Is Moving Back to India a Smart Career Move for Non-IT NRIs?

Key Takeaways

• Non-IT careers are thriving in India - industrial engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing offer excellent opportunities
• The China Plus One strategy is creating massive demand for professionals with international experience
• NRIs are actively sought after for the global perspective and work culture they bring
• Convincing employers of your serious intent to relocate is often the biggest challenge
• India's transformation in ease of doing business and banking has been remarkable
• Kids adjust faster than parents - their 3.5-year-old son was the quickest to adapt
• Plan for minimum 6 months from job offer to actual move

Meet Alhad & Aditi: Two Non-IT Journeys

Alhad's Career Journey: From Pune to US to Netherlands

Aditi's Academic Journey: From GRE to MIT

"There's no particular reason - it was honestly more like everyone was giving GRE, everyone was giving TOEFL, and let me also do it. It was more of that to begin with."

The COVID Move to Netherlands: With a Newborn

The move to Netherlands happened at the most challenging time possible:

"This was 2019 summer - that was the time where our son was also born. So we had a lot going on during that time."

The Dramatic Sequence of Events

"We shifted back to Netherlands, again everything was closed down. There were a couple of grocery stores that were open. So that's the time actually we started learning about the Dutch culture."

US vs Netherlands: Cultural Differences

The China Plus One Opportunity

A pivotal moment came during Trump's presidency when tariff rules forced companies to rethink their China-dependent supply chains:

"Because of his tariff rules, everybody started thinking about the China Plus One strategy - they wanted to create opportunities outside of China because everybody was too much reliant on that. That's where they thought India is a bigger market."

This is what brought Alhad to Netherlands - to lead the India business growth for Staples.

Witnessing India's Transformation

Alhad's frequent trips to India for factory visits and customer meetings revealed a country transformed:

"I saw the makeshift of how when I left India versus when this was in 2021 - how India has changed. The ease of doing business, the banking structure, the people's willingness to take higher risks with the entrepreneurial startup culture that was going on."

The Decision Point: A Wedding That Changed Everything

The turning point came during a cousin's wedding in India:

"We actually went for a wedding - my close cousin's wedding - and we started asking questions, thinking through about it. That's where we started having a feel-good scenario, and then that's where we decided."

The Real Trigger: Son's Education

"The major reason why we moved at this particular time was mostly from our son's point of view. In the Netherlands, kids start going to school at the age of four. We were thinking if he starts his education in the Netherlands and then after a couple of years we move him to India, it's going to be difficult for him to adjust. There's always a comparison that happens - 'my life in Netherlands was like this, my life in US was like this, and now my parents have got me here.'"

They wanted him to do education in the same system from the beginning - get adjusted right at the start.

The Planning Process: December 2021 to December 2022

"It definitely takes minimum of 6 months from the day you have something in your hand. It could be any longer depending upon the right job you find for yourself."

The Challenge: Proving Serious Intent

One of the biggest hurdles for NRIs seeking jobs in India is convincing employers they're serious about relocating:

"Probably one of the questions that most people had asked me was - how serious are you for coming back to Pune? If we give you an offer, what percentage do you think you're confident of taking it in terms of coming back? That was probably like a challenge - to convince the interviewers that I'm very serious about moving back."

Why Pune? No Other Option Considered

For Alhad and Aditi, the city choice was straightforward:

"There was no point moving to any different city. It was basically either Pune or we stay here. If we cannot be closer to our family members, closer to the culture we grew up in, it's better that we just stay here."

Pune offered the perfect combination:

• Family connections: Both sets of parents in Pune
• Cultural roots: The culture they grew up in
• Career opportunities: Growing hub for academics and industry
• Quality of life: Better than Mumbai's chaos, more affordable

Selling the House in Netherlands

"It was challenging because the market had started dropping down by that time. You cannot sell the house on your own - we hired an agent. During that time, there were so many viewings - you have to move out of the house, come in, move out, come in. It was definitely a stressful time."

The uncertainty was real:

"We didn't know if we would be able to sell the house with the right cost at the right amount of time. But luckily, one month prior to that, we got the deal which we were looking for, and then we moved back."

Alhad's Career Choice: Freelancing Over Corporate

Unlike Aditi who secured a faculty position, Alhad chose a different path:

"I decided I'll do some freelancing kind of work to get a hang of how the work culture is. I still had that fear of how the corporate culture is going to be. I always wanted to say - let me try some freelancing work."

The Freedom Factor

"The biggest factor for me is the ability to do. I had so many ideas living in US and Netherlands - wanted to do multiple things - but because of H1B restrictions, you cannot do multiple things. Right now I'm enjoying my freedom. I can help my dad grow his pathological laboratories, I can do my consulting work, I can be around for anything that is needed."

The NRI Advantage in Non-IT Sectors

Contrary to popular belief, non-IT NRIs are highly valued in India:

"There are plenty of opportunities at this moment. People are looking for you. If you're an NRI, you are still sought out here because you bring that knowledge and culture from abroad - and Indian companies are actually interested in putting that culture in."

Alhad was specifically approached:

"This was one of the factors - I was approached for that: 'Why don't you bring those value systems over here? Because people are not trained enough.' I help bring that culture in some couple of my clients as well."

Kids Adjustment: The Fastest of All

Perhaps the most reassuring part of their story is how quickly their son adjusted:

"I think our son just adjusted very well. Probably his age also helped - he was very young, he was three and a half when we moved here. Suddenly from COVID times and such low social life, he came to India where we have all the relatives and so many kids to play around."

The verdict:

"He's very happy to be here. That sort of makes us a little relaxed about the move. Of the three of us, he was the quickest to adjust, I can say that."

School Selection: Values Over Prestige

Their approach to school selection was thoughtful:

"One of the important factors that we learned from the Western culture - they're very independent. They have the ability to make their own decisions from a very young age. We wanted to find a school which is a blend of our culture - that teaches the values that the Indian system provides - plus the ability for them to take their own decisions. It's okay to make mistakes, do your things on your own."

They used a two-step approach: nearby school for initial adjustment, then applied to their preferred school for senior KG - and got in.

What They Miss About Life Abroad

Aditi's Perspective: The Introvert's Challenge

"Alhad and my son - they both are very social people and I'm not. I do miss a little bit of peace at times. Here the social life is overwhelming for me. In US, it was very clear that weekdays are different and weekends are different. That doesn't happen here - you socialize on weekdays, you socialize on weekends."

Alhad's Perspective: Work Culture & Freedom

"Work culture is one of the factors. When we came in, we were like - 8:00 is an 8:00 - which doesn't happen here. Getting used to that. Plus the freedom to move - for approvals for vacations and stuff, it's a different system. Nobody questions you about your vacation time in Western countries."

A unique Netherlands experience:

"Especially in Netherlands, they actually encourage you to take vacation. It was part of my contract that you have to take two weeks of vacation. I've never seen somebody writing in an offer letter saying that you have to take two weeks of vacation!"

Final Advice: Take the Decision and Make It Right

"I really like the quote which Ratan Tata said: 'Take a decision and make it right.' It has stuck to my mind for many many years. Otherwise you are always in limbo - whether it's right or wrong, should I do it or not. If half of the time I'm thinking about how my life would be in India, I would never be happy in Netherlands or US."

Aditi adds:

"Don't wait for the right time to come. If you want to move back, just plan for it and do it. Of course there are certain conditions - you want to have a job of your own choice - but unless you start taking the steps towards it, it's not going to happen."

India is not the India that was in 2010. There are plenty of opportunities, and NRIs are actively sought after for the value systems and culture they bring.

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