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Job Wise
Busy in between jobs? (View Comments)
Unnati Narang
Posted On Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 06:48:51 PM
The word ‘siesta’ always strikes at the mention of the word ‘sabbatical’. Inspecting both independently, it is discovered that while siesta is a short nap taken in the early afternoon, a sabbatical refers to a rest from work, often lasting from two months to a year. Sabbatical leave with a definite purpose can be very enriching
Take the case of Deven Shah. He started working at the age of seventeen, setting up his own stock investing and advisory business. After over a decade of working in various capacities, Deven is currently on a sabbatical ‘to seek deeper self-realisation and decide the next phase of growth in his life and career’. Deven explains, “During this break, I get to spend loads of time with my family and myself. I attend industry events, read a lot and also write down my various business ideas. Besides, I have achieved many personal goals such as completing a ten day Vipassana Meditation Course and pursuing other fitness activities.”
Ask Deven about the career benefits this break is likely to entail and he has a long list with him, “It gives you time for contemplation/research and reduces uncertainties if you are planning a big change into your career. It can help you think out of the box and give you ideas for approaching the same work in a better way. It gives you time to experiment without someone else questioning you. Whether you succeed in your experiments or fail, you will surely learn invaluable lessons. It definitely rejuvenates you and gives you renewed energy for the next stint.”
Reasons
A person may be in between jobs, not only voluntarily during a sabbatical but also involuntarily due to loss of job. Reasons can vary. Pruthvi Arakere Nanjappa, Associate Vice President, Recruitment, Ness Technologies India, explains, “One of the tenets that employees seem to follow these days is that ‘we are loyal to profession, not to companies’. Employees are quite high on self fulfillment and professional advancement. Hence, some of the reasons for leaving a company may be pursuit of higher education, pursuit of personal interests like world tour, hiking, sailing etc., inability to progress within the ranks in an organisation, disagreement with managers and relocation due to family reasons. Individuals should reflect on the past year and assess what needs to be done. Invest in self improvement. Update your resume and apply for jobs. Enquire with friends, fellow professionals and develop networks to find out about job opportunities.”
In order to be able to easily resume one’s career post the break, one must invest in skill development. Mr. E. Balaji, CEO, Ma Foi Management Consultants (MMCL) feels, “People can use the break to pursue a short term course, learn a foreign language, work for a social cause etc. The gap will be beneficial if it is utilised for learning and development. Companies evaluate what the person has done during the break. A long gap and inactivity may prove to be a deterrent in landing good jobs and negotiating good salaries for the candidate. One has to use the time to do what one always wanted to do and could not do due to work pressures.”
For someone who has just started a career, it can be much more difficult to take up a job after a long break. Many companies might not be open to hiring a person with inexplicable gaps on his CV. Also, during the break, it might become very difficult if the person does not have financial backups. Deven advises, “Make sure you have made adequate financial provisions so that there are no monetary issues when you are not earning your usual income. Always add some buffer to your financial provisions, if you think you would need ‘x’, keep aside ‘x + 30%’ as a buffer for emergency fund!”
With these pointers in mind, you can prevent your sabbatical from turning into a siesta. Experts suggest activities for individuals, who are in between jobs, are:
Invest in your health - Akshat Gupta - COO and Director Powerhouse Fitness Limited explains, “Use the break to headstart a healthy lifestyle. Join a gym and follow a fitness regime, which can be easily modified once work is resumed. Figure out the physical and mental demands of your future work environment and accordingly enroll in fitness classes like yoga for concentration, running for stamina, outdoor activities for an overall health development, and mediation for a balanced mind.”
Learn a language - Sandeep Nulkar, Chairman and Managing Director, BITS Private Limited explains, “Join a short duration intensive language course (6 to 16 weeks long). Explore new cultures by learning a new language or get in touch with your own roots by re-learning your own mother tongue. One can learn a language not only by taking a ‘gap’ but also when in between jobs or when in a job.”
Experience Ayurveda - Harshjeet Kuroop, MD Birla Kerala Vaidyashala, explains, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Keep yourself occupied by pursuing a hobby and honing your skills to get away from saturation in the present jobs, stress, problems, ego clashes, etc.”
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