Is it all about money?
In a career seminar for doctoral students, we discuss various careers. “I’ve heard that industry is all about money. Is that really true?” Raffael asks. “Yes, of course, what else?” I reply with feigned naivety. All organisations have their own criteria for success. In industry, money is the dominant criterion. “What about your PhD supervisor?” I ask. “What is she striving for?” “Publications,” Raffael answers after a brief pause, “what else?”, imitating me on the last two words. When we consider whether an organisation is a good fit for us, we need to know its key success criteria and decide whether they fit us.
However, every organisation also strives for self-preservation. In the worst case, bureaucracy fights against modernisation.
However, don’t jump to conclusions. The success criterion of money does not automatically mean turbo-capitalism or exploitation. Nor should the success criterion of publications be equated with an idealistic pursuit of knowledge. It always depends on how exactly this success is to be achieved in a specific case: with or without consideration for people and the environment. Publications can be just as much a worshipper as money.
“There are other employers besides universities and industry,” Sandra interjects. I agree with her, but I reply that we are making the same observations in other organisations. The public service receives its task – and thus its criteria for success – from higher authorities, such as the ministries. It is about providing a service to the community with taxpayers’ money. So far, so idealistic. However, every organisation also strives for self-preservation. In the worst case, bureaucracy fights against modernisation.
Raffael’s last attempt: “Non-profit organisations. The criterion for success is doing good. What is the negative side of this?” Again, it is the classic self-preservation, which can show its ugly face when NGOs raise donations with sentimental but irrelevant topics.
Understanding potential employers is more work than you might think. But this always leads to discoveries. Idealistic goals may dissolve into nothing. And the goal of making money does not automatically lead to heartless materialism.
This article was first published in Nachrichten aus der Chemie (issue 02-2021). See here the German original.
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