Begin Again: Resilience in Restarting Careers – Perspectives from the Women at Hexagon
Begin. Again. is Hexagon’s initiative to help women in technical and management roles re-enter corporate work. The imperative to help women re-enter the workforce, especially, in the Technology and Research & Development world had become more visible after Covid. Hexagon launched Begin. Again. as a part of its Diversity & Acceptance focus.
This program not only allows women a safe and steady way to re-enter the technology workplace, it also aims to bridge the resource gaps – helping them reskill and rebuild their confidence if they are hesitant to take on real world opportunities immediately. It starts with a well-paid internship with competitive compensation for the Tech industry.
The program never inquiries into the reasons behind the career break. On its launch, a few months back, it saw over 350 applications, and has already led to women re-entering the tech workforce across a variety of roles in Software Development, QA, DevOps.
MOUNIKA PALLI, Senior Software Developer, Hexagon R&D India
- What attracted you to the Begin. Again. initiative?
I had almost a 6-year break from my career. For the past year, I’ve been trying to learn new technical skills and apply them. However, many companies set a minimum gap requirement. The attractive thing about the Begin Again program is that there are no such barriers even with 10 years of gap we can apply to this program. That’s the main appeal of this program.
- What has your experience been of the initiative, after you became a part of it?
The whole journey with the program has been amazing, and it’s an opportunity I never want to miss. I have no regrets about taking the break. As a woman, I want to emphasize the importance of being kind to yourself; it’s completely okay to take a break. We all have our priorities. When you decide to “Begin Again,” don’t hesitate to come back. While it might take time, be sure to seek support, ask for help, and stay open about your journey.
- What has been the most remarkable / significant experience that you’ve had in this program? Share an anecdote if possible.
Since I joined, things have been a bit of a roller coaster. My complete schedule changed a lot, I’m genuinely happy with what I’m doing. This experience made me more confident and hopeful. One day, my husband had to leave the city, and my child had a day off. I brought my child to my work because we have a daycare facility. This helped me a lot, especially as a woman, as many women don’t start or continue their careers due to childcare. The Hexagon facility saved me big time. It has boosted my confidence level and given me a ray of hope that no matter what, if you are willing to do something and put your whole zeal into it, it will happen.
- What do you like most about “Begin. Again.”?
The best part of the Begin Again program, for me, is the interview process. I was nervous about how it would go and if I’d be chosen. But the interviewers looked at both my technical skills and how sincere I was about wanting to restart my career. That’s what every candidate wants – to be noticed for both their skills and their determination. It’s nice to have an interview that cares about more than just what you know, but also about your commitment to getting back into the workforce.
LILAWATHI SURANA, Senior Software Consultant,Hexagon R&D India
- What attracted you to the Begin. Again. initiative?
In today’s rapidly evolving technology, individuals like me, who have taken a 5-year career break, face significant challenges in seeking employment. We lack confidence while competing in interviews against those who have not experienced any career break. However, with the Begin Again program, every candidate shared a similar background, allowing us to approach interviews with newfound confidence.
- What has your experience been of the initiative, after you became a part of it?
The experience was exceptional. Returning to work after a five-year break posed considerable challenges for me, both professionally and personally, but the team made the transition remarkably smooth. To help me familiarize myself with the team, they even organized a self-initiated team outing.
Concerning professional challenges, unlike the other hiring programs that set the performance expectations upfront, we were hired as interns and underwent thorough training for a couple of months before any performance expectations were set. The entire team was exceptionally welcoming throughout this period. Also, despite our status as interns, our opinions held significance, and we actively engaged in decision-making processes.
On a personal note, I have a two-year-old child, and I felt uneasy about returning to work due to concerns about him. But, thanks to Hexagon, there is a wonderful cheche facility here where my child adjusted within a week. Now, he looks forward to coming to the office with me every day. He has made numerous new friends, learned many things, and thoroughly enjoys his time here.
- What has been the most remarkable / significant experience that you’ve had in this program? Share an anecdote if possible.
I was given a development project, however, coming from a QA background, I found it challenging to apply my prior experience and knowledge. After a couple of months of training, my Manager(Divya Kurakula) and Director(Tanmoy Chakraborty) approached me to discuss my experiences. When I expressed my concerns, Tanmoy offered me the option to choose my team and I chose the QA team. I was particularly pleased because, in my entire 10-year career, I hadn’t witnessed employees being given the option to choose their team. Usually, it’s the managers who conduct interviews and select the team members.
- What do you like most about “Begin. Again.”?
Women who have taken a career break often tend to lose hope about returning to work. Residing in an apartment complex with 2780 flats, where many women have experienced career breaks, me resuming work through the “Begin Again” program became an inspiration for them. Learning about my experience gave them hope that they too could successfully resume their professional journeys.
