In a recent conversation with a colleague—both of us sailing the same turbulent sea of careerism—we found ourselves grappling with a shared unease: regrets of a past where ambition eclipsed living, and fears of a future demanding relentless upward movement. In this anxious pursuit, the present—rich with beauty and boundless grace—often escapes our notice. We wear economic blinkers, mistaking motion for meaning. Social gatherings become obsolete rituals, pushed aside by the weight of deadlines. Invitations are declined, family ties loosen, and our absence becomes predictable. We retreat into a self-made solitude, cloaked in the nobility of “hard work,” unaware of the relationships and small joys silently slipping away.
The All-Encompassing Logic of Careerism
Careerism sounds beautiful. It promises recognition, success, power and prestige. For many it is the engine of ambition and the path to greatness. Yet at its core it places the career at the centre of one’s existence, systematically prioritising work over other domains of life—ethical values, familial bonds, friendships and even moments of leisure. Our identities become entangled in professional designations, ranks and achievements. Homes turn into office extensions; relationships into appointments; leisure into guilt. Even when physically present, our minds remain occupied elsewhere—trapped in a web of deadlines and performance metrics.
Work has become all-pervasive largely because of the logic of capitalism—a system obsessed with profit, efficiency and competition. Individuals are encouraged to view themselves as products needing constant upgrades: new skills, new certificates, new posts. Social media amplifies this pressure by exposing us to curated versions of other people’s lives. Comparison breeds insecurity. We feel deprived not because we are poor in absolute terms, but because someone always appears richer, more successful or more “productive” than us.
Erosion of Non-Material Values
This mindset erodes non-material values such as kindness, presence, ethics and community. Even love and care begin to carry a price tag. Visiting relatives brings no tangible gain, so we choose to stay away. Relationships are reduced to networking; people are valued not for who they are but for what they can offer. Humans become living résumés—measured in skills and stripped of emotions. The rise of old-age homes is one visible outcome. Caring for parents is no longer a moral obligation but an economic burden. Even the environment is not spared—viewed as a commodity to be extracted, sold and traded. Forests become “resources,” rivers “utilities,” climate a “cost” to be passed on rather than a crisis to be faced. Even the Earth must “perform” for us.
Redefining Success in Education
Educational institutions must rise to the task of redefining success. They should nurture in young minds not just the hunger for marks and placements, but the desire to be humane, ethical and emotionally intelligent. Life is not a ladder to climb but a landscape to explore. Success is not a number but a feeling of connectedness—with others, with nature and with oneself. Our frameworks must broaden the goalposts of education, creating space for critical and creative thinking. Respecting divergence in learning styles and ambitions is not a luxury but a necessity.
In Kashmir, this careerism takes a particular form: the overwhelming fixation on government jobs. This single benchmark for success limits imagination and creates a bottleneck in aspirations. Yet the world offers ample opportunities for those willing to innovate. As Einstein famously said, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.” By setting one benchmark we deny students the chance to discover their own talents.
Careerism may bring momentary recognition, but it risks costing us our relationships, our values and even our planet. It is time we remember: life is far too sacred to be reduced to numbers and ranks. A humane society must measure worth not by designations and salaries but by contribution, creativity and care.
The writer is Master’s in Pol Science, Teacher in Department of School Education. ahmedsameer2135@gmail.com
