The most threatening sword of Damocles that hangs above all of our heads today is a two lettered, innocent sounding word ‘CV’. It appears as if one step in the wrong direction will jeopardise one’s future forever. It’s a weighty word though, inspite of the ease with which it can be spelt and said. Say it aloud among a group of college-goers and the atmosphere will be mixed- a pall of gloom on the side of those who feel like their all-important two page document is filled with exaggerated achievements in a painting competition at school, and jubilation and smugness on the side of those who have done eight internships, presented six research papers and published ten. The future is quite secure now, isn’t it? After all, isn’t that what they said? A good, long CV will get me a good job, and a good job means good money and a good life.
We spend our college lives, putting together that document-line by precious line. Don’t get me wrong- I am not saying your CV is not important or advocating rebellion against the established order of things. It definitely is a significant document, both in terms of higher education and employment.
But it’s time we watched what really goes into it. Doing an internship merely because it may add another fancy line to your CV is both redundant and a waste of your time. That piece of paper is meant to be a record of your dedication towards your goals and the ability to work towards them. Therefore, the number of internships you have done and research papers you have published will matter very little if you cannot identify your goals and justify your choices. Saying I interned with XYZ organisation because I wanted another line on my CV is certainly not an option.
Thus, building a CV should not be the only motivation to do anything in college- be it an internship, volunteering with an NGO, or publishing articles and research papers. College, after all, is the perfect opportunity to discover yourself, identify your interests and then pursue them as a career option or course for further education.
Image credits: www.global-workplace.com
Abhinaya Harigovind
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