Whenever I m interviewed,the interviewer asks me abt my gap which was due to my marriage.pls advise.
From Pakistan, Karachi
1From Pakistan, Karachi
Usually employers can understand the gap on marriage and maternity grounds. You have not mentioned your earlier experience. Tell interviewers I want to restart my carrer a fresh and ready to take all efforts.
From India, Pune
From India, Pune
Thank u
I m an MBA Marketing with 3.5 year experience in admin n overal 6 year exp excluding internships,I got married last year in first quarter after dat I wanted to giv sometime to myself,I started searching jobs in Jan 2013 but since than I hav nt been received interview calls except 2-3,where the interviewer asked abut my gap I told him honestly about my marrige n that I hav been searching job for the last couple of months but havnt found any suitable job yet,they didn't call.me for second interview,nw I m studying further as I.want ,I m doing to change my career,currently I m doing dhrm then will do chrp,pls tell.me how to handle gap during my interview as interviews take the gap negative.
I don't need a job I need a career here in my country they prefer forces people in.admin field so there is no scope for female.
From Pakistan, Karachi
I m an MBA Marketing with 3.5 year experience in admin n overal 6 year exp excluding internships,I got married last year in first quarter after dat I wanted to giv sometime to myself,I started searching jobs in Jan 2013 but since than I hav nt been received interview calls except 2-3,where the interviewer asked abut my gap I told him honestly about my marrige n that I hav been searching job for the last couple of months but havnt found any suitable job yet,they didn't call.me for second interview,nw I m studying further as I.want ,I m doing to change my career,currently I m doing dhrm then will do chrp,pls tell.me how to handle gap during my interview as interviews take the gap negative.
I don't need a job I need a career here in my country they prefer forces people in.admin field so there is no scope for female.
From Pakistan, Karachi
Hi
Obviously you are facing a cultural obstacle. The problem seem to be not really connected with your marriage and the 18 months gap alone.
Not being in Pakistan and having never visited, I can only comment from secondary information .....
Marketing requires huge amount of travelling, exposure and interaction with outsiders. From what I know of Pakistan, that is not suitable for women, specially married ones. (Culturally, I mean). While Karachi is probably as cosmopolitan as mumbai, the cultural mindset of employers (or more likely the recruiters) seep in. So, given a choice of other male candidates available you are not likely to be selected for sales job.
However, there will be specific jobs even in marketing, which requires women. For example in marketing of a chain of beauty saloons or women health and hygiene products. You need to identify them and try for those positions. Actually, you should have taken these factors into account when choosing your MBA specialisation.
Companies prefer to take ex-army candidates for admin positions mainly because of their discipline and organisation skills. In india, army candidates are preferred for security and admin, but in admin, they would generally be in sr. Management posts. Other posts are filled by normal employees.
Anyway, your approach of studying and acquiring new skill sets is the right path. Identify what is needed in the job market, prepare for those.
Again, not knowing the cultural neunces it's difficult to figure out what to say. I think the best would be to state that you wanted to ensure that you are settled into your new married life and then look for a new job and that you wanted to ensure that professional life is not adversely affected by marriage and that the comoany you work for should not suffer. Now you are ready and sure so you are looking for opportunity.
Best of luck
From India, Mumbai
Obviously you are facing a cultural obstacle. The problem seem to be not really connected with your marriage and the 18 months gap alone.
Not being in Pakistan and having never visited, I can only comment from secondary information .....
Marketing requires huge amount of travelling, exposure and interaction with outsiders. From what I know of Pakistan, that is not suitable for women, specially married ones. (Culturally, I mean). While Karachi is probably as cosmopolitan as mumbai, the cultural mindset of employers (or more likely the recruiters) seep in. So, given a choice of other male candidates available you are not likely to be selected for sales job.
However, there will be specific jobs even in marketing, which requires women. For example in marketing of a chain of beauty saloons or women health and hygiene products. You need to identify them and try for those positions. Actually, you should have taken these factors into account when choosing your MBA specialisation.
Companies prefer to take ex-army candidates for admin positions mainly because of their discipline and organisation skills. In india, army candidates are preferred for security and admin, but in admin, they would generally be in sr. Management posts. Other posts are filled by normal employees.
Anyway, your approach of studying and acquiring new skill sets is the right path. Identify what is needed in the job market, prepare for those.
Again, not knowing the cultural neunces it's difficult to figure out what to say. I think the best would be to state that you wanted to ensure that you are settled into your new married life and then look for a new job and that you wanted to ensure that professional life is not adversely affected by marriage and that the comoany you work for should not suffer. Now you are ready and sure so you are looking for opportunity.
Best of luck
From India, Mumbai
Hello,
Cultural parameters (if any) apart, you are facing a REAL situation.
You have not committed any crime in marrying anyway!
If the receiving employer has any problems married female candidates (even if for illogical, reasons) as a candidate one can not do much about converting such mindsets. Such mindsets are available in many countries sanctifying male dominance! The society evolves rather slowly to accept and digest the fact that a female employee no less than a male employees. Yes, you have struggle ahead. You have to be patient, establish a strategy, refine your approach (try and be a little more diplomatic and not just professionally competent, virtually demanding consideration) and keep at it.For a starter I suggest as under:
1) Prepare a resume which is gender neutral in approach. That you are a female can and should NEVER be hidden but your approach should be gender neutral!
2) Always make a covering letter that is indirect and more suggestive of deserving consideration of your candidature as a professional and not as male/female candidate.
3) Start taking interests in professional bodies-attend seminars and programmes or whatever-primarily to extend your network of professional associates.
4) Get involved in Management Training Institutes as a Faculty, Student Counselor or in the institutes Placement activities, if any.
5) Find a Mentor (a senior working Professional or a Consultant. Be an understudy (without expecting any remuneration, if need be) for six months to a year.
If I think of any more ideas I will share.
If you have more questions, do not hesitate to raise them, on the Message Board or through a Private Message (for which provision exists on CiteHR anyway).
Till then, cheer up.
Regards
samvedan
October 25, 2013
-------------------------
From India, Pune
Cultural parameters (if any) apart, you are facing a REAL situation.
You have not committed any crime in marrying anyway!
If the receiving employer has any problems married female candidates (even if for illogical, reasons) as a candidate one can not do much about converting such mindsets. Such mindsets are available in many countries sanctifying male dominance! The society evolves rather slowly to accept and digest the fact that a female employee no less than a male employees. Yes, you have struggle ahead. You have to be patient, establish a strategy, refine your approach (try and be a little more diplomatic and not just professionally competent, virtually demanding consideration) and keep at it.For a starter I suggest as under:
1) Prepare a resume which is gender neutral in approach. That you are a female can and should NEVER be hidden but your approach should be gender neutral!
2) Always make a covering letter that is indirect and more suggestive of deserving consideration of your candidature as a professional and not as male/female candidate.
3) Start taking interests in professional bodies-attend seminars and programmes or whatever-primarily to extend your network of professional associates.
4) Get involved in Management Training Institutes as a Faculty, Student Counselor or in the institutes Placement activities, if any.
5) Find a Mentor (a senior working Professional or a Consultant. Be an understudy (without expecting any remuneration, if need be) for six months to a year.
If I think of any more ideas I will share.
If you have more questions, do not hesitate to raise them, on the Message Board or through a Private Message (for which provision exists on CiteHR anyway).
Till then, cheer up.
Regards
samvedan
October 25, 2013
-------------------------
From India, Pune
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