Hello,
I am 32 year old. I have done graduation in commerce & PGDBM from one private institute. Due to some reason I wasn't working since last 4 years as I was raising my daughter. Wherever I went for interview I was asked, why you didn't work for last 4 years, even if I answer the interviewer gives an expression as if this gap is not valid. One of the interviewer told me on face that which century you're living? Nowadays women are so career oriented that they don't stop working regardless of any event take place in their life, and in your case, just because you got married and had daughter you stopped working, if I hire you and what if tomorrow you have other child will you again leave the job and stop working?
It was so hurtful & my confidence really went down on hearing this. I was tired of giving interview & getting rejected based on my career gap. In addition, I was in urgent need of job & money. So I thought bpo would entertain my gap and will also provide good salary. So I went for interview at bpo & was easily selected. The ambiance and atmosphere of this company is really great. Its a very organized mnc bpo. For the first time I am feeling that I am working in corporate. Its totally different experience working in big corporate. BUT there is one thing I am unhappy about & its bothering me a lot. People here are much younger than me. Sometimes they comment on my age. Some of them are 12th pass and only 18. So I feel that am I at the wrong place or am I over educated for this position? I feel like I am too old to work here and I can't relate to people here.
But I have no option. I at-least want to spend one year here. And I badly need money to fulfill mine and my daughter's needs. But I feel very inferior about my age and jealous of this young people that they got this opportunity in very young age while when I was their age, bpo wasn't so popular..
Do you think is it normal to work at bpo at 32?
From India, Ahmedabad
I am 32 year old. I have done graduation in commerce & PGDBM from one private institute. Due to some reason I wasn't working since last 4 years as I was raising my daughter. Wherever I went for interview I was asked, why you didn't work for last 4 years, even if I answer the interviewer gives an expression as if this gap is not valid. One of the interviewer told me on face that which century you're living? Nowadays women are so career oriented that they don't stop working regardless of any event take place in their life, and in your case, just because you got married and had daughter you stopped working, if I hire you and what if tomorrow you have other child will you again leave the job and stop working?
It was so hurtful & my confidence really went down on hearing this. I was tired of giving interview & getting rejected based on my career gap. In addition, I was in urgent need of job & money. So I thought bpo would entertain my gap and will also provide good salary. So I went for interview at bpo & was easily selected. The ambiance and atmosphere of this company is really great. Its a very organized mnc bpo. For the first time I am feeling that I am working in corporate. Its totally different experience working in big corporate. BUT there is one thing I am unhappy about & its bothering me a lot. People here are much younger than me. Sometimes they comment on my age. Some of them are 12th pass and only 18. So I feel that am I at the wrong place or am I over educated for this position? I feel like I am too old to work here and I can't relate to people here.
But I have no option. I at-least want to spend one year here. And I badly need money to fulfill mine and my daughter's needs. But I feel very inferior about my age and jealous of this young people that they got this opportunity in very young age while when I was their age, bpo wasn't so popular..
Do you think is it normal to work at bpo at 32?
From India, Ahmedabad
8
Dear Naiti,
What you are doing in life or should become, is no one's headache. Even if they decide to make it so, poor them !
Any hiring manager doesn't decide, whether you should work in the sector/role or not. For your information, the first interview that I attended to become an HR , I was told I will never become an HR , because I don't have it in me ! Yes, I was as demoralised and heart broken, just as you are. Its been more than 10 years now, I have earned my living and made a career, all thanks to HR !
There is something called 'fitment' , as you and I know it, that requires a talent to be a right-fit, so that the company needs to spend minimum time training the talent and make them productive at their earliest.
Learning curve is what you will understand, far better than what I can explain, all thanks to your blessed motherhood.
Please identify the companies you would want to contribute your efforts to. That will share all that you need to include in your offerings to be hired by them.
Finally to your point, i.e. working with people who have lesser education or age, here's one experience of mine that I wish to share. I worked for one of the largest German Publishing Firm. They would hire talent with diploma , i.e. not 10+2+3 but 10+4 . This batch of talent would work for Typesetting. Ph.Ds from Germany would team up with them for copy-editing and other tasks. Yes, they worked in the same team , had the same working space and reported to the same reporting manager.
My point is, with your education and maturity , only you can add the value what others won't. Keep your search till you find the organisation where you will be valued . We know you will make a great career. Proud of your spirit, wish you all the best !
From India, Mumbai
What you are doing in life or should become, is no one's headache. Even if they decide to make it so, poor them !
Any hiring manager doesn't decide, whether you should work in the sector/role or not. For your information, the first interview that I attended to become an HR , I was told I will never become an HR , because I don't have it in me ! Yes, I was as demoralised and heart broken, just as you are. Its been more than 10 years now, I have earned my living and made a career, all thanks to HR !
There is something called 'fitment' , as you and I know it, that requires a talent to be a right-fit, so that the company needs to spend minimum time training the talent and make them productive at their earliest.
Learning curve is what you will understand, far better than what I can explain, all thanks to your blessed motherhood.
Please identify the companies you would want to contribute your efforts to. That will share all that you need to include in your offerings to be hired by them.
Finally to your point, i.e. working with people who have lesser education or age, here's one experience of mine that I wish to share. I worked for one of the largest German Publishing Firm. They would hire talent with diploma , i.e. not 10+2+3 but 10+4 . This batch of talent would work for Typesetting. Ph.Ds from Germany would team up with them for copy-editing and other tasks. Yes, they worked in the same team , had the same working space and reported to the same reporting manager.
My point is, with your education and maturity , only you can add the value what others won't. Keep your search till you find the organisation where you will be valued . We know you will make a great career. Proud of your spirit, wish you all the best !
From India, Mumbai
Hello Niati,
Its never too late for anything in life! At the management level, what matters is your output for the organisation. If the management is happy with your work, never let any other undue assumption affect your work temperament. If you happen to visit other BPOs in Mumbai, Pune or Bangalore, you may be surprised to see retired/senior citizens (both male & female) working happily in BPOs.
People in our society have a tendency to worry more for others rather than worrying for their own problems and there is no way one can change them so it would be better to let pass such talks through Ignore mode and remain unperceptive about it.
Best of luck and Keep it Up.
From India, Rajkot
Its never too late for anything in life! At the management level, what matters is your output for the organisation. If the management is happy with your work, never let any other undue assumption affect your work temperament. If you happen to visit other BPOs in Mumbai, Pune or Bangalore, you may be surprised to see retired/senior citizens (both male & female) working happily in BPOs.
People in our society have a tendency to worry more for others rather than worrying for their own problems and there is no way one can change them so it would be better to let pass such talks through Ignore mode and remain unperceptive about it.
Best of luck and Keep it Up.
From India, Rajkot
Dear Niati
Thanks for sharing your experience. Hope you benefited from the response.
I would like to add; with reference to your first point; that the society in general, and HR is a reflection of it to some extent; is not appreciative of individual differences, nor they can understand that an individual may be having his own priorities, in terms of how he or she would lead his own life.
Taking a break of a few years is perfectly legitimate; and in fact desirable as during one's active life one can use it in a way one wants - either for self-renewal, attending to family responsibilities, pursuing a hobby or vocation etc. Questioning such breaks or casting aspersion on the motive or attitude of a person is not proper.
On the second issue; again it is a case of being different. You should emphasize to your young colleagues that they should begin accepting diversity and have more tolerance towards people who are different from them. This shall broaden their outlook towards life and make them more resilient, and inculcate positive attitude. Do not go about correcting their attitude by sermonizing or criticizing them; but by being with them and being participative in interactions..
Finally, do not let this discourage you, affect your motivation or drive you into your shell. You are performing your assigned job well and that should give you the confidence and strength to face the world. After a few years, you will look back with pride on how you successfully overcame all the obstacles in your path.
Warm regards.
From India, Delhi
Thanks for sharing your experience. Hope you benefited from the response.
I would like to add; with reference to your first point; that the society in general, and HR is a reflection of it to some extent; is not appreciative of individual differences, nor they can understand that an individual may be having his own priorities, in terms of how he or she would lead his own life.
Taking a break of a few years is perfectly legitimate; and in fact desirable as during one's active life one can use it in a way one wants - either for self-renewal, attending to family responsibilities, pursuing a hobby or vocation etc. Questioning such breaks or casting aspersion on the motive or attitude of a person is not proper.
On the second issue; again it is a case of being different. You should emphasize to your young colleagues that they should begin accepting diversity and have more tolerance towards people who are different from them. This shall broaden their outlook towards life and make them more resilient, and inculcate positive attitude. Do not go about correcting their attitude by sermonizing or criticizing them; but by being with them and being participative in interactions..
Finally, do not let this discourage you, affect your motivation or drive you into your shell. You are performing your assigned job well and that should give you the confidence and strength to face the world. After a few years, you will look back with pride on how you successfully overcame all the obstacles in your path.
Warm regards.
From India, Delhi
Hi
I am so young to answer you this question. In this society people may comment you although you are young or old its only depend upon us whether to take or not. Mam just remember one thing its your bread and butter. Don't listen to their words and feel jealousy you just concentrate on working. Things and conditions are not same for everyone.
Have patience and work their till the time you feel fine and start looking for another job also.
yes that's true you took a gap for four years. It means you have to start again. Now a days companies are not considering even for a break of 6 months. This things will happen to you, you just have patience and faith in god. Definitely you will get a good job or if you are comfortable just acquired some skills and start a business.
GOB BLESS YOU.
From India, Pune
I am so young to answer you this question. In this society people may comment you although you are young or old its only depend upon us whether to take or not. Mam just remember one thing its your bread and butter. Don't listen to their words and feel jealousy you just concentrate on working. Things and conditions are not same for everyone.
Have patience and work their till the time you feel fine and start looking for another job also.
yes that's true you took a gap for four years. It means you have to start again. Now a days companies are not considering even for a break of 6 months. This things will happen to you, you just have patience and faith in god. Definitely you will get a good job or if you are comfortable just acquired some skills and start a business.
GOB BLESS YOU.
From India, Pune
hi naiti
There is very old saying that "man proposes god disposes". So it means we cannot have everything in life. But yet life offers us amazing opportunities sometimes direct and sometimes indirect. You are blessed with a daughter. So being a mother is a beautiful experience and seeing her growing up trust me nothing more valuable than that. You are one of the few lucky people who did not have the burden of job and parenthood together. So you should not feel bad about the four years you had to sacrifice for bringing up you daughter.
Now when you have started working after a gap of four years you should be happy about yourself. Don't bother yourself about such things as they wont do any good to you. Be focused on your job, gain experience and try to get promoted to a senior level.
From India, Jaipur
There is very old saying that "man proposes god disposes". So it means we cannot have everything in life. But yet life offers us amazing opportunities sometimes direct and sometimes indirect. You are blessed with a daughter. So being a mother is a beautiful experience and seeing her growing up trust me nothing more valuable than that. You are one of the few lucky people who did not have the burden of job and parenthood together. So you should not feel bad about the four years you had to sacrifice for bringing up you daughter.
Now when you have started working after a gap of four years you should be happy about yourself. Don't bother yourself about such things as they wont do any good to you. Be focused on your job, gain experience and try to get promoted to a senior level.
From India, Jaipur
Dear friend
... That is life. dont get put off you have a long way to go. in todays world u can start any time, but have determination, fortitude, dont get deterred by what your colleagues may say about you, laugh with them. then they will be clean bowled, they r just testing what kind of a guy you are, and if u will buckle.
best .
From India, Bangalore
... That is life. dont get put off you have a long way to go. in todays world u can start any time, but have determination, fortitude, dont get deterred by what your colleagues may say about you, laugh with them. then they will be clean bowled, they r just testing what kind of a guy you are, and if u will buckle.
best .
From India, Bangalore
Dear Naiti
There are two things;
a-A break in service contributes effectively to disqualification;
b- you have a job in he bpo. Please try to adjust there. Please take the age and qualifications on your side and mingle with them as such instead of trying parity with them. As your colleagues consider you elder to them by age and qualifications extend them your support and guidance as and when required.This will make you acceptable to them and vice versa.
Do not think for a change.
S.K.Johri
From India, Delhi
There are two things;
a-A break in service contributes effectively to disqualification;
b- you have a job in he bpo. Please try to adjust there. Please take the age and qualifications on your side and mingle with them as such instead of trying parity with them. As your colleagues consider you elder to them by age and qualifications extend them your support and guidance as and when required.This will make you acceptable to them and vice versa.
Do not think for a change.
S.K.Johri
From India, Delhi
Dear Niati, actually I am neither senior nor that much brilliant to give comment of your question. Although some brilliant members of this site already shared their precious views and comments, I just share my views here which I also believe myself.
A person can make a place beautiful, precious and orthodox, a place can never ever make a person valuable.
Yes, career gap has some ADVERSE effect in today's COMPETITIVE CORPORATE world but If you have COMPETENCIES over others then who cares about age.
So, BELIEVE, CONCENTRATE and GO AHEAD. All The BEST WISHES for U.
From Bangladesh
A person can make a place beautiful, precious and orthodox, a place can never ever make a person valuable.
Yes, career gap has some ADVERSE effect in today's COMPETITIVE CORPORATE world but If you have COMPETENCIES over others then who cares about age.
So, BELIEVE, CONCENTRATE and GO AHEAD. All The BEST WISHES for U.
From Bangladesh
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