Feeling Stuck Due to Career Gaps: Can I Still Move Forward in My Career?

Hi friends, I am Rishi. I am new to this forum. Nice to see a forum like this helping many people around.

Career Dilemma: Seeking Advice

I have a very serious problem in my career. After I completed my MBA in marketing in August 2002, I was encouraged by my father, an ex-Manager in public sector banks, to apply for bank PO exams. So I started preparing and applying for many banks but could not succeed. I spent 1 year and 4 months trying for POs and then joined a multinational banking BPO as a customer care executive in January 2004. I worked there from January 2004 to January 2007 [3 years]. I then went to Ireland for an International MBA in January 2007 itself. However, I came back to India in April 2007 as my mother fell seriously sick and was bedridden. I took a letter from the college there stating that I was leaving for personal reasons. I started looking for jobs but couldn't get any. I then got into a leading MNC as a research coding analyst [field related to marketing but in research]. I worked there for 2 years [September 2007 - September 2009] and then joined another MNC as an associate analyst, where I am still working.

Addressing Career Gaps

After my MBA, I have a gap of 1 year and 4 months, and after I came back from Ireland in June 2007, I have a gap of 4 months. This means I have a gap of 1 year and 8 months in my career. Please let me know how to handle this gap. I think these days companies are very strict about career gaps and background checks. While I have no issues in the employment and education side, I have concerns about my career gaps.

Top companies like CAP GEMINI and GALLUP have opened up very good consulting roles in my field. However, I have a gap of 1 year and 8 months in my career. Please let me know what to do. I don't have the courage to apply.

Someone, please help me. Can I move forward in my career? Please tell me...

Regards,
Rishi

From your post, it is evident that you seem to be anxious, confused, and possibly depressed due to circumstances beyond your control, resulting in a career gap that is affecting your career plans. While the career gap is a reality, you should not think of the worst-case scenario and refrain from applying for jobs you believe are best suited for your background, experience, and long-term prospects. Therefore, my immediate response is that you should evaluate your suitability for the openings and apply for the job.

At the same time, you must prepare well to answer the queries arising from the career gap. I am confident that an enlightened HR professional will not be biased in their evaluation simply because of the career gap. How you present your case in response to questions about the career gap will be crucial. It is also possible that your application may not get shortlisted, but do not jump to the conclusion that it is solely because of the career gap. Similarly, even after what you believe is a good interview, if you do not get the appointment, it should not be misconstrued as a fallout of the career gap.

What is critical for you is a clear focus on your goals, a proactive response to the opportunities you see, and self-belief. This should be supported by persistence, discipline, and a never-say-die attitude.

Best Wishes

Thank you, ACT. You made a point there. I don't know why the professional world is so tied up with the so-called strings. I mean, not everyone has a super track record; some may get a job in the beginning, and some may not. Why is this an issue when I am being upright about all my credentials? In this case, honesty doesn't pay off, and neither does faking. Why is the corporate world giving hell to talented prospects like many of us?

Regards,
Rishi

As rightly pointed out by Mr. Jacob, please do not think of the flip side straight away. Things, as they are, can be easily explained. The blessing in disguise is that the gap is a thing of the past. Mostly, no one would rake up an old issue. Even if someone does, please be candid, and it would be appreciated. The interviewer would be more interested in knowing how you would be useful to him as of today. Forget the past and plunge ahead. A good future awaits you.

With good wishes,

V. Raghunathan Navi Mumbai