Article by my batchmate Dr Vivek Kumar on career choices.

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.