting into and even if you have no choice this exercise will help you understand
the system better and make your life peaceful. Even today for many of us the
pride of wearing the uniform and serving our country overrides all our personal
desires.
One of the interviewers was the Human Resources
personnel. He briefed me about the values & behaviours of the particular
trust hospital. They included pride, respect, empathy, consideration,
compassion, and dignity. He asked me if my values matched their value system.
The trust wanted us to “live our values & deliver the best patient care”,
have “fulfilling & enjoyable place at work”, exhibit “right attitude &
behaviour contributing to a positive patient and staff experience”, designing a
“crucial role for each individual” and finally motivating us into “putting our
heart into what we do”. I wish I had looked upon the Armed Forces from this
angle prior to commissioning. The Indian Armed Forces still remains one of the
largest organizations in this country. It offers a platform where one can serve
with pride and dignity and live up to all his personal values. Like any
organization in the world there are shortcomings but in no way will they
compromise your personal values. To put it in other words if you feel you have
to compromise upon your value system while in the line of duty, you should be
strong enough to take a decision to adhere to your principles and either
improve the situation or just let go of the situation without compromising your
principles.
To conclude I have spelt out a few questions which you
must answer before making a career decision. All these answers must be based
upon extensive research done by you. The best way to do this research is to
interact with as many people whom you feel are learned and see as a role model.
Once you start the process of answering these questions you will find that
there are many more questions arising which need to be addressed. Take your
time and do so till no questions are left unanswered. You are then your own
boss to make a career decision for you own self. If you feel confused after
reading this article whether I want you to join or not join the forces, then I
have to say that this write up was not about my preference but about showing
you a correct way to go about making career decisions.
