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Is it possible to reinvent our careers, follow our passions and love what we do? We tried to find the answers in our weekly Twitter chat for #WomenOnTheMove
Do you feel that you aren’t doing what you want to do? Does the start of your work-week trigger overwhelming feelings of anxiety, sadness, or stress and you lack the passion and motivation on Monday morning? Well, if you’re nodding affirmatively, then you might be stuck in the wrong job.
So what do we do now? Reinvent our careers! How? Is it possible? How do we make a career change when we do not have any experience in the field we want to enter?
Changing careers and reinventing yourself isn’t easy. It might look daunting especially when you’re passionate about a new field with no clearly-defined point of entry. But it’s never too late to reinvent your career because your career growth begins with you. And remember ‘PASSION’ is the key!
On our weekly Twitter Chat we were joined by Entrepreneur Mala Mary Martina who has many accolades under her belt. She is also the author of ‘I Love Mondays‘ published by HarperCollins India that talks about alternative career options.
Read the questions that our readers asked and the crisp & candid solutions that Mala provided. The best two questions won a free copy each of Mala’s book ‘I Love Mondays’.
And the winners are Sugandha Kasliwal (@Officially_Su) and Akshata Bhadranna (akshata_b).
@womensweb @MalaMartina3 Going back to a secure career in banking vs freelancing as trainer/blogger…I am confused. Is that too specific Q?Never miss real stories from India's women.Register Now — Deepali Adhikary (@deepaliadhikary) June 23, 2016
@womensweb @MalaMartina3 Going back to a secure career in banking vs freelancing as trainer/blogger…I am confused. Is that too specific Q?
— Deepali Adhikary (@deepaliadhikary) June 23, 2016
@womensweb @deepaliadhikary Specific is terrific. Why do you want to switch? helps to weigh the pros and cons in both — Mala Mary Martina (@MalaMartina3) June 23, 2016
@womensweb @deepaliadhikary Specific is terrific. Why do you want to switch? helps to weigh the pros and cons in both
— Mala Mary Martina (@MalaMartina3) June 23, 2016
@womensweb @deepaliadhikary and then pick the one that strongly matches your WHY — Mala Mary Martina (@MalaMartina3) June 23, 2016
@womensweb @deepaliadhikary and then pick the one that strongly matches your WHY
@womensweb @MalaMartina3 When applying jobs for in new field online do I need to mention why I am changing careers? #womenonthemove — Vinitha (@vinitha) June 23, 2016
@womensweb @MalaMartina3 When applying jobs for in new field online do I need to mention why I am changing careers? #womenonthemove
— Vinitha (@vinitha) June 23, 2016
@vinitha if you can find a creative way of connecting the new one with your old work Exp, yes, why not:) — Mala Mary Martina (@MalaMartina3) June 23, 2016
@vinitha if you can find a creative way of connecting the new one with your old work Exp, yes, why not:)
@womensweb @MalaMartina3 After being in a niche field for 5yrs,am finding it hard to convince employers that I need/can to do something else — Vinitha (@vinitha) June 23, 2016
@womensweb @MalaMartina3 After being in a niche field for 5yrs,am finding it hard to convince employers that I need/can to do something else
@vinitha@womensweb Most often, d work u do convinces the employer more than a fab CV. A Pilot or internship will help in the new field — Mala Mary Martina (@MalaMartina3) June 23, 2016
@vinitha@womensweb Most often, d work u do convinces the employer more than a fab CV. A Pilot or internship will help in the new field
@womensweb @MalaMartina3 From an employers view- Too many fields/jobs on a resume- dexterity or inconsistency? #WomenOnTheMove — Deepali Adhikary (@deepaliadhikary) June 23, 2016
@womensweb @MalaMartina3 From an employers view- Too many fields/jobs on a resume- dexterity or inconsistency? #WomenOnTheMove
@deepaliadhikary @womensweb yes and no. If ur employers look for diversity, like most startups do. Cud be ur advantage. — Mala Mary Martina (@MalaMartina3) June 23, 2016
@deepaliadhikary @womensweb yes and no. If ur employers look for diversity, like most startups do. Cud be ur advantage.
Our next Q for @MalaMartina3 – We assume reinventing a career means a different industry. Can one find better fit within? #womenonthemove — Womensweb.in (@womensweb) June 23, 2016
Our next Q for @MalaMartina3 – We assume reinventing a career means a different industry. Can one find better fit within? #womenonthemove
— Womensweb.in (@womensweb) June 23, 2016
@womensweb Not necessarily new industry, cud be new profile in same industry. Eg coding to training, in d same org — Mala Mary Martina (@MalaMartina3) June 23, 2016
@womensweb Not necessarily new industry, cud be new profile in same industry. Eg coding to training, in d same org
@womensweb @MalaMartina3 Switched from mainstream advertising to a freelance content writer. How to put these 2 together form a startup? — Sugandha Kasliwal (@Officially_Su) June 23, 2016
@womensweb @MalaMartina3 Switched from mainstream advertising to a freelance content writer. How to put these 2 together form a startup?
— Sugandha Kasliwal (@Officially_Su) June 23, 2016
@Officially_Su @womensweb I’d probably start a company that provides freelance writers to upcoming ad firms. Consulting — Mala Mary Martina (@MalaMartina3) June 23, 2016
@Officially_Su @womensweb I’d probably start a company that provides freelance writers to upcoming ad firms. Consulting
@womensweb @MalaMartina3 Been there. I was told- take Calculated risk. Was never convinced with that term. #WomenontheMove. — Deepali Adhikary (@deepaliadhikary) June 23, 2016
@womensweb @MalaMartina3 Been there. I was told- take Calculated risk. Was never convinced with that term. #WomenontheMove.
@deepaliadhikary @womensweb hv u taken a cal risk? If y n didn’t work v well, d next tym it may help to credible mentoring 4 specific case — Mala Mary Martina (@MalaMartina3) June 23, 2016
@deepaliadhikary @womensweb hv u taken a cal risk? If y n didn’t work v well, d next tym it may help to credible mentoring 4 specific case
@akshata_b @womensweb Work on a Pilot to prove merit or find anther job in similar industry to show merit/exp — Mala Mary Martina (@MalaMartina3) June 23, 2016
@akshata_b @womensweb Work on a Pilot to prove merit or find anther job in similar industry to show merit/exp
@MalaMartina3 @womensweb it isn’t about just proving merit but also to figure passion. How does one know so? #womenonthemove — Akshata (@akshata_b) June 23, 2016
@MalaMartina3 @womensweb it isn’t about just proving merit but also to figure passion. How does one know so? #womenonthemove
— Akshata (@akshata_b) June 23, 2016
@akshata_b @womensweb agree.Passion needs 2 be backed with Merit and quantifiable wrk. Else it is fascination/ wishful thinking — Mala Mary Martina (@MalaMartina3) June 23, 2016
@akshata_b @womensweb agree.Passion needs 2 be backed with Merit and quantifiable wrk. Else it is fascination/ wishful thinking
@MalaMartina3 @womensweb quite disagree. You wouldn’t be passionate about things you don’t know how to do or maybe good at. — Akshata (@akshata_b) June 23, 2016
@MalaMartina3 @womensweb quite disagree. You wouldn’t be passionate about things you don’t know how to do or maybe good at.
@akshata_b @womensweb eg- i luv fud bt dont necessarily knw 2 cook or wryt abt it. i can develop skill — Mala Mary Martina (@MalaMartina3) June 23, 2016
@akshata_b @womensweb eg- i luv fud bt dont necessarily knw 2 cook or wryt abt it. i can develop skill
@akshata_b @womensweb ideal success triangle 1. passion 2. skill 3. right network — Mala Mary Martina (@MalaMartina3) June 23, 2016
@akshata_b @womensweb ideal success triangle 1. passion 2. skill 3. right network
@akshata_b @womensweb @MalaMartina3 Internships in mid-career come with their share of skepticism . Why Now? is asked often #Womenonthemove — Deepali Adhikary (@deepaliadhikary) June 23, 2016
@akshata_b @womensweb @MalaMartina3 Internships in mid-career come with their share of skepticism . Why Now? is asked often #Womenonthemove
@deepaliadhikary @akshata_b @womensweb Better late than never:) — Mala Mary Martina (@MalaMartina3) June 23, 2016
@deepaliadhikary @akshata_b @womensweb Better late than never:)
Lastly, in the words of Mala Mary Martina:
“We anyway have to THINK, Why not think BIG
We anyway have to WORK, Why not do what we LOVE”
Image: Coffee cup on the table with a piece of paper by Shutterstock
A part time backpacker, an accidental baker, a doting mother, a loving wife, a pampered daughter, an inspired blogger, an amateur photographer read more...
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If her home and family seem to be impacted by her career then we expect her to prioritize her ‘responsibilities at home as a woman’ and leave her job.
The entrenched patriarchal norms have always perpetuated certain roles and responsibilities as falling specifically in the domain of either men or women. Traditionally, women have been associated with the domestic sphere while men have been considered the bread winner of the household. This division of roles has become so ingrained in our lives that we seldom come to question it. However, while not being questioned does give the system a certain level of legitimacy, it in no way proves its veracity.
This systematic division has resulted in a widely accepted notion whereby the public sphere is demarcated as a men’s zone and the private sphere as belonging to women. Consequently, women are expected to stay at home and manage the household chores while men are supposed to go out and make a living with no interest whatsoever in the running of the household.
This divide is said to be grounded in the intrinsic nature of men and women. Women are believed to be compassionate, affectionate and loving and these supposedly ‘feminine’ qualities make them the right fit for caring roles. Men, on the other hand are allegedly more sturdy, strong and bold and hence, the ones to deal with the ordeals of the outside world.
Investing in women means many things beyond the obvious meaning of this IWD2024 theme, as the many orgs doing stellar work can show us.
What does it mean to invest in women?
Telling the women in our lives how great we think they are? That we value the sacrifices they have made? (Usually though not necessarily only – a sacrifice of their aspirations, careers and earning potential in order to focus on family).
No, thank you. Just talk is no longer going to cut it. Roses and compliments are great, but it’s time people, leaders, organizations put their money, capital, resources on track instead.
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