Feeling Stuck in My Mid-Career Slump in India – Where Can I Find Real HR Guidance?

Well, I urgently need it at this stage. I am going through a serious mid-career bump/slump in a very odd situation, and I am completely lost in steering it in a steady direction. I am qualified, trained, and experienced... still, here in India, I feel completely stranded.

I would highly appreciate anybody giving me some leads/suggestions on where to find such benevolent HR persons...

It seems they are all too busy finding a perfect match for their corporate clients! Of course, that's where the money/commission is! I understand. They hardly have the patience or give effort to judge it from the candidate's perspective.

Anyway, thanks for your comments, guys.

Please provide your brief problem here. If one wants an answer, then they have to clarify their question first. Until experts understand your question, problem, or issues, no one will be able to help you. Your way of expressing yourself suggests you are feeling mostly disturbed or, the right word may be, in a stage of higher depression. Please provide details; I am sure this community will be able to assist you.

Regards

Thanks for your comment, friend. First of all, it's neither depression nor any kind of disturbance that led me to post this query. It's part of the unfortunate reality that here in India, the concept of a sincere candidate-focused Career-shift Counselor and Guide is virtually non-existent, unless, of course, somebody wants to counsel you to enroll in one of those ubiquitous Management Institutions and Training programs with the promise of a job. If you search the web, on forums like MouthShut and others, grievances keep pouring in from job aspirants who regularly get ripped off to the point of frustration by questionable HR firms whose job posts are available even on all major national job portals. This is reality, and there's no denying it.

Anyway, I still believe there must be some experienced individuals who run dedicated and sincere career-shift counseling services for their candidates by conducting a prudent SWOT analysis, maybe! And that's exactly what I am looking for.

If you know any such high-level and experienced HR counselor, I would highly appreciate your leads.

Regards,

You are right; it's a fact in India. This comes from the difference in the reality of job prospects between the Indian and foreign markets. Being Indian, you should be able to understand the perception that we Indians are used to having with respect to change. We are averse to change to the point of even being negligent about its positive outcomes. My rhetoric is to drive home the point that "Career Shift in India is not looked at in a positive way." You do not come across candidate-focused career-shift coaches because corporations are not willing to buy into this philosophy. What can a coach do if you do not have a field to play on? Please do not get disheartened by my comment because I have gone through such a phase and, by the grace of God, came out of it. I am not a coach, but I can probably share my experience if you provide more information about your background.

Regards

Dear Shan,

You are right; it's a fact in India. This comes from the difference in the reality of job prospects between the Indian and foreign markets. Being Indian, you should be able to understand the perception that we Indians are used to having with respect to change. We are averse to change to the point of being negligent about its positive outcomes.

My rhetoric is to drive home the point that "Career Shift in India is not looked upon in a positive way." You do not come across candidate-focused career shift coaches because corporates are not willing to buy into this philosophy. What can a coach do if you do not have a field to play in?

Please do not get disheartened by my comment because I have gone through such a phase and, by the grace of God, came out of it. I am not a coach, but I can probably share my experience. However, you will have to provide more inputs about your background.

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Dear Friend,

Thank you for your insightful reply. You are absolutely correct. Unfortunately, here in India, we Indians are programmed to be content being a part of the social, political, religious, and even corporate bandwagon. This may be a legacy of our history or our inherently subservient nature. Consequently, research and innovation have plummeted in this country of eminent scholars.

I understand that now I must rely on the grace of God, as you mentioned. However, I am unsure if I will receive it, as I do not follow any religious practices in this country.

Overview of My Situation

Here is a brief overview of how I got stuck: I have over 11 years of hands-on experience in IT, both as a professional in India (as an independent consultant for clients, not within IT corporations) and as an academic outside of India (within western programs, abroad). I hold a Master's in IT and I am also a trained and certified Project Manager and Agile professional. Additionally, I am a western-trained educator/trainer. Unfortunately, my recent experience (5+ years) was as a successful academic outside of India.

To advance my career as an academic, I require a PhD (a minimum of 3 years part-time study). However, to progress as an IT professional/PM, I need industry-level experience within a corporate environment. A recent academic background is not favorable for a professional role in the IT industry. I feel trapped.

I strive to stay updated through professional development activities, within my means, and I also contemplate pursuing an MBA once I determine the industry/function I wish to serve. While I am not opposed to pursuing a PhD, I am unsure if academia will accept me with just an MS and without publications. The risk is that if I pursue a PhD now without clarity on my career path, I may become further disconnected from the industry and potentially end up as a disheartened scholar after 3 years—an outcome not desired in the industry.

Seeking Advice and Opportunities

What should I do? Does my 11 years of commitment to IT hold no value now, simply because I did not conform to the Indian norms early in life? Are there any other relevant industries/functions where I could explore opportunities, aside from Sales and ITES/BPO sectors?

I seek advice from experienced HR professionals. I am in need of a dedicated career counselor with whom I can openly discuss and explore new opportunities to overcome this obstacle as soon as possible.

Thank you in advance for your comments and suggestions.

Regards