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Archana Deshpande |55 Answers |Ask -Follow

Image Coach, Soft Skills Trainer - Answered on May 11, 2024

Archana Deshpande, the founder of TransformMe Life Skills Coaching, is an image consultant, soft skills trainer and life coach.
She has been working with individuals and corporate organisations for more than 10 years during which she has helped professionals and students improve their soft skills, build confidence and enhance self-esteem.
An engineer from the PDA College of Engineering, Gulbarga, Archana had a successful career at Reliance Communications. But she has always been interested in teaching and training people. So she pursued a postgraduate diploma in teacher’s training at Pune’s Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies followed by teaching assignments in schools at Visakhapatnam and Mumbai.
Archana also holds an international certificate in image consulting and soft skills training from the Image Consulting Business Institute, Mumbai.... more

Asked by Anonymous - Apr 29, 2024Hindi

Hello. I am a 35 year old widow. I have completed B.E and worked in TCS for 2 yrs. After marriage I had a ten long yrs of career break. Due to unexpected demise of my husband, I am strangled with my 6 yr old daughter. I don't know how to look for a job. I am not interested in software jobs. Please guide me. How to proceed. I want to live a respectable life.

Ans: Hi!!

It is very sad that you lost your life partner at such a young age. I know it is going to be tough for sometime. What I do know is that, because you are an Engineer, you have work experience with TCS, it is not going to be as tough as it seems and it will take sometime but you will be earning and living a respectable life!! Take informed decisions and start taking one step at a time towards your goal of a respectable life.

I am a little troubled that you said, "I am strangled with a 6 yr old daughter". You gave birth to her, she is your responsibility, she is totally dependent on you. You do have your daughter as your mate on this journey of life. Children are always a blessing, don't believe anyone who says otherwise. Cherish her and love her. Let the bond between the mother and daughter grow to be beautiful one. After the death of a spouse, people around have this tendency to say things that has an effect on you, just trust yourself, you are 35 yrs old, believe in yourself. You are mother and motherhood gives you a lot of strength, tap into it and move ahead in life for the sake of the little one.

Now to look into building your career, earning money and living a respectable life, here are some options to look into..

1. check with TCS if you can go back, lots of these big companies love it if their previous employees come back to work with them. Look around for a senior, a friend who can suggest the courses you can do now, to get back into the job market
2. you said you don't want to get into software, how about HR or teaching?
3. take a hard look at all your strengths and weaknesses, what you would like to do, get skilled in that area and start looking for the jobs in that area
4. create a goal card, let this always be in front of you. Have goals for every area of your life

Take care of your mental, emotional and physical health!! Look for people you uplift you and give you strength. Stay away from negative people.

Loads of prayers and blessings to both you and your daughter!!

Career17Reply

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Mayank Rautela |238 Answers |Ask -Follow

HR Expert - Answered on Mar 10, 2021

Question by Nagaraju - Mar 10, 2021Hindi

Dear Mayank,I am a BCom graduate with 25+ years of experience in accounts and finance.My designation is manager, accounts and finance.I have worked for reputed companies like Karvy Consultants, Ramky, VLCC Healthcare and others.On March 20, 2020, a few days before the lockdown, I was asked to resign from my job and my salary was paid on the same day.Since then, I have been applying for jobs continuously.I am not adamant about my designation. I am trying for all jobs that relate to my experiences. I have been searching through newspapers, Naukri.com, Monster and various social media but it has been a case of ‘Apply and apply but no reply’.Fortunately, both my kids are working from home in IT companies but being the senior responsible caretaker, I am sitting idle without a job in hand.Can you advise/suggest and help me to solve this problem.RegardsNagaraju U E

Ans:

Dear Nagaraju.

I appreciate your zeal and enthusiasm to continue to work even after a long career and the fact that your children are also working. Apart from what you have been doing, I would recommend these specific steps:

1. Reach out to your managers and colleagues who you have worked in the past as references are still the best way to get a job.

2. Since you have an accounting background, you can also consider working as a freelancer as there are many opportunities for part time gig workers.

3. Explore academics as a career option.

4. Giving back to the society is also very enriching, so do take up some charity or volunteer work.

Career