Career Aspirations Among Women IT Professionals A Study on Re Calibration After A Career Break

Abstract

ABSTRACT newlineThe significance of women s participation in the workforce pipeline in any society cannot be overemphasized. It has been shown by numerous studies that the quality of decision making, balanced viewpoints, better profitability and long-term sustainability of any business is remarkably impacted in a positive manner by participation of women. Therein lies the importance of ensuring the continued participation of experienced women professionals in any organization. newlineCareer aspirations are the fundamental building blocks for any successful career of a working professional. They are shaped in the formative years before employment and undergo transformation when the individual goes into employment. The total workforce in the Indian IT/ITES/BPO sector is 4.5 million. Of these, women working professionals comprise 34%. In the IT sector a majority of them are found at the entry level. Further 48% of the female employees quit their jobs before they reach 30 years of age. Among the socioeconomic, structural, organizational and personal challenges faced by women professionals, marriage, childbirth and conflicting family-work roles are significant factors resulting in career break. newlineThe high workforce pipeline leakage of working women professionals in the IT sector is unacceptable, as the huge investments made in training them and making them productive goes a waste. Fresh recruits are unable to deliver high end performance and by the time they are well versed, there is a career break, and most of them do not return. newlineThere are huge entry barriers encountered when they rejoin the workforce after the career break. This results in dilution of career aspirations leading to re-calibrations. Meanwhile concentrators lead to rebooting of career aspirations and are utilized by successful working professionals to keep their career on track and reach the matured phase of their career goals. Hence it is of utmost importance to identify in a comprehensive, integrated fashion with micro-detailing, the factors that influence career aspirations [in the Formative, Transformative and Matured phases], identify challenges which lead to career breaks, and to verify the dilution and concentration factors. newlineThe comprehensive Final Integrated Model will guide the early influencers [such as parents, teachers, role model inspirations etc.] and subsequently corporate entities to design policies/ programs to strengthen the support systems. This will reduce career breaks and encourage returnees [from career breaks] to maximize their contributions almost immediately on rejoining through their work efficacy. newlineKeywords: Working women professionals, career break, challenge newline