How I Restarted My Career After A Six-Year Career Break
Women face almost insurmountable barriers and bias in technology, which makes it tough to return to work. Meet Srivalli K. who was able to restart her career after a six-year gap. Here’s how VMinclusion Taara helped her:
I quit my job to take care of my family responsibilities and hoped it would be a short break. But before I knew it, my short break became a six-year hiatus. I knew I had to restart my career sooner than later because the longer I stayed out of the workforce, the more difficult it would be to return. I began applying for jobs aggressively, constantly checking my emails with earnest hope. I had never envisaged that my job search would get this difficult after just six years away from the field. I had read somewhere that more than 45 percent of women in IT take a break after 5–8 years to focus on other responsibilities and most of them never return to the workforce.
Employers who interviewed me focused on my break and I felt there was a false perception for women like me. Prospective employers felt that I couldn’t be a reliable long-term investment. Every day I eagerly checked my mails, but I was left disappointed. But it was my parents and brother who lifted my spirits. They pushed me to keep trying and not lose hope. There were times when I felt anxious with the interviews and preparations, my parents understood I needed time to figure this out. They never stopped believing in me, no matter what.
But I don’t regret my decision to take a career break. I traveled to different countries and explored diverse cultures. I needed that break for me. I wasn’t in a rush to go anywhere, I lived in the moment. I learned new things about myself, discovered my newfound love for baking. I was impressed by how baking could be so therapeutic. I loved the time I spent, and I was experimenting by baking new delicacies each day. I hit the pause button for good. Being away from corporate culture helped me develop new interests. But on the other hand, meanwhile, there was also a dent in my professional career. My experience as a Java developer wasn’t relevant anymore.
I knew that India has the largest number of female graduates in STEM, but that many of them dropped out of the workforce. It was disheartening to see women who could be of great value to the industry, and someone with talent, skills were unable to return to the workforce. Unfortunately, women like us get relegated to a pool of untapped resources. I found out that according to LinkedIn, upskilled Indian professionals with digital skills are 20% more in demand.
There was an increasing realization to upskill first and be equipped with the latest digital technology skills. I connected with friends and former colleagues to try and find the right upskilling course for me, one of my friends introduced me to VMinclusion Taara. A few factors about the program stood out for me:
1) It was completely online and self-paced, which meant that I could learn at my own pace.
2) It was free. Don’t get me wrong, I could pay for an upskilling program. But the fact that VMware was offering these courses free of cost, showed me that the program was not doing this for profit but to genuinely address the growing gender gap in the industry. It felt good to know that someone was thinking about women like me.
3) The courses were VMware certified and I would be a VMware certified professional once I completed the course- something that carries great significant value in the industry.
I signed up for the program without any hesitation and it was the best decision of my life. The courses offered by VMinclusion Taara are designed to upskill you for an extraordinary economic environment shaped by uncertainties. I felt alive and realized I wasn’t alone in my struggle. I could resonate with other women pursuing the Taara program who faced similar doubts and concerns. It was the emotional support system that we found in each other, that gave me confidence. I have already secured a job with a reputed MNC firm as a software engineer. Through this journey, I have realized that all that you need to change one’s life is some determination, positivity, and a helping hand. After all, If I could re-enter the workforce after a six-year break with the support of VMinclusion Taara, I’m sure you can do it too.
1) It was completely online and self-paced, which meant that I could learn at my own pace.
2) It was free. Don’t get me wrong, I could pay for an upskilling program. But the fact that VMware was offering these courses free of cost, showed me that the program was not doing this for profit but to genuinely address the growing gender gap in the industry. It felt good to know that someone was thinking about women like me.
3) The courses were VMware certified and I would be a VMware certified professional once I completed the course- something that carries great significant value in the industry.
I signed up for the program without any hesitation and it was the best decision of my life. The courses offered by VMinclusion Taara are designed to upskill you for an extraordinary economic environment shaped by uncertainties. I felt alive and realized I wasn’t alone in my struggle. I could resonate with other women pursuing the Taara program who faced similar doubts and concerns. It was the emotional support system that we found in each other, that gave me confidence. I have already secured a job with a reputed MNC firm as a software engineer. Through this journey, I have realized that all that you need to change one’s life is some determination, positivity, and a helping hand. After all, If I could re-enter the workforce after a six-year break with the support of VMinclusion Taara, I’m sure you can do it too.
