What do you do for a living? One of the first questions you’re often asked by any stranger you meet for the first time, and a question that can be complex in what kind of impression you leave on them. Like it or not, I think it’s fair to say that your job is effectively a measurement stick in how others judge what kind of person you are. We all know the stereotypes different careers carry.
If we’re asked this so regularly, what is the effect of other people’s questions on how we define ourselves?
We are truly social beings and inevitably affect and are affected by others in our environment. Being a social worker or a teacher in one place and time can carry a whole bunch of values and stigmas. I think the views of others can, as dependent on our peer group, play a large part in defining our aspirations in our careers as well as the decisions we make in life at a wider level.
In my limited experience, I’ve been lucky enough to travel and work abroad and see ‘how the other half lives.’ Having grown up and lived in one place for the most of my life, I found it interesting and surprisingly refreshing to live and work from a different perspective; an essential part in my trying to be ‘well-rounded.’
The topic of the ‘Big OE’ has been done to death but I think for good reasons. Having known friends before and after their travels overseas, I think there have been significant differences in their worldview both personally and professionally.
Being more open-minded and making decisions with more awareness and maturity to some larger context are some benefits noticeable in the short term. Over a longer period of time, it will be interesting to see the differences (or sameness) in career trajectories and achievement of life milestones.
Terence Teoh
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