Return To Work Series featuring Suma Bhat
Indian Women in Computing is excited to present a blog series that is dedicated to recognizing amazing women who have embarked on a brave journey to return to work. We are spotlighting their journey and accomplishments true to our mission to amplify, grow, and connect.
Do you know any marvelous Indian women in computing who have returned to work? Send us a tip to iwicwebsites [at] gmail [dot] com
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Suma Bhat had been looking for a job since 2015, shortly after she lost her job at Citibank when they closed all their Texas offices. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, seven years of experience in the banking industry, and untiring perseverance, Suma tried all options including volunteering at a local library, engaging with employment agencies, studying for project management certifications, and getting new skills through online courses. In 2020, amidst the pandemic, she was joyous and even surprised to finally get a job. She will soon be starting as a Workday Integration Consultant at a multinational corporation.
In 2014, you lost your job in the banking industry. How did you navigate this change?
In late 2014, Citibank was closing all its branches in Texas because another bank was taking over their operations. During this change, I lost my job. The new bank offered me another opportunity but it was at a much farther location. I was pregnant and I was unwilling to drive so far for work so I turned down the offer. Instead, I took this as an opportunity to be a stay-at-home mother to my newborn. For the next two years, I focused on raising my child and cherishing every moment with my child.
“I was not sure of the industry that I wanted to work in but I heard that networking was the first step to getting a job.”
After two wonderful years at home with your newborn, how did you decide to return to work?
In 2017, after a break of two years from the industry, I decided to look for part-time positions to ease myself into the workforce. I was not sure of the industry that I wanted to work in but I heard that networking was the first step to getting a job. So, I started volunteering at the local community library where I met a number of interesting people from different walks of life. These connections gave me ideas about contract roles. The role at the library also gave me the flexibility to be at work when my kid was in pre-school and be home when my kid was done with school.
There are so many avenues to getting back to work. How did you choose between them?
Frankly, I tried all approaches to get a job. I approached employment consultancies, driving hours from my home to keep appointments with them. Several employment representatives told me that I had dismal chances given the gap in employment on my resume. Some even asked me to change my name and hide my degree to seem more American on my resume. I was appalled by these pieces of advice and I am glad that I did not follow that. Luckily, I also found resources like momrelaunch.com that were inclusive and uplifting.
I used to verify the credibility of each employment agency before I asked for help with my job applications. Unfortunately, I was more trusting in the case of one agency and they disappeared with my money, about 700 dollars. I have since partnered with many people who were similarly defrauded by the agency to lodge a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. It is so sad to see predatory agencies like these looking to make a quick buck from our dreams.
I also looked at project management certifications. First, I tried the self-study certification of PSM (professional scrum master) in 2018. I couldn’t pass the certification bar twice. Finally, I studied for the CAPM certification and passed that on my first try in October 2019. This was a life affirming success after years of rejections and missed opportunities. My confidence rose. When I put it on my LinkedIn profile, recruiters started noticing me. It created a virtuous cycle. I was also adding courses from Coursera, Udemy, and the like on my LinkedIn profile. I was trying all avenues to upskill myself.
“I was also adding courses from Coursera, Udemy, and the like on my LinkedIn profile. I was trying all avenues to upskill myself.”
For the past few months, I was noticing a trend. Several people in my network were taking Workday HCM (Human Capital Management) certification and more companies were adopting Workday technologies to manage their workforce. Always up for a new challenge, I started studying for the Workday HCM certification. Within 6 months of this, I got a job as a Workday Integration consultant.
I start my new job soon and I am ecstatic to be back in the workforce. This has been an incredible journey for me, and I have learned a lot along the way. I have grown as a person, cultivated better habits, and I am ready to give back to the community.
“This is a difficult journey and life will throw you many curveballs. It is important to build a strong support system and to know how to lift yourself back up.”
It has been a long journey back to work. How did you keep your motivation during this time?
The motivational speaker Tony Robbins got me through some tough times. I would watch his videos and apply his lessons to my life. I also had a great friend with whom I went out for daily walks. I would tell her about my day, my efforts to apply for jobs, and other trials of the day. She listened patiently, advised me, and was very encouraging of my journey. I consider them my mentors in my journey. Learning from them, I would set small goals for myself every week. One of these goals was applying for 10 jobs per week regardless of the rejections that week.
Apart from the struggles of applying for jobs, I also started a photography business. I used to conduct photoshoots for couples, birthdays, and more. This gave me a lot of joy and frankly, helped me deal with the many ups and downs of my job search.
This is a difficult journey and life will throw you many curveballs. It is important to build a strong support system and to know how to lift yourself back up.
