KPIT Cummins Blog

Renuka Krishna who heads the Talent Acquisition Group at KPIT Cummins shares her thoughts on how one should define success in his/her career.

Recently, while interviewing a young gentleman for a mid level position in KPIT Cummins, I asked him why he was looking for a change. His frank answer was that the quickest way to get a raise was a job change as it meant more pay than what he would get through an appraisal cycle. Though his resume seemed exceptional in terms of expertise and soft skills, something a recruiter gets excited about, I was slightly taken back by his answer. Though I should give him credit for honesty, one needs to wonder whether getting such employees on board is really a good idea.

Ultimately, an employee’s definition of success needs to be oriented to the attainment of long term wins and not be limited to “get rich quick” formulae. Success is, after all, a result of all the efforts one puts to achieve a specific goal. If this is not understood early on, one’s career can be an endless & elusive search for it; dissatisfaction will prevail with any rung one achieves as one is constantly vying for the rung above or the rung occupied by peers.

Overall, a balanced career path needs both ambition and dreams to make life and work worthwhile. As Oprah Winfrey said “What I know is, is that if you do work that you love, and the work fulfills you, the rest will come”. When I see excellence at the workplace, it always comes from people whose enthusiasm and excitement in their work is clear and for all to see! Bill Gates too said that if one turns their hobby into their job, then one would never have to work a day in one’s life! Indian philosophy preaches that we should always following our true nature -Swadharma – and we should not follow that which is not of our nature- Paradharma – just for the sake of success and glory. In my opinion one should aim to be in a job that engages one’s heart and soul. A job should not be done for just for personal gains. If we can find a way to understand what really excites us, it will be a win–win for both employees & employers.

Every day when we come in to work, we need to ask ourselves whether we’re here because our heart is in it or do we just keep counting the minutes till the end of the day, end of work week and till the pay cheque comes. Job satisfaction is about being excited to see your company’s name in print in the morning paper or feeling proud at every achievement of your organization, knowing that your contribution made it happen in some way. It is about being able to look at every task as an opportunity to contribute to your organization and not always thinking about what you stand to get out of it. In my experience, if my work makes me feel inclusive and a part of the organization’s growth story, it will lead to higher satisfaction and the rewards follow.