I restarted my career back in 2013. I had a break of 4+ years.
When I attended an interview at a big noted MNC I cleared all technical rounds with ease, but in the manager round, I was asked "Why do you want to join work again after a break, you will have to compete with juniors” and was asked most irrelevant questions.
By Bhanushree
I am Bhanushree, I have been working for 8 + years after restarting my career.
I restarted my career back in 2013. I had a break of 4+ years. It was not easy back then as there were no programs like Back to Work for Women, and companies were not interested in taking back a woman who is on long breaks.
The HRs would call for a job position, and on knowing that I was on a career break, they would hang up saying right now they would prefer someone who is working, cannot consider someone on a break.
When I attended an interview at a big noted MNC I cleared all technical rounds with ease, but in the manager round, I was asked "Why do you want to join work again after a break, you will have to compete with juniors” and was asked most irrelevant questions. I was put on "On Hold" and I felt extremely demoralized. I did not want to give up, also my child was too young then, and I could not spend much time learning and preparing, so I joined a weekend course on automation so I could drop my baby at my parents’ house on weekends. I would wake up at 4:00 am to study and learn new technologies required for getting back to my job, along with attending to housework and taking care of my child. I had to put in all the effort that was needed.
I got a job as a contract employee for a salary that was less than half of what I used to get in 2008 before quitting my job. I did not care, as for me, more than money, getting back into the track mattered, within 11 months I got hired by the same employer, my salary was corrected accordingly, I was recognized for my good work, and since then no turning back.
