Unable To Find A Job After 3 Year Hiatus

Respected Members,

I am a sales and BD professional with over 15 years of experience. I started my career from the very basic field level (medical representative) 15 years back and worked my way up to the top management (Zonal Manager). I had worked with top MNCs and Indian houses in various capacities across various industries like pharma, finance, and FMCG. In my last assignment, I worked as Zonal Manager (East) with a decent CTC (11 lacs p.a.). I was associated with that company until Jan 2010. However, I decided to start my own business, and unfortunately, that venture failed due to various reasons. In the meantime, I learned that the company I last worked for had been dissolved. Now, in 2013, I am desperately looking for a job as I am already 40 and have a family to support.

Wherever I apply, I am being rejected due to this 3-year gap in employment or because my last CTC was relatively high, and no company is willing to pay me that much for someone who has been unemployed for 3 years. I have tried to explain to interviewers that I am not expecting my previous salary, acknowledging the tough competition and market conditions. However, this does not seem to improve my chances. Salary compromises are often viewed suspiciously in HR evaluations, and I cannot appeal to HRs based on my personal circumstances.

Moreover, my failed business venture seems to overshadow my career progression from a field executive to a top management role and all my accomplishments. It is important to note that I am an honors graduate in Science without professional degrees like B.E. or MBA. I climbed the ladder through sheer hard work. Some of my colleagues and industry acquaintances are suggesting that I falsify my resume to cover the employment gap and make other adjustments to enhance my profile, but I strongly oppose this idea.

I refuse to compromise with facts and integrity, as lies can have serious consequences. However, I am aware that some individuals have taken such unethical steps and are now in comfortable positions. I lack the courage to engage in such dishonest practices, and my conscience does not permit it. Is there no room for honesty in today's job market?

From a technical standpoint, how should I present myself to prospective employers during interviews? Personally, I am facing significant personal and financial challenges typical of a 40-year-old unemployed individual. My situation has deteriorated to a point that is difficult to express here, and I am struggling day by day. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. How can I secure a job to support my family, regain my self-respect, and most importantly, rebuild my life? I would be grateful if the esteemed members of this forum could address my concerns and provide technical guidance on how to approach recruiters and succeed in interviews. If necessary, I can provide my resume for review.

Dear Friend,

Why lose heart and get desperate? Your past record as a marketing person appears to be wonderful. You have excellent achievements even before reaching forty. Some decisions do go wrong, some do not meet expectations, but that's life. There cannot always be lush and green; there are days of summer as well as days of rain. What I wanted to tell you is not to lose your confidence and patience because these are the two things that help you overcome all your troubles.

Since you have decided to pursue a job, approach it as a job-interested person and not as a small businessman. This attitude will certainly pay you back. You have been out of the loop for a while, and now your first task will be to somehow re-enter the field. I believe you are wise enough to understand these points.

I am sure you will find a good job in the very near future, and in the end, not only yourself but all of us will be happy to congratulate you. So keep hope and good luck.

Dear Lost1973,

Sorry to hear about your predicament. How long did you work for the now-defunct company? Where were you employed before that? Have you kept in touch with any of your former colleagues from those companies? If so, have you reached out to them?

The worst thing one can do is lose hope and fall into depression. You are absolutely correct that falsifying records is not a sustainable solution and will only lead to sleepless nights, especially if you have a conscience that disapproves of such actions.

Kishore Kulkarni has offered you solid advice; it would be wise to follow it.

Kind regards,
[Your Name]

Be positive in your approach as suggested in the earlier post. Go as a job seeker and not as a failed entrepreneur. A good potential employer will, in fact, see your entrepreneurship experience as a plus and not a minus. It's a matter of presentation. As you might be aware, 9 out of 10 new ventures end in failure; that does not mean the person has failed. There are a multitude of factors that can cause a business to fail. So here is what I propose:

You make a summary of:
1) Lessons you learned in the last 3 years
2) New skills you acquired
3) Do an analysis of what factors caused the failure? What could you have done or managed better?

And so on. Talk about this when asked about in the interview.

Experiences of life should make a person better and not bitter. So try to present your profile with a positive approach. You are a courageous man to have tried a new venture; many companies would be highly appreciative of that quality as they can put you in leadership roles for new ventures since you are not afraid to take new responsibilities.

So good luck to you, pal. Be strong and keep trying. Also, make a profile on linkedin.com to get noticed.

And the last point, you are not old, 40 is the new 20... :)

You’re Positive Points

1. Having 15+Years of experience with Sales BD with different Industry, and

2. You are Honest and Sincere, (where and you do not want to fabricate resume)

You were attempted to do business is not any big mistake. Everyone wants to grow and you tried your best, may be due to some reason you are not successful. So look for next step.

What I understand from your text is that you are losing hope on yourself; I will tell you should never lose hope. At this point of time you don’t need to add any qualification unless your job needs.

You may try following;

1. Look at resume from the prospective of Business ( as Business manager looks at anybody’s resume)

2. Highlight your achievements and capabilities,

3. Try with different job portals and consultants

4. Apply mid and senior level (from 8 Years onwards) Positions

5. Never try to convince about your failure or gap give the valid reason (if they do not believe forget it)

6. Be assertive and never plead for job, you will lose the opportunity, no business man gives job because you want, he will take only people to whom skill set and attitude matches irrespective, whether you employed or not or having rich experience or not.

7. May be you can remove your data of birth and irrelevant data from resume; try to tailor your resume for each opportunity you face.

Success there with you 

Wish you all the best

Regards

Harish

Dear lost 1973,

You just need two things:

1. Try to strengthen your hopes.
2. Reshape your CV. Yes, not falsify, but reshape it! Falsifying means you add or subtract wrong information, while reshaping means disguising all of your weaknesses as strengths. Reshaping is not illegal; it is rather adjusting your strengths and weaknesses in the right place and with the right words. I'd like to see your CV so that I will be able to advise more. Meanwhile, the following article will tell you more about CV reshaping:

Your Career Lion: Create Your Resume With Pride

Please review the link for further guidance.

Best regards,
[Your Name]

Dear Lost 1973,

My sincere advice is to be positive in the approach and change your ID to a pleasant one. Now there are plenty of outsourcing agencies for recruitment. You may get a few if you try on the net, and our respected members shall also guide you.

Once again, I am reiterating that you should be positive. You should be proud that you are an Honours Science Graduate with multi-level rich experience. As our respected member pointed out, you should reshape your CV. Even if you are getting 70% to 80% of your previous remuneration, it's okay. Something is better than nothing. Hope you will take it in the right spirit.

Wishing you all the best.

Regards,
Ravi

Place where you are stationed? Would you be interested in giving soft skill training, teaching anatomy and physiology, pharmacokinetics, and dynamics to prospective MR's, etc.? Please mail your resume and answer my queries. What are your expectations?

Dear Mr. Ravi,

I am also praying for that. I am happy to join at even less than 50% of my last salary despite inflation. The idea is to get back in mainstream and get some income flowing into the family, so that I can feed them at least with an honest man's income.

Hi, I am a certified coach specialized in career coaching and willing to help. I can conduct a few coaching sessions with you if you are based in Delhi; otherwise, on Skype if you are located outside Delhi. You are free to make a choice as a lot of self-disclosure is required during coaching sessions. Since you are in a difficult situation at the moment, I offer you my coaching services free of charge. All the best.

Indu Wadhwa