As an introvert and former stay-at-home mother, 29-year-old Nurazlina Binte Hamadi faced the daunting task of re-entering the workforce after a six-ye
As an introvert and former stay-at-home mother, 29-year-old Nurazlina Binte Hamadi faced the daunting task of re-entering the workforce after a six-year hiatus. A mother to twin boys and two daughters, aged eight, six, and four, Nurazlina’s journey back to employment began when a MENDAKI Care Advisor introduced her to the Women At Work (W@W) programme in January 2023.
W@W is an enhanced programme designed to assist women in reintegrating into the workforce after a break. However, Nurazlina’s return was not without its challenges. With only a GCE N-level certification, she encountered numerous job rejections due to her educational background and lack of recent experience. Naysayers doubted her potential, but Nurazlina persevered and eventually secured a position as a stall assistant at a school canteen.
Her understanding boss supported her desire to participate in the W@W programme, allowing her to pursue further skills development. In a three-day course, Nurazlina refreshed her knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word, skills she had previously utilized in her office job six years ago. She also completed a professional grooming workshop as part of W@W.
“It’s good that I joined this programme because I got to meet different people, share my problems, and learn about various programs that can help me, as well as potential employers,” she shared.
Since joining W@W, Nurazlina has committed herself to continuous upskilling. Currently, she is pursuing her education in the Fundamentals of Early Childhood Education while working as an assistant teacher at Superland Montessori Preschool.
“Initially, I experienced anxiety about returning to work after being a housewife for six years. I was concerned about finding a job in a different industry and worried that employers might not accept me because my last job was at a school canteen. Thankfully, the trainers at W@W helped me overcome my anxiety and introversion by teaching me how to prepare for interviews and engage with new people,” she explained.
Now fully back in the workforce, Nurazlina balances work and family commitments. She sends her children to school before starting her job at 9 a.m. and attends course lessons from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays. Her weekends are just as busy, split between her children’s tuition and religious classes, her own Mandarin lessons to communicate better with her Chinese-speaking students and colleagues, and driving lessons.
Fortunately, her twin boys have become independent enough to travel home from school on their own, while her husband assists in caring for their preschool daughters when they fall ill. Despite the challenges, Nurazlina remains determined and focused on her professional growth, confident in her decision to upskill through W@W.
“The W@W programme has helped me gain the confidence to step out of my comfort zone and pursue my goals. I know that if I want a better future, I need to improve myself,” she stated.
She encourages other stay-at-home mothers hesitant to join W@W due to a lack of interest in returning to work: “Joining W@W can expose you to upskilling opportunities that allow for personal and professional development.”
More about W@W:
Since 2008, Yayasan MENDAKI has supported women in returning to the workforce through skills upgrading, capacity-building, and job matching. The W@W programme empowers women through a three-stage process:
Restart: Care Advisors conduct holistic career advisory sessions to create a Career Action Plan (CAP) for each participant, focusing on goal-setting and development plans.
Rebuild: Tailored training pathways for PMET and non-PMET participants include virtual workshops that equip participants with essential skills for the workplace.
Re-Integrate: After completing the programme, participants receive professional job coaching and placement support to ensure they find gainful employment.
To connect with like-minded women and stay updated on W@W programmes, you can join their Telegram channel.
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