Career or security ??

Yesterday, the Indian Space Research Organization , conducted a nation wide exam for recruiting new scientist. Even though I didn't attend that exam, I saw that many of my friends and colleagues are writing it.

I was surprised to see so many people applying for a job position, its not just for ISRO, a lot of applies for government jobs. DRDO, PSC, USPC, you name it. During this time of economic slow down, lot of my colleagues, class mates and friends are writing exams for banks and other institutions. If you ask anyone of them, the replies you will get is pretty much the same.

• Life will get settled yaar... once you get a goverment job...
• I can go to my native place and settle down with my family.
• I can't manage my family while I am on this job.

As I have observed, a middle class person, will always think of getting a job which offers security under all circumstances. But what makes me think, is that, with this under statement of job security, what happens to his or her career ?? Of course, once you decide to settle down, marry someone, have some kids, security is one of your major concerns. But don't you want to be more in life, than just someone in the crowd?

Some of my friends have asked me before, why am I not writing any of these exams?

I have been in software industry for about three years now and I chose this as my path since I was in school. Computers used to fascinate me a lot. You can call me as techno geek or a nerd. But I would rather stick on this path rather than sacrificing my career dreams over job security.