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Recently, we ran an article on writing your resume after a career break, with some very useful tips gleaned from HR and recruitment consultants. If you haven’t read that yet, you should. We’re also been covering at Women’s Web the rising interest in flexible work opportunities that allow people to build their work in a way compatible with their personal needs. Mothers are at the forefront of this trend.
But, in the quest for flexibility, it’s important not to forget that no job is just about Flex. Every job is ultimately about matching your skills and abilities to do something that an organisation needs – whether it is answering the telephone or making million-dollar deals.
Recently, I advertised to hire Women’s Web’s first employee (well, second actually, the first being me!) and the specs made it clear that the job would be on fairly flexible terms. With no offense to anyone who applied, it was sad to see the number of women who applied simply stating that they needed a flex job.
But here’s the thing. What I need is a talented writer. What I need is someone passionate about helping women. What I need is someone fascinated by social media. Flexibility is just something the role happens to offer – that is not what it is defined by.
Unfortunately, I’ve received one cover letter and resume after another telling me very little about any of these skills or interests, but stating that the applicant needs a flexible job in order to care for her children. Please don’t get me wrong – I am not one of those who believe that women ought to hide their motherhood to get ahead in their careers. Not at all. I applaud every woman who does a fantastic job of this dual responsibility.
But ladies, do remember – even if you’re looking out for a flex job, it’s still a job. With responsibilities just like a “regular job” – except that you may not have to sit at a desk 9 to 5. Companies will hire you only if they see what you bring to them. Don’t tell the employer why you need the job – show them why they need you!
p.s. For all who applied with relevant credentials and work samples, we’ll be getting back to you soon – thank you.
Founder & Chief Editor of Women's Web, Aparna believes in the power of ideas and conversations to create change. She has been writing since she was ten. In another life, she used to be read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
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What I loved was how there is so much in the movie of the SRK we have known, and also a totally new star. The gestures, the smile, the wit and the charisma are all too familiar, but you also witness a rawness, an edginess.
When a movie that got the entire nation in a twist – for the right and wrong reasons – hits the theatres, there is bound to be noise. From ‘I am going to watch it – first day first show’ to ‘Boycott the movie and make it a flop’, social media has been a furore of posts.
Let me get one thing straight here – I did not watch Pathaan to make a statement or to simply rebel as people would put it. I went to watch it for the sheer pleasure of witnessing my favourite superstar in all his glory being what he is best at being – his magnificent self. Because when it comes to screen presence, he burns it, melts it and then resurrects it as well like no other. Because when it comes to style and passion, he owns it like a boss. Because SRK is, in a way, my last connecting point to the girl that I once was. Though I have evolved into so many more things over the years, I don’t think I am ready to let go of that girl fully yet.
There is no elephant in the room really here because it’s a fact that Bollywood has a lot of cleaning up to do. Calling out on all the problematic aspects of the industry is important and in doing that, maintaining objectivity is also equally imperative. I went for Pathaan for entertainment and got more than I had hoped for. It is a clever, slick, witty, brilliantly packaged action movie that delivers what it promises to. Logic definitely goes flying out of the window at times and some scenes will make you go ‘kuch bhi’ , but the screenplay clearly reminds you that you knew all along what you were in for. The action sequences are lavish and someone like me who is not exactly a fan of this genre was also mind blown.
When Jaya Bachchan speaks her mind in public she is often accused of being brusque and even abrasive. Can we think of her prodigious talent and all the bitter pills she has had to swallow over the years?
A couple of days ago, a short clip of a 1998 interview of Jaya and Amitabh Bachchan resurfaced on social media. In this episode of the Simi Grewal chat show, at about the 23-minute mark, Jaya lists her husband’s priorities: one, parents, two kids, then wife. Then she corrects herself: his profession – and perhaps someone else – ranks above her as a wife.
Amitabh looks visibly uncomfortable at this unstated but unambiguous reference to his rather well-publicised affair with co-star Rekha back in the day.
Watching the classic film Abhimaan some years ago, one scene really stayed with me. It was something Brajeshwarlal (David’s character) says in troubled tones during the song tere mere milan ki yeh raina. He says something to the effect that Uma (Jaya Bhaduri’s character) is more talented than Subir (Amitabh Bachchan’s character) and that this was a problem since society teaches us that men are superior to women.
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