Navigating Negative Portrayals in CVs: Strategies for Success

Does my job profile in CV portray something negative? In my 1-year career, I switched to 4 jobs.

1) In my first job (which was a campus placement), I left because it was 22kms from my home, and driving a 2-wheeler 44kms every day was not possible. Somehow, I managed for 4 months and then left it.

2) Although I didn't aim for a consultancy job, I had to join one because of the recession. I left it after 2 months as I got selected in an MNC.

3) The tenure at the MNC company was again 4 months. I left it because of the misbehavior of my boss and family constraints.

Currently, I am working with an infrastructure company.

When I mention the correct things to any HR, they disqualify me by saying there is no stability. What should be my reply then??

Moreover, working as a freelancer - should that be included in my resume or not?

Hi Mamta,

Shifting so many jobs in a span of 1 year displays your unstable nature. Plan yourself and work for a company for some time. Whether you include it in your resume or not doesn't matter. Just try to be stable.

Wishing you good luck!

Regards,
Narendra

Hi Mamta,

Any prospective employer looks for stability and continuity. Organizations plan for the future, keeping their employees in mind. Lying or stating the truth is not the issue - continuity is. Freelancers need not be included. Try to get a company and stick to it for at least 3 years. Only then should you move on. C'mon, I have seen females traveling double your distance and returning late.

You are looking at the comfort zone - close to home, near your people. That will not take you places if you are really interested in a career. However, if you want to make a mark in the current corporate world, you need to be prepared to work long, late, and away from home. It's an equal world now, and performance and flexibility count.

Sorry to sound brutal - but get to face up with the hard reality if you want to work. Otherwise, do your freelancing and settle down as a homemaker.

@narendra: Thank you, sir. I will surely try for that.

@ramesh: I don't mind working even late nights. However, losing weight by more than 15 kgs is a concern for my parents too. My goal is to reach a renowned position; everything else is secondary. My parents share the same ambition, but not at the expense of your health or... why can't we, as HR, understand that everyone faces challenges in their lives, and there may be valid reasons for leaving a job? I acknowledge the instability, but the issues were genuinely significant. Working in an unhealthy work culture is intolerable for anyone (although I did my best to improve it).

Hi Mamta,

You have to strike a balance between your personal life and official life. Everyone in the corporate world is facing the same challenge. The tough ones take this as a challenge and survive, while the weak disintegrate mentally. Those with passion follow their hearts and find happiness in what they do.

Remember the dialogue from "Baazigar" - "Kuch paane ke liye... baazigar kehte hain."

Follow good food habits, exercise regularly, meditate, and do yoga - you can make it through if you want. It's all in the mind, dear - are you ready to face it? Everyone has a passion, but the sacrifices and discipline are what make them succeed.

Regarding unhealthy work culture - ask the BPO professionals who work at odd hours (the money is good, but health is affected). Check with senior management; they travel across time zones, finish their work, and rush back to catch up with the next assignment.

Check with working mothers - managing their spouses, elderly in-laws, spending time with their kids, cooking, going to the office, and still carrying out domestic chores - ask about their challenges.

It's always been the survival of the fittest, and this holds true forever.

@ramesh: Agreed with what you said. But is it right to reject a candidate on this basis? I believe that if this trend continues, soon everyone will find themselves in a situation of job searching, except for those who are struggling hard for money and compromising themselves.

No, Mamta,

Look at it from the employer's viewpoint. Assume I am an employer – I want people who will work with me for a definite period of time, say 3-5 years.

When I joined the employment market in the 1990s, one of the first lessons I learned was that companies invest in employees by way of training (computers were just starting at that time), and a lot of things were taught. Normally, for us to reach optimal productivity, it took 1 year. The managements of two companies told us point-blank - "if you have worked for 5 years with us, we have recovered all the costs we have incurred on you, with interest. Beyond 5 years, you become a liability as gratuity and additional facilities need to be provided to you."

Getting acclimatized to the organization, the people, the culture, familiarity with clients/customers all come into the picture – which is part of the value the company attaches to you.

I pointed out while discussing on another forum about one of the rejections on an application, my first manager made – one of the prospective candidates had worked 5 years in 5 different companies and had applied for a post. We were helping in readying the profile in hard format - preparing on paper (1995-97). He was analyzing each and every candidate's strengths and weaknesses and sharing his experience of 10-15 years (priceless). He told us this guy would keep on jumping, and there's no point in recruiting him as he would not be stable.

You are talking about 3-4 companies in one year. This guy worked on average one company per year.

Always look at things from the opposite angle - you will know the answer.

Hey Mamta :-)
I loved reading your post. So innocently you put it...

However, a little bit of help for you:

a) You say you quit your first job because of the distance. I am sure you must have been aware that the distance is quite long even before accepting the offer.

This is what recruiters will see: Decision making and long-term goals. Why did you not consider staying closer to your office on weekdays? It's okay since it was your first offer - you did not want to reject, and you did not want to stay away from your family.

Second Job:

You just chose this because you did not want to be jobless.

This is what recruiters will see: You made use of that firm to cover up for your bad time and then move for a better job. I would have suggested staying there no matter what it takes - at least for a year before you moved out.

The MNC company: Boss Misbehaved? (Bad boss!)

What the recruiter would see: What made her work under such a boss? If it were an MNC, you could have very well informed this to your senior-level people and sought a different assignment that would not require you to report to your boss. You will come across these situations in the future too - don't give up because of such people. Just face it and take a call on getting their acts under the light! Come on, they need to move, not you.

And honey, now you are with an infrastructure company... why move??? I suggest - put away the thoughts of moving for an opportunity and try gaining more exposure in the field. It's not about you lying or being true - you will see it for yourself that "You have been changing jobs because of the wrong decisions YOU made, not circumstances." I feel this 1 year's experience is equal to nil experience. So don't consider a change for now... continue with the current company.

Good Luck! Forget about moving jobs now for a while.

Hi Mamta!

As per your experience, you should consider yourself fortunate despite not having stability in a single company, you are still working with an employer.

I believe you should now strictly stick to your present employer. Do not lose this opportunity, but try to maintain your stability with your current employer; otherwise, you will be at risk of having a black spot on your candidature.

You know, the scenario in Delhi is very challenging. Employers in Delhi are stringent and look for stability.

You should thank God for giving you another chance to maintain your stability.

My advice is to make persistent efforts in your present company, do your best, and maintain stability.

One more thing, we are human beings, and our satisfaction never ends. We have to make ourselves feel content with what God has bestowed upon us.

I hope you understand my perspective.

Wishing you good luck for your future endeavors!

Regards,

Jaspreet Kaur

@ramesh: I am really sorry, sir, but I am still not convinced with your point. Rejecting a qualified and skilled candidate is not valid. I agree with all your points that a company invests in grooming employees according to the organizational culture, but I am still not convinced. I don't claim to be qualified; there are numerous examples where highly qualified and skilled candidates switch jobs. If we as HR professionals do not challenge this concept, who will?

@mathew: Thank you, sir. I am not changing jobs but continually exploring new opportunities. If not for me, perhaps I can recommend my friends.

a) Although I knew my first job was quite far, the facility of a cab was supposed to be provided. It was given for the initial few days and then discontinued.
b) My aim is to become one of the board members of an organization (it may sound unrealistic, changing jobs frequently and having that dream). No comments needed. I believe one day I will achieve it. So, I joined but later left for a better opportunity in an MNC.
c) After a little over four months, I realized females there were taking things lightly, maybe they were accustomed to it. However, during the four months, I underwent a lot of stress and tension, affecting my performance. I understood that to achieve my goals, this was not the right environment.

All suggestions and advice are highly appreciated. I apologize if anything I said was incorrect.

Thank you, Jaspreet. I'll surely stick to the current company. This post is just to point out that I was rejected by all the big MNCs I aimed for based on this single factor. As an HR professional, I just wanted to highlight that perhaps by rejecting a candidate this way, we might be overlooking a potential talent. Every candidate deserves a fair chance. The true nature of a person can be assessed during the interview process; why reject them based on perceived instability during a preliminary interview? Who will initiate a change in this pattern? Do we lack the willingness to take risks?

All suggestions and advice are highly appreciated. I sincerely apologize if anything I said was incorrect.

Hi Mamta,

Are you trying to be naive or feigning innocence? Companies always look to see what they can extract from us. Continuity is one of those factors.

Having a good educational background, marks, or qualifications is one of the criteria - longevity, attitude, ability to get along with others, flexibility in doing any job assigned to you, and working with different teams - all these encompass a job.

In my experience, we have seen individuals who are brilliant academically but not flexible in working or taking assignments independently. So, all these aspects are considered before selecting a candidate.

Mamta,

Your quote: "Actually I am not changing jobs, but I keep on exploring new opportunities" means that you are looking to move for better opportunities, right?

I understand that each time you joined a new company, you were faced with obstacles. The obstacles that you mentioned are not new to anyone. You have not said anything wrong, but you need to understand one fact of life - obstacles are permanent; it's just that we have to decide when to overcome them. By running away from obstacles, we can't really see what lies beyond them.

Your aim to be one of the board members of the company is not silly. I appreciate that thought and am sure you will make it! But we need to give that some time. To become a board member of a company, what do you need to do? What specific area are you interested in? Which industry are you interested in? We may not have answers to all these questions at this point in our careers. It is the initial 2-3 years of our careers that will help us understand where we are supposed to be. So, invest your time in these first few years. Forget the past - stop looking for opportunities right now, but focus on what you must upgrade yourself with to be eligible for better opportunities a couple of years down the line.

Boards of Directors require people with sound decision-making skills and the ability to analyze good predictors too. So, take the time to be strong with your decisions. If you make a decision, stick to it to prove yourself right at least for a while. Then make decisions that will help you grow upward, not just horizontally!

I joined this current company exactly 10 months ago. I have excellent opportunities (which pay me more than 5K compared to the current salary) and are in the same location. However, I can't jump and take up another offer - the reason being that simply the fact that it is a good opportunity does not appeal to me and is in no way connected to my long-term goal!

So, keep your long-term goal in mind (Board of Director... at this point, this is your dream... dream further) and then focus on your work.

@ramesh: Thanks for those kind words, but I am not trying to be naive or feign innocence.

@Asha Mathew: First of all, congratulations on successfully completing 10 months in the organization. Secondly, I'll definitely be a part of the organization as long as I can, despite the possibility of the company closing down. Sometimes my decision-making lacks, and sometimes my luck does too. :(

Hi Mamta,

If the company closes and you move and quote this, it will not be a problem. But if 3-4 companies close because of you joining, watch the side of the bed you are getting out of during the interview date and joining date. We all have our good days and bad days. We take it as it comes.

For a person like you, take it 3 months at a time - so 3-4 periods of 3 months make a year. Continue doing this for some time and suddenly you will realize you have worked 3-4 years in a company. Then you will know the nitty-gritty and be advising people like Ash, me, and a lot of others.

The initial period of 2-3 years is the most difficult to stay in an organization. After that, you have plans, commitments, and things move on. That's the way the world goes.

Dear Mamta,
Remember one thing professionals have two manage two families, their work life and their personal life. If there is problem in any front all the things will be disturb.
Let’s face the real fact I have seen the people who are associated with a company for a year or less some of them have genuine reason. Sorry to say you are not able to give any reason for all your steps.Bcoz no one can justify a year is short span.**
Well I will only suggest you to not think abt the job think abt your career before joining any company. Yes there is something negative on your resume try to improve this.
Regards,
Brijesh

Dear Mamata,

Yes, it really gives a bad impact when you present yourself for any job hire. You may correct, in certain instances, that the office was far away from home, people are not good, or the boss is difficult. However, these are conditions that are out of your control. Therefore, try to focus on what is within your control. For example, before heading for any interview, try to gather all the necessary information about the company, the job profile, and the job location. By doing so, the acceptance ratio from both sides, i.e., from the employer and the employee, will increase, and there will be no space for disappointment.

Regards,
Mona

Hi Mamta,

The easiest way for you to get a job is this: say, "I have not worked at all. I completed my education and was supporting the family business for some time, and I am now looking to go out on my own." But, as I pointed out, take 3-4 months at a time in the same job and build up your time in a company.

@brijesh: Thank you, I will surely fill the loopholes.

@Mona: Thanks, I'll definitely correct those mistakes.

@ramesh: I don't hesitate to speak about changing companies. I would prefer not to lie; it's better to be true than to lose the job opportunity.

Hi Mamta,

I wasn't asking you to lie. What I meant is this - with your habit of job hopping, no guy in his senses will recruit you. There are a lot of senior HR personnel (managers, recruiters) in this forum; check with them whether they will hire you. If you are looking for a proper career and have ambitions to strive for, the first thing to change is your attitude. Job hopping won't help. This is the last post I am making on your discussion, as it seems meaningless.

We have a classic saying about rigid people - they don't think on their own, and they don’t want to listen to others. Take your pick on this. I have been blunter in my career. My bosses have checked with me on their communication and all other things when guys around were saying "Yes Boss." They wanted to improve, and I helped them.

I sincerely apologize if I am hurting you. This marks the end of the post and communication with you.

Mamta,

It's been a hot conversation threaded down the line...

If you prefer stating that you have changed jobs 4 times in a year, it will not be that easy for you to get into a good company where they look for consistency. My little advice is that you can state that you have been working as a freelancer in the same field with supporting knowledge and details. Now you are looking to get into a good company for better compensation and growth.

Chill down yaar. I appreciate your level of confidence, but let me remind you that you are just one year into your field. You have a lot to learn and to grow.

Anyway, All the best... ;)

@ramesh: I am really sorry if I hurt you by saying something, but I thought it was a discussion. I am extremely sorry; I was putting forth my point of view. I didn't mean to hurt anybody's perception. I accept that in this forum, there might be more than 100 HR people who might not recruit me, but I cannot lose hope like this. I am sure my way of expressing myself (I mean the words used here) may be wrong, which may have led you to end the conversation with me. However, as an experienced HR professional, I would like to request you to please guide me. I may be lacking something that, with your advice/suggestions, can be improved. I would be really grateful to receive your advice/suggestions. That's all I have to say on my part.

@mahesh: Yes, even I agree. I am a junior, and there are many people like Ramesh & you who possess an inventory of skills. I posted this thread to seek suggestions and improve in areas where I may be lacking. However, things are turning in a different way.

EXTREMELY SORRY TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HURT BY MY POST.

Mamta,

Never mind. Again, don't let yourself down. Mr. Ramesh is a nice person; we met on citehr.com, and I have seen most of his postings. Don't say sorry to anyone. It's all part of life's journey. :)

Dear Mamta,

I am talking from the management side, like I always did.

Stability is one of the major scenarios in selecting Resumes. 4 switchings within one year sounds a high form of instability.

My first question is: Why didn’t you consider all those excuses before you join in each company? Or what type of company study you did before join there? The Distance, Family, Bike, Bus, Boss, Blah, Blahblah, … errrrrrr… We are tired of hearing this.

The last question is: You are trying to find another job, right? That means the 5th one within ONE year! You want to leave the present employer, and you started to circulate your CVs. It was then you were disqualified, right?

By the way, you didn’t say why you want to leave your present employer (Infrastructure Company). Poor People, they don’t know this newly joined candidate is in a hurry to leave the company even before setting up a PC for her. That means, they are paid for their mistake as selecting a candidate with instability!

I am not here with any advice. Ms. Ash Mathew has already come up with the BEST! Please follow her words.

A single doubt: You are member of citeHR from September 2007. What did you learn from these highly motive, sincere, and experienced members of citeHR for last 2 years?? (I am very new to citeHR, and feeling very sorry that I didn’t know about this 2 or 3 years before!)

Finally, during 7 years of my overseas career (forget 5 years career in India), I switched 3 major organizations. Still I am little frustrated thinking about questions of instability from my interviewers! I dare to tell any of them: “new offer from another organization compelled me to move on even I loved my previous job very much!”

“First we make our habits, and then our habits make us.” I didn’t say, Charles C Noble said.

@Mammu: Thank you, sir, for telling me the facts. However, I believe you didn't read my later posts. I have changed three companies, and the fourth one where I am working is closing down due to certain reasons which I would prefer not to mention here.

The answer to your first question is: we were informed that cab facilities would be provided, but due to some company issues, they did not provide them. They kept assuring us that they were arranging another cab for us. I managed for four months, but then my health deteriorated significantly. I wanted to continue working with that firm, but my health condition didn't allow it.

Regarding the next question... the current company I am working with is fully aware of my situation. I have a supportive working environment in this company. As I mentioned earlier, I do not plan to leave this company, but if it closes, what then?

I appreciate what Ms. Asha Mathew has said; it's highly commendable.

Yes, of course, I have been a member since September 07, but I have not been consistent with the site (it remains a fact that it is one of the best sites I have come across).

Hi Mamta,

It has been a hot conversation for the past 3 days. Most of the members of this group have penned down their views and suggestions for you. Now it's up to you to make up your mind and go ahead. Please ensure that the discussion stops here. Just THINK, NOTE, and ACT.

Regards,

S. Narendra Nath
Asst. Manager - QA

Then I decided to post this thread: #post894432 which will help you to enlighten your thoughts!

Best wishes! Hey... be positive, this present company is not going to be closed!

Hi Mamta,

Indeed, your terrible situation has placed you in a situation undesired by many, even those who would understand it. Let's look at the brighter picture of your situation. Firstly, I will be very straightforward in telling you that when searching for a job, one must determine if it would suit you within a certain timeframe (let's say 1 year). Psychologize yourself: Am I ready for this, and is my body able to handle these roles?

Secondly, the decision to choose such companies must be balanced by both your personal desire to pursue it and the compensation packages they offer. These are serious matters that require thoughtful consideration as they are basic needs from the hierarchy of Maslow's paradigm. Think of it as a reflection, an open book to understand yourself better.

Thirdly, your ability to withstand troubles and challenges must be handled with maturity. For example, handling shifts and conflicts requires multiple solutions. Involving your loved ones in your job search, job satisfaction, job security, and job adjustments must be considered at all costs.

Though it may be tough, Mamta, I am certain that when you consider these matters, your approach to uncertainties and challenges will be more refined and composed by the end of the day (inshaAllah). My salutations and good luck with your endeavors. Goodbye for now.

Corrected text:
Hi Mamta,

Indeed, your terrible situation has placed you in a situation undesired by many, even those who would understand it. Let's look at the brighter picture of your situation. Firstly, I will be very straightforward in telling you that when searching for a job, one must determine if it would suit you within a certain timeframe (let's say 1 year). Psychologize yourself: Am I ready for this, and is my body able to handle these roles?

Secondly, the decision to choose such companies must be balanced by both your personal desire to pursue it and the compensation packages they offer. These are serious matters that require thoughtful consideration as they are basic needs from the hierarchy of Maslow's paradigm. Think of it as a reflection, an open book to understand yourself better.

Thirdly, your ability to withstand troubles and challenges must be handled with maturity. For example, handling shifts and conflicts requires multiple solutions. Involving your loved ones in your job search, job satisfaction, job security, and job adjustments must be considered at all costs.

Though it may be tough, Mamta, I am certain that when you consider these matters, your approach to uncertainties and challenges will be more refined and composed by the end of the day (inshaAllah). My salutations and good luck with your endeavors. Goodbye for now.

Here, I would like to make it clear on one topic: put yourself on the other side of the table. If you have received a similar profile to yours, would you like to call that profile for an interview? If so, then decide for yourself what you have to do.

Here, you can make a decision. I can only suggest that where you are currently working, try to continue there for some more time to gain stability in your resume before seeking a change.

Changes only help a person gain more knowledge and improve. I would like to say that "Success is not a matter of chance but of choice." Initially, you made a mistake in choosing your first job and it affected your career due to family and health reasons. "The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man's determination." You may have made a decision before accepting your first offer.

Regarding your second job change, you left because of your boss. Instead of leaving the organization, you could have followed what Ash Mathew suggested in the same email: "To be conscious that you are ignorant of the facts is a great step to knowledge." You could have tried to understand what your boss knows, but you focused only on your boss's ego. Remember, "Leaders are ordinary people with extraordinary determination."

Champions are not made champions in the ring; they are simply recognized there. They are recognized when others start following them everywhere out of curiosity.

I can only suggest that if you want to lead yourself, use your head. If you want to lead others, then use your heart.

Please do not misunderstand me for saying all this. I just want to explain that people need a goal to galvanize them. You should do the same.

I agree with Ash and Ramesh's comments. All the best for your bright future.

Dear Mamata,

Can you please let me know what you have studied and what your career goals are so that I can focus on that and provide appropriate suggestions? I am waiting for your immediate response or feel free to revert back for any clarification.

Thank you.

Wow! What a hot thread!!

All participants know that Ms. Mamta was wrong in her decision-making. There are plenty of free advices being given. She has already received the best one.

@mammu; how do you find the time to write such lengthy comments during work hours?

Hi Mamta,

I agree with Mr. Ramesh's opinions. If I were to consider your point of view, I might have changed jobs five times in the year 2008-09. My boss assigned me to five different roles within just one year to test my patience and loyalty to the company in various situations. I began with the Placement Cell, then moved on to Training & Development, followed by supporting HR coordination, then Auditing, and finally coordinating with Rajasthan Placement.

For the past five months, I have been traveling throughout India, spending 25 days of each month on the road. Despite all this, I have not considered leaving my job.

Thank you,
Parul Sharma

I feel one year of experience is equal to nil experience. So, don't worry and continue with the current company. Best of luck.

Dear Mamta,

If I have understood your query correctly, you'd like to know how to achieve a better success rate in interviews.

Job stability is definitely an important criterion for prospective employers when recruiting. However, it is not a defining one unless there is nothing else to back up in a potential candidate's resume.

In my opinion, your failure has more to do with your inability to convince a prospective employer of the value you can bring to the organization and the level of competency they can expect from you.

I don't think it would be a good idea to include freelancing unless you can convince the employer that the experience and exposure you gained have helped hone the skillsets necessary for the advertised position.

Please customize your bio-data depending on the job description and remove any irrelevant portions that may not support your case.

Once in front of the interviewer and this question comes up, you must try to reassure them at all costs of your ability to deliver.

Do not upset the apple cart by blaming anyone for changing jobs, including your previous boss! However, you can attribute certain changes to conditions beyond your control.

For example, in your first job, you can explain that you were initially assured a cab service by your former employer, but due to a management decision, it was later withdrawn. The daily long-distance commute took a toll on your health, leading you to seek a job closer to your residence.

Furthermore, at an early stage of your career, you were in the process of identifying the right career path, which explains the subsequent frequent changes.

Regarding your current job, you may convey that you are comfortable with the role. Unfortunately, the company is undergoing a tough phase, and with the possibility of retrenchment looming, you are compelled to seek a change to fulfill financial commitments and avoid the uncertainty.

You need to highlight your strengths and specific skill sets that match the job offer.

Most importantly, you should convey that you are now more focused and eager to find a long-term opportunity in a stable environment conducive to individual learning and growth. Your decision to apply was based on your belief in your ability to deliver as per the job profile.

Hope this helps!

Warm Regards,

Satya

Dear Mamta,

After attainment of a certain level of KSAs and developing competitive capabilities, selection or rejection becomes only a matter of probability. If a so-called stable applicant can clear 7 out of 10 interviews, then a so-called unstable one may have a strike rate of 1 in 20. There is a misconception that HR people know the best about fitment from an attitude perspective. There are a few stereotypical models that are preferred by selectors who can hardly think out of the box.

So in your cases, after you are really convinced that you have cutting-edge KSAs and capabilities to do justice in the desired role, the two things you need to focus on are how you can deliver a decent return on investments for potential employers and how you can help maintain a low risk-to-reward ratio for the employer. If the metrics and figures go your way, then I believe that you have a one in twenty chance to strike the target.

Hi,

I'm sure this is a very informative thread for all the readers, and I feel good about Mamta and how lucky she is to be getting such a nice bunch of advice.

I feel I can get help and resolution for my problems. My name is Arti. I have just completed my MBA in HR and have five years of working experience in different multinationals. The last company I worked for was Yatra.com, and I left because of MBA exams. My reason for doing an MBA was to get away from call center jobs and their unusual shift timings, which have become very difficult to cope with due to my health issues.

Now, my question is where should I work because due to the global recession, I am not getting any break in any good company as an HR executive, and nobody is considering my call center experience as well.

Secondly, what I am getting at present is either a call center job or an HR consultancy firm... What should I do? I really don't want to join a consultancy just for the sake of joining or because of the recession and later regret my decision. I also don't want to join a call center due to family commitments.

What should I do? How can I stay idle as well? Please advise.

Waiting for your advice. 🤔🤔

Dear Aarti, the first step should be an exhaustive SWOT analysis. The second thing needs to be drafting a mission and vision statement. Although some details have already been revealed by you, you need to put together all pieces of your professional life before letting your profession change its orbit. The process may sound simple, but it will not deliver results until it achieves a high degree of complexity and detail. The past of professional life may be an obstacle in many cases, but rarely does it become a handicap. So first, do a detailed self-analysis, understand the surrounding landscape, and then make a launch. Again, it sounds simple, but once this process is started, it will take several hours and days to complete.

Hi Mamta,

I was going through all the posts in this forum. You were quite honest in your points. Seniors gave their suggestions and that absolutely holds true.

I would also like to add something here. Though I am also a fresher like you, I have changed companies three times in a very short time.

I was selected in one of the leading IT companies through campus placement. I joined that company as I didn't want to be jobless after education. I applied for a job in one of the core companies and left the IT company in 23 days.

In another company, after joining, I found that the company was very unprofessional. In the meantime, I received a call from another well-known company. I got selected there as well. The interviewer asked me a question, "You left the first company in 23 days, and you have been working in the current company for only a month. How can I trust you not to leave my company in a short period, and how long will you continue?" I replied, "As long as I am satisfied with the company, I will continue to work. What matters is job satisfaction. It's in terms of the work I do, the responsibilities I get, the respect I receive, the compensation, and the overall environment. So, as far as leaving your company is concerned, it all depends on the company." I have recently completed a year with that company and am still happily working there.

What I am trying to say is that there are many companies and recruiters that freshers tend to leave for better opportunities, whatever the reason may be.

As a youngster, we have to think positively and fight for what we want.

Regarding getting a new job, I am sure you will find one and it will be better. However, you have to make the right decision when joining a firm. Don't join a company just because you are currently unemployed. Wait until you find a job that meets all your requirements. I know it's tough to find ideal jobs as ideal jobs don't exist in this world. Remember, "To survive in society, you can't change society; you have to change yourself."

We have to be mentally tough to deal with all kinds of people. You can't expect everyone to take care of you. Actually, I also had a colleague like the one you mentioned, a "Bad Boss." He never explained things to me and left me to do the work when I was new. He harassed me a lot, said a lot of things, and even abused me. Everyone in the organization is fed up with him. However, after some time, I realized that's just his way of behaving, working, and communicating. I learned things on my own and now I don't seek help from anyone. It takes me more time, but I do it on my own. Now, I appreciate that guy, although his behavior remains the same.

Here, I am trying to convey that you need to give everyone time before concluding whether they are a good or bad boss.

I would like to add something more:

Try to ignore people you don't like.

I am sure you must have some hobbies; enjoy them.

Do things you like. It will make you feel relaxed and enjoy your work.

If you don't have a boyfriend, consider having one. Just ensure he is a positive thinker. Sometimes, a boyfriend or girlfriend is needed to keep you positive.

That's enough for me now; my fingers are tired.

Best Regards,

Hi,

I'm sure this is a very informative thread for all the readers and feel good about Mamta, how lucky she is to be getting all these nice bunch of advices.

I feel I can get help and resolution of my problems. My name is Arti. I have just completed my MBA in HR and have five years of working experience in different multinationals. The last company I worked for was Yatra.com, and I left because of MBA exams. My reason for doing an MBA was to get rid of call center jobs and their unusual shift timings, which have become very difficult to cope with due to my health issues.

Now, my question is where should I work because due to the global recession, I'm not getting any break in any good company as an HR executive, and nobody is considering my call center experience as well.

Secondly, what I'm getting at present is either a call center job or an HR consultancy firm. What should I do? I really don't want to join a consultancy just for the sake of joining or because of the recession, and later regret my decision. I also don't want to join a call center due to family commitments.

What should I do? How can I stay occupied as well? Please advice.

Waiting for your advice.

Hi Arti,

Gosh! I posted your own post while trying to reply... apologies for the faux pas.

From what I have observed on this forum, those who are quite clear in their queries generally tend to elicit a better response.

Coming back to your query, the reason cited for doing an MBA is a little vague. Generally, an MBA is a value add or a career booster. The entire program is structured to lend direction to one's career aspirations.

Let's assume you may have wanted to break the monotony of a typical call center job and hence pursue a professional course to help you get a better opportunity. But what I am trying to understand is why you chose to specialize in HR. Was it out of interest, or was there any other motivation? Also, was it a full-time MBA or part-time? Besides, was there any placement service offered by the Institute?

Let's assume for a moment it is part-time or a correspondence course; then, it will be a little dicey to convince prospective interviewers about the career break.

Once you have answers to the above, the next step would be to do an honest self-appraisal that should encompass the various roles you have undertaken so far in your professional career. Highlight the various achievements in the different roles you've undertaken, the decisions that guided your job changes.

Believe me, you will gain enough insight about your own inherent strengths. Besides, this kind of analysis will help you identify the skills compatible with your area of interest.

I am not quite sure about your previous job profiles. It would certainly help if you could provide an outline of what your responsibilities were and what kind of functional exposure you've had in the past 5 years.

HR is a vast subject, and there are many areas that you can end up in, depending on your experience and qualifications: recruitments, compensation management/payroll, compliance, training and development, employee engagement, performance management, career counseling, consulting, strategic HR, cross-cultural management.

To start, generally, freshers get into recruitments and then gradually move into other areas of HR depending on interest and ability. Or you can gain exposure to various payroll tools and enter as a Payroll Executive and then move up the value chain.

Always keep a long-term goal and don't look for immediate results.

Warm Regards,

Satya