Begin again: Here's how you can ace a comeback in the corporate world

The world of sports revels in stories of the underdog from Leicester City and Tyson Fury to Indian T20 cricketrsquos latest returnee Dinesh Karthik For all purposes the Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman seemed to have retired from international cricket He had taken up a stint in the commentary box for the last two years But talent as they say always finds a wayThe 36yearold cricketer turned the clock back on his fitness levels and upgraded his skills through the 2022 IPL tournament to emerge as a brilliant finisher Life in the corporate world however can be tricky Issues such as ageism technology automation and systemic changes can prove challenging for a professional return after a hiatusAccept the changeAuthor entrepreneur and motivational speaker Ankur Warikoo mdash who frequently outlines mantras for professionals online mdash shares that the key is to accept the change ldquoIf you are expecting the world to be the same as when you left it then clearly you would be at a disadvantagerdquo The upside Warikoo explains is if a professional has spent the timeoff upgrading their skills and not resting on their experiencePriyank Pathak and Rhea PunjabiCareer coach and corporate trainer Rhea Punjabi explains ldquoChange is uncomfortable and humans are hardwired to resist it Most of the time we live on autopilot and making a return means changing patterns entrenched over a long periodrdquo This challenge she adds is common irrespective of gender or ageYet in a country where ageism is entrenched in corporate practice Warikoo suggests that it can be a challenge to work in a younger setup particularly in startup enterprises ldquoThe experienced professional can compensate with better judgement as compared to someone who is just starting their careerrdquo he says But the author cautions ldquoDonrsquot make the mistake of walking into a job with 20 years of experience and stop learning You always have to be a studentrdquoWork the networkTime outside the professional domain does not mean complete isolation Professionals often make the mistake of not keeping abreast of the flux in industries Both Warikooo and Punjabi recommend networking as a way to test the waters ldquoStaying in touch with your network will also help you to stay in touch with industry trends and may even get you freelance opportunitiesrdquo Punjabi revealsAnkur WarikooPriyank Pathak founder Innovation Roots points out that people are often caught up with their last job title losing sight of other opportunities that may have opened up in the field during this time ldquoDonrsquot limit yourself to one idea Be open to learning about ideas or opportunities in your profession and tangential fieldsrdquo he says As long as a professional can bring in a fresh perspective and approach to the table their demand remains unchanged the experts addWarikoo elaborates ldquoIt is not about you but about your skills helping the firm Just because you have 20 years of experience doesnrsquot mean anyone will accept you at face valuerdquoUpskill and upgradeAt a time when software is automating professionals cannot afford to be left behind With accessible online courses and technical information on the Internet the responsibility lies on the individual to upgrade their skills Punjabi believes that the timeoff is an opportunity to brushup highincome skills ldquoThis can help you return to work as a better more rounded professionalrdquo she maintainsWarikoo agrees The author insists that experienced professionals returning to a corporate setup cannot risk learning on the job ldquoEnsure that in addition to the past experience you have done everything to upskill yourself It is inevitable You cannot do it on the job You must have certain things that are fundamentally establishedrdquo he advisesPlan effectivelyFor Pathak the decision to return also needs the right reasons ldquoKnow your objectives clearly before taking the decision to returnrdquo he says Punjabi concurs but adds that financial planning before the break is just as important ldquoAside from considering how long yoursquoll be away itrsquos a good idea to save money to counter any surprises that may come your wayrdquo she suggestsOf course all the preparation is subject to a determined effort to return to the pinnacle Karthikrsquos current success is built on a relentless drive and hunger to play cricket As Warikoo concludes nothing is possible without that hunger and passionComeback checklistgtgt Stay connected to your network and upgrade your skillsgtgt Leave your ego at the door and be willing to learn againgtgt Keep your doors open for opportunitiesgtgt Stay confident Remember that your skills and experience are an advantagegtgt Do not lose the hunger to be productive