Sb unit 04_what_is_a_contributive_career_ed2_v2r1_1455376238440

From Acquisitive Career to Contributive Career
The Contributor’s
Vision of Career
UNIT 4:
Swami Vivekananda
Contributor Personality Program
An Group Initiative
by
for students and faculty of
Gujarat Technological University
University
Servicesi-become
JULY 2012 BATCH

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COPYRIGHT DECLARATION
Booklet printed from
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Learn to distinguish between an “acquisitive career” and a
“contributive career”.
An acquisitive career is one in which the career-seeker is
focused on acquiring higher position, higher salary, more
benefits, etc. This preoccupation with selfish interests often
damages the individual’s career, and equally important,
damages the organization and society. A contributive career is
one where the career-seeker is focused on contributing, with
rewards being a by-product of the contributions made.
The Contributor’s
Vision of Career
4.1 Exploring the Contributor’s Vision of Career pg. 2-5
4.2 Workplace application 1 pg. 6-7
4.3 Workplace application 2 pg. 8
4.6 Project Work pg. 11
What you can do next pg. 12
Swami Vivekananda speaks to you:
Your career is an opportunity to make a huge
difference to yourself and to the world at large pg. 13-14
UNIT 4:
Developing a Contributor Personality

UNIT 4: THE CONTRIBUTOR’S VISION OF CAREER
© JULY 2012 EDITION; ILLUMINE KNOWLEDGE RESOURCES PVT LTD; ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. DEVELOPED BY ILLUMINE FOR THE I-BECOME INITIATIVE
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This Non-contributor Job Applicant chooses a job only based
on the monetary rewards and material benefits it offers.
Result – just because the money is good, she may end up
taking a job where the quality of work does not match up to
her competence level or a job that is not aligned to her overall
professional development.
This Non-contributor Worker wants to work only in areas
she is comfortable in. She is afraid of doing any new jobs
and is not interested in doing anything beyond her specific
job description. Result – she gets stuck in the same kind of
work, same kinds of roles, same kinds of jobs. Soon her work
becomes routine and boring.
This Non-contributor Technician is willing to work only in the
specific domain in which he is trained. Thus, even if new
assignments or good job opportunities come up in an area
that requires other skills, he does not take them up. Result
– he misses many opportunities. Even in his own projects
his contribution is limited because he will not do anything
beyond his own domain of training, even if it is needed.
This Contributor Job Applicant chooses a job based on
the opportunities it is likely to open up to her. Thus the job
she takes up will be a positive step forward in her overall
professional development and will benefit her career in the
long-run. Even if she starts out on a lower salary, her future
career development is ensured.
This Contributor Worker is always eager to try out new
kinds of work and is interested to learn new skills and gain
new knowledge. Thus, he volunteers for new roles and
responsibilities. He keeps finding new things to do and
new ways to do his existing work better. Result – his work is
always fresh and exciting.
This Contributor Technician is willing to learn whatever is
necessary, get help wherever needed, and do whatever
it takes to serve the purpose in any job. Thus, if a project
or assignment is given to him, he will ensure it gets
accomplished successfully – whether it is in his domain of
training or not.
continued ...
1
acquisitive: eager to get / demand / grab things for oneself 2
contributive: eager to give / contribute value for others
Does this job offer –
– High salary
and perks?
– Holidays?
– Incentives?
“I can only work in the
field that I have been
trained in.”
I can do some things well. Don’t
ask me to do new things. That is
not part of my job description. I
won’t do it.
Does this job offer –
– Opportunities to face new
challenges & develop new skills?
– Opportunities to meet new
people & learn new things?
– Opportunities to make a
difference?
I will learn whatever is
needed to perform well
in my role, and help my
team / organization
achieve its goals.
I believe that one must be willing
to step out of one’s comfort zone
and try out newer roles. This
will expand not only my skill-set,
but also my self-esteem and
confidence.
Study the following examples
1.
2.
3.
The Non-contributor Job Applicant with an
“acquisitive1
vision of career”
The Non-contributor Technician with an
“acquisitive1
vision of career”
The Non-contributor Worker with an
“acquisitive1
vision of career”
The Contributor Job Applicant with a
“contributive2
vision of career”
The Contributor Technician with a
“contributive2
vision of career”
The Contributor Worker with a
“contributive2
vision of career”
4.1 Exploring the Contributor’s Vision of Career
[CONCEPT EXPLORATION]

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA CONTRIBUTOR PERSONALITY PROGRAM FOR GTU – JULY 2012 BATCH
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continued’...
This Non-contributor Executive seeks to advance his career
by getting more money, more power, more position. If he
doesn’t see such external growth in his career, he begins
feeling that he has achieved nothing – thus he is willing to
use any means (positive or negative) to advance his career.
Result – he may manage to get a promotion, but he won’t be
worthy of it and will do a poor job in the new position.
This Contributor Executive seeks to make wider and deeper
contributions to the lives of more and more people, as his
career advances. For this, he also increases in expertise,
develops capabilities, takes on more responsibilities, etc.
Result – when there is a vacancy in a higher position, he will be
the person most worthy to fill it.
“Being promoted means I need
to also build my capability,
leadership skills, etc. so that
I can contribute even more in
the bigger position.”
4. The Non-contributor Executive with an
“acquisitive1
vision of career”
The Contributor Executive with a
“contributive2
vision of career”
“Career advancement means
more money, more power,
more position.”
Group Worksheet 4.1:
Similarly (in the same way as examples 1-4 shown above), imagine the following situations
and how the non-contributors (with an “acquisitive vision of career”) and contributors (with a
“contributive vision of career”) would behave. Discuss to fill in.
continued ...
Paresh has been elected to the student council
If Paresh had an acquisitive vision of career,
he would think...
Imagine how Paresh would think if he had a
contributive vision of career…
Yeah! I have finally got this important position!
This will be one more achievement that will look
good on my resume…
5.
Describe the above acquisitive vision of career – Describe the above contributive vision of career –

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This is not fair! Just because I am a volunteer
how can they ask me to do something I am not
comfortable with! They can’t force me to do
this… I will tell them I will do something else,
not this.
This is a respected position and it means that
the teacher believes I am better than the
others - so that is good!
I must further use this as an opportunity to
get noticed by teachers and students so that
when I stand for elections next year, they will
all vote for me!
continued ...
3
mentor: guide / tutor
Shilpa has been assigned as a mentor3
in a group where she is supposed to teach two weaker
students from her class and help them in their studies.
If Hetal had an acquisitive vision of career,
she would think...
If Shilpa had an acquisitive vision of career,
she would think...
Imagine how Hetal would think if she had a
contributive vision of career…
Imagine how Shilpa would think if she had a
contributive vision of career…...
During her summer vacation, Hetal volunteers to work in the Cancer Association. They tell her
to go out and meet companies to find sponsors – something she has never done before. She
is nervous because she is a shy person and is not comfortable communicating with strangers.
6.
7.
Describe the above acquisitive vision of career –
Describe the above acquisitive vision of career –
Describe the above contributive vision of career –
Describe the above contributive vision of career –

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If Sheetal and Priya had an acquisitive vision of
career, they would think...
Imagine how Sheetal and Priya would think if
they had a contributive vision of career…
Oh no! What do we do now? Without
Rekha, we won’t be able to present!
Neither of us are good presenters.
We will have to withdraw our entry
from this competition and tell them
we cannot present.
... continued
Reflection: People with a contributive vision of career are likely to have more sustainable4
growth in their career, than people with an acquisitive vision of career. Would you agree?
Why?
Explore more on the contributor’s wider vision of career, on the i-become
AND MORE ...
C1: What is the difference between
an acquisitive career mindset and a
contributive career mindset?
C2: Contributors have the inner
power to deliver
[Log into your account on http://gtu.ibecome.in/ and select Unit 4: The Contributor’s Vision of Career Foundation
Concept Exploration]
4
sustainable: long-lasting / balanced / steady
Sheetal, Priya and Rekha are making a presentation together. Sheetal (a good writer) focuses
on drafting the presentation. Priya (an artist) focuses on packaging it creatively. Rekha is a good
communicator, so they decide she will present (especially since Sheetal is shy and Priya is
not very comfortable with English). They work together happily and build a good presentation.
Unfortunately, on the final presentation day, Rekha falls seriously ill…
8.
Describe the above acquisitive vision of career – Describe the above contributive vision of career –

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How do I create opportunities for growth in my career?
PART A: Study the following story, noticing how Downes created
“growth opportunities” for his career in each situation –
General Motors (GM) is an American multinational
automotive corporation, and is today the world’s
second-largest automaker. It produces cars and trucks in
31 countries, including brands such as Buick, Cadillac,
Chevrolet, GMC, Opel, Vauxhall.
CAROL DOWNES
Late one evening, William C. Durant, the founder of General Motors (GM), walked into his
bank after banking hours, and asked for some work to be done, which ideally should have
been requested during banking hours.
While others did not take the trouble to serve him, the man who served Mr. Durant after
banking hours was Carol Downes, an executive of the bank.
Downes had created a “growth opportunity” for himself by serving his customer well.
The next day, William Durant asked Downes to come to his office. Mr. Durant offered Downes a position in his office which was
happily accepted by Downes.
Several months later, Downes was informed that he had been chosen to
go out to a new plant to supervise the installation of the plant machinery.
Thus, Downes, a former bank official, became a machinery expert in
a few months. Although he did not know anything about installation of
machinery, Downes chose to accept the assignment happily, rather than
complaining about it.
Downes had created one more “growth opportunity”
by whole-heartedly accepting a challenge.
Three months later, the job was done so well that Mr. Durant asked him
where he learned about machinery. “I never learned, Mr. Durant. I merely
found men who knew how to do the job, put them to work, and they did
it.” Downes explained. Mr. Durant told Downes that he was promoted
as the new manager of the plant and his salary to start with would be
$50,000 a year.
Downes had created one more growth opportunity by not only succeeding in his assignment, but also
sharing credit and focusing on his role as a contributive-manager.
4.2 Workplace application 1
[CONCEPT APPLICATION]
ROLE MODEL

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PART B: Think of any one person who, like Downes, created growth opportunities in his / her career.
Write about this person by filling in the following worksheet (Use Downes’ story to guide you).
Name of the person:
Profession / Career path of the person:
Incidents in the person’s career journey: How s/he created a “growth
opportunity” for his / her career
in this incident
Incident 1:
Incident 2:
Incident 3:
What I learnt about how to create opportunities for growth in my own career:
AND MORE ...
[Log into your account on http://gtu.ibecome.in/ and select Unit 4: The Contributor’s Vision of Career
Foundation Concept Applications]
A1: SIR MOKSHAGUNDAM VISVESVARAYA
The Engineer who rose up to become
one of the builders of modern India
A2: ANJALI, THE TEACHER
A Teacher who kept challenging herself to
make greater and greater contribution
A3: BADAM DEVI
An illiterate agricultural laborer who made
herself into a change-making sarpanch of
her village
On explore how these contributors created growth opportunities in their career:i-become

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If the company I work in changes my job role, how should I respond?
PART A: Study the following scenario & discuss to answer the reflection question
A large technology corporation is diversifying and entering new markets. The management is identifying
people to send to Singapore, where they are setting up operations. Since the new office will begin small, the
team going there would have to multi-task. The management is considering two bright software engineers –
Mohit and Sumit. Both are good programmers. The management observes them for some time, so that they
can decide who to select. This is what they see –
MOHIT’s career strategy is based on an
acquisitive vision of career
SUMIT’s career strategy is based on a
contributive vision of career
Consequences of MOHIT’s career strategy
based on an acquisitive vision of career
Consequences of SUMIT’s career strategy is
based on a contributive vision of career
Mohit does not do anything which is beyond his stated
job description of a software engineer. He says…
Sumit is flexible and is quickly able to adapt to new
assignments. He says…
Why should I do
anything extra?
I am a software engineer… I am
good at my job – but this is not my
job…
Why not? Sure… let me try my
hand at it, I am sure I can pick
it up.
Every job has its challenges –
unless you try it out, how will you
know how well you can do it and
whether you like it or not? This
way you can really learn a lot!
Reflection: Who would the company prefer to choose for any important assignment?
Why?
PART B: What are the consequences of each career strategy? Discuss to fill in below –
How will this career strategy impact his organization?
How valuable will Mohit become for them?
How will this career strategy impact his organization?
How valuable will Sumit become for them?
How will this impact his future career prospects? How will this impact his future career prospects?
Technologies continuously become outdated and get replaced by newer ones. In such a fast-changing
industry, who will be able to deal with the changes in a better way? Why?
SCENARIO

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Group Worksheet 3.2: PART A
How do I choose between job assignment opportunities?
PART A: Study the following scenario & discuss to answer the reflection question
Reflection: Suraj makes a choice out “fear” (fear of losing reputation, fear of failure). On
the other hand, Varun focuses on the opportunity each job assignment could give. What
is the value of adopting Varun’s career approach in your own life?
PART B: Though both are in the same job environment, more career opportunities are likely to
open up to Varun. Discuss to give 3 reasons why.
Suraj and Varun joined a pharmaceutical company, fresh out of college. 6 months into the job, they are given
a choice to take up any one of two assignments –
– The first assignment is a mainstream project with a 1 month deadline. It is in their own domain that they
are familiar with. The team would be 8-10 people, with several senior team members. Working on a large
project such as this, will bring the team in the limelight.
– The second assignment is in a new cutting-edge area that the organization is experimenting in. They will
be in a team of 3-4 who need to find their own answers and make things work. The organization gives
the team 4 months, after which they will take a decision whether to invest into this area or not.
This is how they are thinking through this choice.
SURAJ - THE NON-CONTRIBUTOR VARUN - THE CONTRIBUTOR
The second assignment is too
risky! I have never done anything
like this before… It is not
my subject and I won’t know
anything there. The management
will get a bad impression of me.
The first assignment is safer. I know that work…
besides there will be others in the team who
can tell me what to do if needed. Also, being
mainstream, it will give me the experience to
get a job in the future.
In the first assignment, I can
learn a lot from the expertise
of my seniors. I will also learn how
such large projects work – that is
very good exposure.
However, the second, is a rare opportunity to do
cutting-edge work. We will find our way to the
answers… we will learn and do whatever it takes!
If we succeed, the value to the organization and
to the field will be fundamental! If we don’t,
I will at least have learnt from the experience…
HINT: Consider –
– How will this affect their
confidence and ability to take
up new responsibilities and
challenging assignments?
– What will be the long-term impact
on their overall development as
professionals?
– Growth opportunities for your
career can be seen in every
situation. How would their thinking
affect their ability to see / be blind
to several such opportunities?
– Who would be seen more favorably
by the organization?
The first assignment is safer. I know that work…
besides, there will be others in the team who
can tell me what to do if needed. Also, being
mainstream, it will give me the experience to get
a job in the future.
SCENARIO

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When assessing a job, what should I look for?
PART A: Study the following scenario –
PART B: To help you make a job choice in your own career, think about and write down –
(a) 3 “non-negotiable” criteria that you will use (what you want the job to definitely have)
(b) 2 “negotiable” criteria that you will use (what you hope the job will have, but are willing to
sacrifice, if you like the job). Write these in order of priority.
CHECK: Are your criteria based on a Contributive Vision of Career?
Ajay and Raghu have a couple of job offers on hand. They are trying to decide which job to take up. These are the
questions each of them ask the manager, to help them take a decision.
AJAY’s career strategy is based on an acquisitive
vision of career
(a) I want the job to definitely fulfill these criteria
(b) I hope the job fulfills these criteria (but I am willing to sacrifice these,
provided I really like the job)
RAGHU’s career strategy is based on a contributive
vision of career
Will I get all the
comforts and conveniences
I want?
Does this job and the
contribution I can make
here, excite me?
What is the pay package?
Will I get a team to work
under me? Will I have to
stay late often? Will I get
compensated for working
over-time?
What kind of work will
I actually be doing?
What are the typical
responsibilities? What
are typical challenges?
Some examples –
– Is the work something I will
enjoy and be good at?
– Will they train me?
– Does the company have a good
brand image?
– Will I get a comfortable lifestyle?
– What difference can I make in
the world, through this job?
– What are the learning
opportunities?
– Will I get a chance to apply my
training?
– Etc.
# 1
# 2
# 3
# 4
# 5
SCENARIO

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Field Work
You could do the above project and present in the class
OR ask your faculty for the IN-CLASS PROJECT based on the guideline from i-become
4.6 Project Work
Project Goal: To learn “Contributor Career Strategies5
” from an experienced contributor.
STEP 1: Identify any one “Contributor” you know, who has worked for at least 10 years, and who has
contributed a lot during the course of his / her career.
[HINT:
Think of who you can interview amongst – People known to your family, Colleagues of your
parents, Neighbors,
Teachers, People who work in your neighborhood (eg: postman, shopkeepers, fruit /
vegetable seller, rickshaw
driver, municipality workers, etc.)]
STEP 2: Interview this person, asking him / her to tell you about –
l The different roles s/he has performed throughout his / her career life.
l How s/he developed and moved up in his / her career. What were the important milestones6
in his / her career.
l For each of the new roles or assignments taken up, what new capabilities did s/he have to build
(so as to be able to fulfill the new responsibilities).
l What were some of the most important career choices that s/he made. How s/he thought about
these choices. What made him / her make these choices.
l What were some of the most important “contributions” s/he feels s/he made in each of his / her
roles in the career.
STEP 3: Make a presentation on this person –
l Explain how the person answered each of the above questions.
l What are some “Contributor Career Strategies5
” that you can learn from this person’s
experience?
5
Career Strategy is an approach or tip or plan of action that you can use in your own career to improve / grow in your own career
(as a contributor).
6
Milestone is an important point in the career where s/he took some important decisions / choices; or there was an important change that took
place in his / her career track; or some important new assignment that s/he took up.

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What you can do next:
Practice for Examinations on i-become
• Do the quizzes and practice tests to get an idea of what to expect in the examination.
• To access these –
– Log into your ActivGuide account on http://gtu.ibecome.in/
– Select Unit 4: The Contributor’s Vision of Career Exam Revision
Attend the Contributor Classroom for Unit 4 (on Facebook )
• 2 online discussion sessions will be conducted for Unit 4, in the Contributor Classroom. One will
explore the “contributor’s vision of career” and how it impacts your ability to contribute. The other
will discuss workplace examples and career guides.
• Join students and faculty from across GTU as we discuss this topic.
• To participate –
– Go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/CPP.July2012/
– Log in with your own Facebook account (if you don’t have one already, create new)
– Click on “join group” button to join the Contributor Classroom
– Once the group moderator approves, you can attend these discussions
– Make sure you register early enough so that you don’t miss these sessions
• To know the schedules for this, check your email / the i-become Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/ibecomeInitiative
AND MORE ...
[Log into your account on http://gtu.ibecome.in/ and select Unit 4: The Contributor’s Vision of Career Foundation
Concept Applications]
Learn some more career strategies from contributors, on i-become
A4: CAREER STRATEGY:
ROLE FLEXIBILITY
The story of Vinod the copywriter
A5: WHAT KIND OF “OPPORTUNITIES”
DO YOU LOOK FOR?
Learn the contributor’s
strategy from the story of
these 2 teachers
A6: HOW TO GET A
PROMOTION?
Learn the contributor’s
strategy from the story of
these 2 corporate managers
A7: CAREER STORY OF
C. V. RAMAN (SCIENTIST)

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“
This is the time to decide your future
– while you possess the energy of
youth,notwhenyouarewornoutand
jaded, but in the freshness and vigour
of youth. Rouse yourselves, therefore,
or life is short. There are greater
works to be done than aspiring to
become lawyers and picking quarrels
and such things. A far greater work
is this sacrifice of yourselves for the
benefit of your race, for the welfare of
humanity.
Within you lies indomitable power.
Only thinking, “I am nothing, I am
nothing”,youhavebecomepowerless.
And what are you doing? Even after
learning so much, you go about
the doors of others, crying, “Give
me employment”. Trampled under
others’ feet doing slavery for others,
are you men any more? You are not
worth a pin’s head!
You are thinking yourselves highly educated. What
nonsense have you learnt? Getting by heart the
thoughts of others in a foreign language, and stuffing
your brain with them and taking some university
degrees, you consider yourselves educated! Fie upon
you! Is this education? What is the goal of your
education? Either a clerkship, or being a roguish
lawyer, or at the most a Deputy Magistracy, which is
another form of clerkship – isn’t that all? Open your
eyes and see what a piteous cry for food is rising in
the land of Bharata, proverbial for its wealth! Will
your education fulfil this want? Never. With the
help of Western science set yourselves to dig the
earth and produce food-stuffs – not by means of
mean servitude of others – but by discovering new
avenues to production, by your own exertions aided
by Western science.
Your career is an opportunity to make a huge difference
to yourself and to the world at large
Swami Vivekananda believed that “career” does not mean begging for employment or seeking
to be gainfully occupied. To him, “career” meant an opportunity for each one of us to embark
upon a glorius journey of mighty contribution - to oneself, to our community, to our nation,
and even to the world at large.
“
“
Swami Vivekananda speaks to you

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Swami Vivekananda at Limbdi
Swami Vivekananda then met Thakore Saheb of Limbdi, Sir
Yashwantsinhji, K.C.I.E, (b.1859, d.1907).
Apart from being an able administrator, Yashwantsinhji was
deeply spiritual and a highly learned and cultured prince with
deep interest in literature, religion and philosophy.
His contact with Swami Vivekananda brought about a great
transformation in Yashwantsinhji and he became Vivekananda’s
disciple.
He also had an opportunity to be in Swami Vivekananda’s
holy company for several days during the summer of 1892 at
Mahabaleshwar. Here they had several discussions on Shastras
which he has recorded in his ‘Nondh Pothi’ (diary).
On May 9, 1892 Thakore Saheb has noted: “I am pleasantly
surprised at Swami Vivekananda’s deep knowledge of the
Shastras. My knowledge of the Shastras has been much
increased through discussions with him .”
Source: The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
(Published by Advaita Ashrama, 5 Dehi Entally
Road, Kolkata 14, India)
Source: Shri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Rajkot, website (www.rkmrajkot.org)
“
What India wants is a new electric
fire to stir up a fresh vigour in
the national veins. This was ever,
and always will be, slow work. Be
content to work, and, above all, be
true to yourself. Be pure, staunch,
and sincere to the very backbone,
and everything will be all right.
We must travel, we must go to
foreign parts. We must see how the
engine of society works in other
countries, and keep free and open
communication with what is going
on in the minds of other nations,
if we really want to be a nation
again. Stand on your own feet, and
assimilate what you can; learn from
every nation, take what is of use to
you.
“
“Believe, therefore, in yourselves, and
if you want material wealth, work it
out; it will come to you. If you want
to be intellectual, work it out on the
intellectual plane, and intellectual
giants you shall be.

The material in this workbook is meant to be studied
along with the material available at gtu.ibecome.in
You will find videos, concept presentations, quizzes
to improve your understanding of the topic.
Workbook printed from I-Become ActivGuide

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