Is Previous Work Experience An Issue Here?

kamalrajkumar79
Hello seniors,

Thank you all for responding to the queries of members in time...

I have a serious concern regarding my career...an issue which has been bugging me day in and day out...

I am an MBA with 10 years of experience in content management [print and web] - content development, editing, proofreading, web publishing, image editing, etc.

I have worked for three companies during these 10 years. The second company is the world's second largest market research company and the third is a British media giant [I am currently working here]

My previous [first] experience:

The first firm I worked with is a really small firm - a home-bases proprietary publishing firm [sole proprietorship] that publishes almanacs [a book on Hindu religious traditions, etc] and travel guides [for four different cities] in our regional language [Telugu]. On and off, it published travel guides in English. I worked here was Editorial Assistant from October 2002 to August 2007 [almost 5 years]. The publishing firm was not registered under the companies act, 1956. However, it was registered with Registrar of Newspapers of India [RNI], which is like a license to run a publishing firm.

Is my experience working for quality checking and proofing books in regional languages a bane when applying for big companies in web-based content management in English language.

I wonder what would HRs of big companies, especially in content industry, view my previous experience. I mean, content is content end of the day...may it be any language. I already have proven my expertise at English language having worked 5 plus years of experience in web content management for global giants - the second company is the world's second largest market research company and the third is a British media giant [I am currently working here]

Please advise me...

Kamal Raj
V.Raghunathan
Hello Kamal Raj,
When you attend any interview the interviewers look for 'Experience' of their interest.
As long as you meet their requirement, there is no issue.
However if the areas shown as 'experience' is outside their interest then they
would not take the total number of years into account.
Suppose you have ten years experience with 6 years in the field of their interest and 4 in some other, then they would count you as a 6 year experienced person.
Again if 6 years is inclusive of current period then it is relevant.
However if 6 years is not recent then also it can be an issue.
V.Raghunathan..................................... .Navi Mumbai
kamalrajkumar79
Hello Raghunathan ji,
Thank you very much for your response/advice. From what you said, I think it's a good news for me...You actually relieved me of my very worry...
My case:
Out of my nearly 10 years of experience:
* 4 years + 10 months are into content development/editing /quality check in regional language [telugu] - THIS IS PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE - 2002 - 2007
* 5 years go into web content development+editing+management+publishing, etc in English [and that too with two of the top players in their respective fields] - THIS IS THE RECENT/CURRENT 5 YEARS - 2007-20012
Pls advise...if I am right....
Thank you once again n cheers,
Kamal Raj
V.Raghunathan
Hello Mr Kamal Raj,
It is good to know that your current experience is an area where you would like to pursue.
In every job that we do we learn something - say several behavioral aspects like
team work, leadership, communication etc.
This way you can say that every experience gives you some learning and experience
that will be useful in your career.
One thing we learn in life is no job is mean and so every experience gives us a positive learning.
There is a famous quote of Martin Luther King, often described as the BLACK GANDHI,
"Even if you are sweeper, sweep the road in such a way that you excel in that".
The actual quote refers to a Multifarious genius like Michelangelo.
If he had swept the road,imagine how well he would have done it.
One has to be devoted like that.
with best wishes
V.Raghunathan..................................... ..............Navi Mumbai
kamalrajkumar79
Hello Raghunathan ji,
Wow!!!
Your advice opened my eyes....your quote amazed me....Let me admit...you are the best mentor I ever met in my life...In fact....you have swept away that dust of worries all over my current career path in just one go....one clean swipe...You are right...I am now positive and confident enough to present my previous experience to prospective employers in better way...
These are the times when thanks seems like too small a word...but I am left with no words...but to say...Thank you very much...
Wish you best of luck to you in all your endeavors...
Regards,
Kamal Raj
saiconsult
Yes, Mr.Raghunathan. Very aptly said. What ever you do, you do it with total commitment and even if it is a small job also, it gets noticed.
B.Saikumar
HR & Labour Law Advsior
Mumbai
bodhisutra
Apply for the jobs and then gauge the response.
We can think and analyze forever whether the water is too cold or just about ok but the real input would only come when you dip your feet in it.
Sindhu Nair
Kamal, I believe you have received replies that will put your mid to rest. I am was in corporate HR till recently, and my experience is that as long as you recent experiences are pertaining to our required skill-sets, you are good. All the best to find your dream profile.
saswatabanerjee
Personally, I don't think regional language experiance is a negative.
However it needs to be seen a different context.
Your total experiance is 10 years. You are trying for work in the same level.
When the hr guys compare your experiance with others at same level but with English language through out, you lose out.
Try focusing on your current job Ratan than the total experiance. I think you need to project differently
kamalrajkumar79
Hi Saswata,
Thank you very much for your response. You are right - in fact you have hit the bull's eye here...
"When the hr guys compare your experiance with others at same level but with English language through out, you lose out."
This is what I am worried out...could you please advise me on how better could i project it so I could be considered at par, if not really ahead, of others with experience in English content throughout their career...
Regards,
Kamal Raj
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