Take two: Action resumes break ke baad...

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Mumbai''s working women maintain that embarking on a second innings after a break makes for a heck of a balancing act </span><br /><br />So Kaajol''s coming back. After a maternity break of almost four years, the buzz is the actress is making a comeback under a prestigious banner, with a good role and at the price she wants.<br /><br />Reality check. Bollywood''s maternity break privileges don''t extend to real life corporate jobs. <br /><br />Mumbai''s working women, who take a break post-marriage to settle down or post-pregnancy to bring up their children, find it extremely difficult to resume their careers. Says client servicing executive Preeti Jayaswal (32), who had to take a break when her husband took up a job in the US, "It''s great to rest for a while. But it can get frustrating to waste one''s talent and qualification sitting at home. Coming back isn''t easy though."<br /><br />Employers aren''t too keen to hire women with new-born babies because they fear lesser dedication and time commitment. Upasana Prabhu (30), who now works with a public school in New Mumbai, says, "My job search after maternity leave was frustrating. Employers are unsure if you''ll be able to concentrate on your work. They also want fresh employees, who have no responsibility and can work beyond office hours. That''s a condition new mothers just can''t fulfil."<br /><br />A comeback can also become difficult since one is completely cut off from the job market. Upasana explains, "There''s a lot of catching up to do."<br /><br />It''s more difficult in marketing, sales, client servicing or advertising industries where a lot depends on your contacts, point out HR experts. By the time women return to their work, there''s been a sea change in corporate positions and they have to start building relationships from scratch. Says Gaurav Hirey, associate director HR of multinational market research organisation, "Largely, employers tend to be more cautious while hiring employees after a long break. However, I believe it''s also got to do with the talent that companies are looking for. In case of jobs requiring specialised knowledge and skill sets, it''s not so difficult. But the problem arises with generalised jobs. In that case, some women might have to compromise on the pay-scale to begin with."<br /><br />But that''s one compromise women are willing to make. As Vishakha Rangnekar (51), who returned to her taxation consultancy practice with great difficulty nearly 10 years later, sums it up, "One has to finally follow one''s dream too. Children will grow up and then they don''t need you as much. So it''s better to make a comeback when you still have a standing in the job market."<br /></div> </div>