A dream job, a steady growth, a fulfilling career and suddenly zoom goes down the graph with a sudden career break midway – a very common scenario among working women. So what goes wrong or changes that even the most dynamic and career oriented women quit their jobs and go on a sabbatical? Well, the reasons you can gather are mostly related to their personal lives like marriage, relocation, motherhood and even taking care of household chores or an elderly person at home. In India 48% of women give up their flourishing careers abruptly to fulfil other responsibilities, which gain priority at one point in time. Most of these women opt for a break with a vision to join the workforce back after an estimated period of time.
Giving Due Importance to a Personal Cause
Deciding on a break is not always easy and it takes a whole lot of determination for her to arrive at such a decision which has an overall impact on her life. Deciding to make a lifestyle change, risking her career and losing her financial independence is not a simple task but she embarks on this new journey since she is willing to take up new challenges and responsibilities. When it comes to personal commitments she understands her own potential and capabilities and knows that no one can better fulfil the task than her. But, definitely, it takes immense courage to leave a fruitful career and delve into something completely different where her future is unpredictable. However, there is a constant struggle within her – a fight where she has to accept the changes in her life and move forward with her decision without looking back. It is a situation where she faces a struggle between her career aspiration and her personal requirements. In this war between her personal and professional life though she decides to sacrifice her career she knows how to come back with a bounce. In fact, for many women her decision to go on a sabbatical is born out of her sense of duty, which indeed is a contribution towards humanity and a selfless act of sacrifice.
As in the case of Rick Moranis, she said, “Well, I took a sabbatical. I walked away from shooting movies because I couldn’t handle the travel. I am a single parent. I had young kids, and I found that keeping in touch with them from hotel rooms and airports wasn’t working for me. So I stopped”.
Downright Rejection
A woman who goes on a sabbatical is ready to come back with high spirits and geared up to handle all the work pressure and any kind of situation at work. She strikes back with more vigour and zeal but, unfortunately, many a times, rejection hits her hard on the face simply because of the few months or years of sabbatical. Well, what companies fail to notice is that, apart from her experience, she brings back a high reservoir of energy, passion and commitment to prove herself. They fail to realize that, “Starting over is the opportunity to come back better than before”.
In fact, research shows that a women’s brain is equipped for multi-tasking, which allows her to tackle and resolve a number of issues at a time. Such potential is a waste if a woman cannot land a job after her career break. In fact, she should be given the first preference when it comes to jobs as she comes back stronger, is more grounded and acquires the ability to face things in a more mature manner. Such a woman adds a new dimension to the work place with her self-motivation and her aggression and enthusiasm towards work, which arises from the fact that she had been away from work for some time.
Opening Up a New Door
Let us appreciate the contribution of a woman, going for a career break, towards a social and humanitarian cause, her values as a human being and her zeal to climb up the professional ladder once again. Let us be more enthusiastic in welcoming her back when she is ready and decides to join the main workforce. Rejecting her credentials just because of sabbatical leave, for any reason, and not giving her an opportunity to be heard means disrespecting her invaluable and priceless contribution. All we need to do is understand her potential and give her a second chance to establish her career for we never know what she can bring to the table.
Lets partner this drive & support those women who wants to come back to main workforce stream.
Female candidates who are on sabbatical leave & want to join main workforce pl share your cv with us [sarla@pmcpl-india.com]
By Sarla Sharma
Pioneer Management Consultant Pvt Ltd
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