What do you do?

Share



When I meet professionals at Conferences, Exhibitions, Meetings etc and ask them "What do you do?" Most of them give me identical responses. "I am a Program Manager at IBM", "I am IIM graduate working as Senior Consultant at J P Morgan", "I am a Software Design Expert at Microsoft".

None of them tell me about the nature of job they do at these Big Brands. Instead they seemed quite proud that they are working with Big Brands. Also while responding with a distinct tone, they will seek some attention and expect me to get impressed by hearing Big Brands.

The problem is not with them responding to the question "What do you do?” it is with the society where they respond. Guy asking the question would like to make a quick opinion about the other person, and so this person responds mentioning Brands. Soon the guy hears "Program Manager" or "Software Design Expert" the respondent is boxed on "Level of Designation", and on hearing "J P Morgan" or "Microsoft" respondent is further boxed on "Level of Brand".

On the other hand, I certainly agree that people should be proud of graduating from IITs & IIMs and working at Big Brands, but having this mindset for a longer period of time can turn these people influenced by the domination of Big Brands. When you attach a Brand to your name, you attach number of years that Brand strived to be successful. Question to be asked here is - "How much you contributed to that success?"

"Are you proud of working at your Company?" is what 95% people will go behind. "Is your company proud that you are working for them?" is the question need to be asked. The day you'll answer to the second question is when you have a value of substance within, and don't need to mention Brands to the question "What do you do?"