Arjumand Banu is relieved. She has finally bagged the job of her dreams, a goal that had remained elusive to her for years.
“I have often had to either take a break from my career or keep changing jobs as my husband had a transferable job. I have worked in several companies and that definitely does not look good on a resume as employers assume that I lack stability and might leave their organisation in between. This went on for nearly 10 years,” says Bengaluru-based Arjumand, currently employed as a human resources executive with a firm in Technopark.
There are many women who have been through a similar experience. Many of them opt to take a break to get married or to start a family. But they find it a Herculean task to return to the workplace, irrespective of their experience prior to the break in their career. Also, even if they were to get a placement, they often have to make compromises regarding job profiles, roles and remuneration.
Limna Salim
Take the case of Limna Salim. She was working as a project manager when she quit her job to join her husband in London. However, she was determined to resume work at the earliest. “Since I am a SAS (Statistical Analysis System) programmer, I began looking for an opening in the same domain when our kid turned one. But it was not easy. Eventually, I got an opening at my previous company itself, but I had to settle for the basic salary because of the three-year gap. Nevertheless, I took it up because I wanted to restart my career,” she says.
New area of work
Ramadevi Ramanathan was a home-maker for nearly six years after she resigned from her post with an insurance company in Chennai. When she started job hunting, she had to take up an entry-level position. “It is disappointing when your career plans go awry!” says Rama.
Ramadevi Ramanathan
It was the same with Mini Sunil. Polymer science and rubber technology have little to do with automotive infotainment. But Mini, a graduate in the former, had to come to terms with the new field to ensure that she had a job after the break. “Those three years were so frustrating that I felt that my life was doomed! I tried applying for a bank job as well. Finally, what came in handy was my MBA degree. I was adamant about getting a job. Although it took time for me to fall into the groove, the job mattered. It is about standing on your own feet. Society values us when we have a job,” she says.
Mini Sunil
For Shilpa Othayoth, the challenging part was getting the right job, in spite of several opportunities in the market. An Internal auditing and compliance management professional who holds an “ISO Internal Auditors Certification”, Shilpa resigned from her job to improve her profile and for better career prospects. “But it took several months to get the job I was looking for. The wait was a torture. I dread taking another break for any personal reason,” she asserts.
Shilpa Othayoth
These employees emphasise that it is important to keep oneself motivated and mentally strong while planning for a comeback into the workforce. “The mind can give up after a point. However, even when I failed to get an opening, I continued to do freelance work. I also took another degree in HR from Canada during the break. You have to be persistent,” she says.
Arjumand Banu
There are other issues as well. The working environment might have changed. They might also feel out of place because they are not updated. “So a candidate shouldn’t stay completely disconnected from her area of work. Also, they might have to deal with the pressure of juggling work and personal life, especially when they don’t have a support system at home,” says Chandra Vadhana R, founder and chief mentor of Prayaana Labs, a career support mission for women.
Sankari Unnithan, CEO of Timetronic Management Consultants Private Ltd, which has been recruiting staff for tech companies, points out that things are looking bright for women employees, for there has been a rise in the number of women candidates being recruited. “Companies now target diversity and inclusion. So there are opportunities for those who’ve been on a career-break as well. Therefore, it is imperative to have at least the basics right because we have seen that many women fail to clear even the initial assessment. Also, they should be willing to look for other options if they can’t cope with the changes in their domain,” she explains.
Rama, for instance, has improved upon her credentials over the last eight years. “I volunteered to do marketing because I knew I had a flair for that. That has paid off. Having a job is about having an identity and not about proving anything,” she says.
Dealing with the hiatus
* Use the break effectively. Try to do bridge courses related to the domain you have been handling. Join communities in the field and keep yourself updated. Never sit idle if you are planning to rejoin your work place.
* Be confident and stay positive. Keep you spirits high. Pursue a hobby or a passion or indulge in extra curricular activities. Indulge in networking by being part of peer groups or a social impact group. Don’t go into a shell and become reclusive.
* Those planning for a career change should use the phase to prepare for it.
* If you are being offered an entry-level position, don’t accept it if you are unhappy with it. But if that is not a problem, then be prepared to learn from others, including those who are not as experienced as you. Keep an open mind.
* Fix your priorities daily, especially if you have to balance your home and profession. That is an art in itself! Ensure that you have multiple support systems in case of an emergency
(A fortnightly column on life in tech street)
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