‘Upskilling can get us desired job’ say 94% women returnees

Women professionals who have been on a break are eager to rejoin the workforce. However, getting a job after a break can be challenging. No wonder, most women returnees feel that upskilling is a must and that a management degree can give them the required confidence and edge. In fact, 94 per cent women returning to the active workforce feel that upskilling can get them the desired job. A significant 60 per cent feel that a management degree can give them a better career and designation.

These are the findings of a survey by JobsForHer in association with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s S P Jain Institute of Management and Research. The study aimed to evaluate the need for women professionals to upskill before returning to work after a career break. Compared to last year, 23 per cent more women feel upskilling is important, that is, a good 60 per cent of the women professionals on a break strongly feel that upskilling will help them bag the job they seek.

Neha Bagaria, founder & CEO, JobsForHer, says, “Women returnees are looking for curated courses both online and offline. They have realised the potential and importance of upskilling in building their confidence and giving them a feel of the corporate world before making a full-fledged career comeback.”

While women are looking for opportunities to upskill and make a career comeback, there has been observed a 40 per cent increase in the number of job openings available for women on the JobsForHer platform, from 2020 to 2021.

Over the past one year, more organisations have been trying to accommodate the best talent from the diverse and large talent pool of women returning to work after a career break. According to the DivHERsity Benchmarking Report, 2020-2021 by JobsForHer, 67 per cent of large enterprises surveyed have special company policies to hire women returnees.

The number of courses — beginners to intermediate and advanced to a full-fledged management degree — being offered across streams has also gone up. For instance, SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) has a postgraduate management programme designed exclusively for women returnees.

This programme aims to help returnee women equip themselves with business acumen before they step back into their field of experience. SPJIMR’s goal is to equip these women with the necessary skills and knowledge to take up managerial and leadership roles.

Ashita Aggarwal, professor of marketing and chairperson, PGMPW, SPJIMR, reiterates that “upskilling helps participants match up to the expectations of their role in organisations”. She states that in this competitive and fast-changign world, “we all, irrespective of whether we have taken a break or not, need to upgrade our skills and knowledge”.

The JobsForHer platform offers a range of resources and assistance from mentors, reskilling courses and career opportunities.