Making a Return to the Workplace: Luxoft’s Lim Chiu Ling Shares How

Returning to the workplace after a break is never easy, but that is exactly what Lim Chiu Ling, working mother and Project Manager at Luxoft did after three years as a full-time housewife. There are many hurdles that women returnees face when they finally decide that it is time to re-enter the workplace. Things would have changed, and something that you once were well-versed in might seem unfamiliar to you because of how it has evolved in the time that you were away. Perhaps the knowledge you have may be outdated or obsolete. People might assume that since you have taken a break before, you are bound to do so again, or that you have other responsibilities that will make you falter in your commitment to work.

These are all challenges that women returnees face upon re-joining the workplace and Lim shares about her personal struggles and fears when she made her decision to go back to work, especially in a new and unfamiliar industry. She emphasises on the importance of a supportive environment where colleagues and her boss helped her to adjust to her new role and responsibilities, and how family can become a strength, and not a weakness, as a working mother.

Why did you choose to join the tech industry? What sparked your interest in tech?

It was by chance! When I was back in Singapore after being away for three years as a full-time housewife, my ex-manager referred me to her family’s company in the tech industry to start as a Human Resource (HR) administrator. From there on, one opportunity led to another and that’s how I landed myself with Luxoft.

Can you recall moments that were pivotal to how you developed your career? Did you have any mentors that provided you with guidance?

Being new to both the industry and job responsibilities, it was really stressful. I am thankful to my ex-boss as he coached me on my new role and responsibilities and ways to help me grow and excel to where I was as a HR Manager.

Having good colleagues around to support me is also the key to sustaining happiness at work. Everyone is always ready to help each other in one way or another and working as a team is the key to success and delivery.

Joining Luxoft, a multinational corporation (MNC), has given me the chance to explore new opportunities within the organisation where I started as a Project Manager Officer (PMO) and evolved and grew to take up the challenge to be a Project Manager (PM).

What was the greatest challenge you faced during your career and how did you overcome it?

Every role has its own challenges.

In one of my previous employments, I was tasked to work on salary benchmarking even though I didn’t have any experience with compensation and benefits. I did a lot of research work and with the help of my mentor at that time, we delivered a recommended salary grid from scratch for the company, which proved to be extremely useful for a SME setup for the HR and recruitment team.

At Luxoft, transitioning from a PMO to PM role, learning to work the agile way and coordinating with different stakeholders in an MNC environment and external government bodies were new to me. Presenting to stakeholders on project opportunities and chairing meetings as the only woman in the call with all the directors can be daunting.

However, I am grateful to have great mentors, James and Balaji, who guided me along the way towards success in executing our projects.

You took 3 years off from work to care for your family and children before coming back to the workforce. What challenges did you face when you tried to return to the workforce after the break?

My biggest challenge was the fear of not being offered a job after I took a three-year break from the workforce to be a housewife.

To search for jobs, I used various job portals, such as JobStreet, JobsDB, and LinkedIn. My advice is to cast your net wider and not to be afraid to let people know that you are keen to step out of your comfort zone and explore new opportunities. For example, ex-companies you have worked at before could be interesting to re-explore. In fact, I was lucky to be approached by my ex-manager for the opportunity and not face discrimination for it.

As a working mother, how do you think work-life balance can be achieved?

Communication is very important not only within the organisation but also within my family. Dinner time is the best time for the family to gather and share our stories for the day, be it good or bad.

We work hard and we play harder too. Our favourite days of the week are Friday and Saturday nights, when we can all chill around and no one has to get up early for work or school the next day. We have a movie and home facials one to two times a month!

Chilling with friends and colleagues is also much appreciated to de-stress too! In some ways, we understand each other’s struggles and share in each other’s joys for achievements on a professional and personal level.

And, of course, coming home to see the smiles on my children’s faces makes me forget about whatever happened on difficult days too.

What qualifications do you think are needed to pursue a career in tech?

I am not a degree holder myself in this industry, which would normally require at least a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. The willingness to learn and never give up is the key to where I am now.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect the tech industry?

COVID-19 has opened up more opportunities for all Singaporeans with more a diverse selection and more opportunities to upskill one’s skillset and step out of one’s comfort zone to acquire new skills and experience.

With Industry 4.0 upon us, what skills do you think will become irrelevant or stay relevant?

The pandemic showed us the need to futureproof our career in order to be employable. To stay relevant in the Industry 4.0 era, apart from the technical skills such as AI and Machine Learning, one should also build on their soft skills such as:

• Adaptability and flexibility – To be able to perceive and leverage any transformation as an opportunity to overcome challenges to grow and innovate.
• Critical thinking – Helps to enhance communications, evaluate, and solve complex issues.
• Emotional intelligence – Connecting well with another human being is a skill that machines can’t replace. A high EQ is critical to managing cohesive, high-performing teams.

As a woman, do you feel the need to prove yourself to your male counterparts?

I am lucky to be working in an organisation that promotes equal opportunities, diversity, and inclusion. Hence, there’s no need for any of the ladies in Luxoft to prove or validate themselves at work. We are recognised by our own merits.

What are your thoughts on the state of gender inequality in the workplace? Do you have any ideas on how it can be overcome?

There are different types of inequality in a workplace. When we dive deep into gender inequalities, there can be various forms such as the gender pay gap, uneven distribution in senior positions, and the motherhood penalty. Thankfully, I didn’t have any first-hand experience of any of these, especially at Luxoft, where the company promotes diversity and equality across the organisation.

Some ideas to overcome gender inequality will require support from leaders and employees in the organisation. The company should encourage transparency, provide training on unconscious bias, promote a culture of meritocracy, and diversify the board and management teams.

Why do you think it is important to have gender equality in tech?
Gender equality in tech is important as having a balance in genders can bring different benefits:

• Overcoming the war for talent – We are witnessing a digitalisation of jobs, especially after the pandemic happened, and the demand for tech talents only keeps growing. Encouraging more women to join the tech industry will help to minimise the shortage of talents and help the industry be ready for the rising demand.
• Better consumer understanding – Products and services are used by both genders so having a diverse opinion will help in business growth. Hence, women should be involved in creation, development, and marketing.

What would you say to girls who want to join the tech industry?

It is ok to not know everything, but always believe in yourself. Patience, dedication, and endurance will help you reach your goals.

At JobStreet, we’re on a mission to inspire your desire to believe in yourself. We’re ready to create awesome possibilities for all the game makers and games changers. Unlocking your potential to get a job can feel tough. We understand. That’s why we’ve got people to support you. #LetsGetToWork

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