The influence of Communism on career development and education in Romania.

The national economic policy, through its centralized planning system, also led to a departure from the common gender stereotypes of career choice. Higher numbers of college admission slots and greater opportunities for large city assignments made engineering an especially attractive field of studies. Because separate college admissions were offered to male and female applicants, many female students took advantage of the educational slots available in electronics, construction, heavy machinery, or metallurgic engineering, for example (I. Ulescu, personal communication, May 3, 2005).

At the universities, the curricular content placed a strong emphasis on theoretical knowledge and minimized the value of practical applications and experiential work opportunities within the educational experience. According to Ludusan (2003), "the entry exam competition accentuated students' study efficacy and performance, it increased their level of knowledge. However, the educational system failed to offer the experiential tools needed for the practical integration of that knowledge" (p. 10). The highly specialized college curriculum carried the informational load of a combined bachelor's- and master's-level education. With the lack of practical experience, however, graduates faced a great disadvantage when they attempted to "translate" these studies to Western educational standards. With the downfall of the Communist regime and abrupt opening of opportunities to work and study abroad, necessity to establish an international curriculum of university studies emerged with unprecedented power (Ludusan, 2003).

The following case study provides an example of a career development path shaped by the Communist influences of contemporary Romania. A structured interview was conducted to investigate the career choice process, the meaning of career and the definition of success, and real or perceived risks and obstacles throughout the career path.

Case History

Flaviu, a 42-year-old Romanian man, described the familial context in which he grew up as rather atypical of a Romanian family of the 1970s and 1980s. "Families are small in Romania, most of them of no more than two children, and both parents have to work in order to make the ends meet," he explained. This was not the case in Flaviu's family. His father worked as a military engineer, and his mother stayed home and raised the children. The oldest of three children, Flaviu remembered vividly his parents' material difficulties due to the limited income, but he emphasized that their message has always been about achieving the highest education rather than making money.

In my extended family, work has never been considered just means to

put bread on the table. It was important what you were doing. The

lesson was that you choose to do in life whatever you liked to do.

Money was going to come along the way.

Flaviu's subsequent evolution stayed true to this model, although he never forgot his parents' financial struggle and put effort into ensuring that his career choices would lead to financial comfort as well.

Flaviu's initial career dreams and later career development were set in motion by an early childhood memory: watching the moon landing.

I was 6 years old when it happened. Space flight was the most

fascinating thing of my early years and keeps being as such even

today. This was a thread along which my choices of reading, doing,

and dreaming were built on.

Indeed, reading and dreaming flourished together. As soon as he learned to read, Flaviu spent most of his free time surrounded by adventure and science fiction books. It was a way to travel and to learn about interesting things, places, or times where he could not be; it was a way to access parallel realities that were out of reach.

In his desire to become an astronaut, the young boy first turned his attention toward physics. Later on, during his high school years, Flaviu studied astronomy and became increasingly more interested in philosophy. "It completed the perspective on how the world works," he explained.

I was really fascinated with philosophy and still am. I hoped that I

would have my contribution to the history of thinking and mankind

through writing. This was my first option in high school. On the

other had, I was interested in science and technology.

Strongly inclined to choose philosophy as a career, Flaviu researched the opportunities and became "painfully aware" that being a philosopher in Romania translated into being a teacher of Marxism. "I wouldn't have really made a living, and I would have hated myself for doing it," he explained.

Flaviu's parents strongly discouraged his choice of philosophy as well. Although their message about a future career had always been supportive of Flaviu's talents ("Choose whatever you like to do!"), soon he understood that the suggestion was defined by the realities of the Romanian job market, characterized by a very restricted range of careers. At the end of high school, Flaviu was resigned to follow in his father's footsteps. He applied to the military academy and studies in aerospace electronics. The choice was also spurred by the family's financial difficulties, because the military was the only institution offering free housing, free food, and free books for the first 3 years of studies. Flaviu passed the entrance exam into college with the highest grade and was valedictorian at graduation. His academic success is even more remarkable considering that his achievements are entirely attributable to his intelligence and hard work; Flaviu's parents never were able to pay for any private tutoring, a standard for many students in the very competitive educational programs.

After college graduation, Flaviu was assigned to a helicopter base outside the city, in a maintenance job that came in deep contrast with his skills and aspirations. For 2 years, he commuted more than 5 hours a day, 6 days a week. After the 1989 revolution, Flaviu transferred to an institute closer to home and worked in research and development. "It was exactly what I expected engineering to be, making the dreams come true," he said. Identified by his ability to assimilate complex information and transform it into innovative solutions, Flaviu was selected to be part of a special research project team to work in Israel. The 5 years spent there were described as the climax of his career in aerospace engineering, but the return to Romania led to a series of disappointments. The research and development department he had worked for now seemed stagnant, and the lack of real projects became frustrating. "I did not want to stay there and just wait for retirement," Flaviu commented.

I gave it up, because I wanted to do something with my life. I

looked around for 1 year. Initially, I tried to look in aerospace,

but it was useless, because there was nothing. I tried to find a

place where I can leave a trace, and I can have the satisfaction of

accomplishing something.

Four years ago, Flaviu decided to embark on a new career in business development. He described it as a "completely upside-down thing" from what he did in the military.

You have to make your own money; nobody pays you from the budget.

And you can lose your job tomorrow if you are not making money for

the company. There is no safety net there. It was very challenging.

On the other hand, it was appealing, because I could make a

difference by bringing programs to life.

Flaviu enjoys challenging situations that call on his ability to quickly assess resources and take appropriate actions.

The decision to change careers came with personal sacrifice. Flaviu had to give up not only a military career of 18 years but also an early retirement. He will have to retire at 65 years of age instead of 55. Understandably, he got apprehensive about "dropping everything behind and going into uncharted waters." Yet, as he described, the most difficult part of the change does not pertain to what was left behind or to what is to come; it has to do with the everyday demands that the new career places on his time, leaving him exhausted.

Asked about his present satisfaction level, Flaviu answered that he is not sure if the present career is more satisfying than his past career in avionics software. He added, though, that it is certainly more rewarding than the time right before he left the military.

I'm talking about making a difference around me, not necessarily in

my life. I'm talking about leaving a mark. It is also a difference

in my life, obviously. I work long hours, and I am better paid. But

the biggest difference is about making things happen around me. I am

no longer frustrated.

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