If you're sending 100+ job applications and getting zero interview calls - or dreaming of consulting independence but terrified you won't find clients - the problem isn't your qualifications. It's your strategy. 🔥

Most professionals in India are stuck in two traps: the "application trap" (endlessly applying online while the best opportunities go to people with relationships) or the "expertise trap" (believing that being good at your work automatically makes you a successful consultant).

Here's what I know about your frustration:

You're qualified. You're experienced. You deserve better. But if you're job hunting, you're competing with 3,000+ applicants while 90% of the best roles never get posted. If you're considering consulting, you're worried about steady income, finding clients, and whether your corporate experience will actually translate into consulting success.

Meanwhile, your family is watching, your confidence is dropping, and you're starting to wonder if something's fundamentally wrong with you. There isn't. You just need the right system.

From Corporate to Consulting - and Back to Helping You

In 2014, after 22 years in corporate India with Unilever, Nokia, and Cargill, I made the leap into consulting. My biggest fear? Would I get a steady stream of clients?

I de-risked my transition by converting my former employer into my first client and tapping into my network. Within 2 weeks, I landed my first new client. After that, I've built a thriving practice serving PVR INOX, Mother Dairy, Cargill, Voltas, Plantronics, and Altudo.

I Help Professionals on Two Paths:

Career Transitions: Through my N.E.X.T. methodology, I help professionals land roles with 30-80% salary increases by becoming the person companies actively recruit.

Consulting Pivots: I guide experienced professionals (especially those 40+) to build profitable consulting practices that monetize decades of corporate expertise. Whether you're seeking independence, facing a layoff, or planning post-retirement income, I'll show you how to attract ideal clients who respect your expertise and pay accordingly.

After 22 years in corporate and 11 years coaching professionals, I've seen what separates those who thrive from those who struggle.

Ready to stop being invisible and start being irresistible? 

Let's connect: hello@vikramanand.com 🤝

Vikram Anand

Three months into consulting, I sent my client Sandeep a proposal for ₹5 lakhs. He called me the next morning.

"Can we meet for coffee?"

My stomach dropped. Here it comes. The "you're too expensive" conversation. 

Maybe I should've charged ₹3 lakhs. Maybe I should've—

We met at DiGhent Cafe - a nice coffee shop in Gurgaon. 

He slid the printed proposal across the table.

"I already signed it. Payment's being processed."

I tried to look calm. "Great. So, what did you want to discuss?"

"I need to understand why you only gave me one option."

Wait, what?

"If this project is worth ₹5 lakhs, shouldn't the bigger version be worth more? 

Shouldn't there be a smaller version if budget is tight?"

He wasn't complaining about the price.

He was disappointed I hadn't shown him more ways to work together.

That conversation changed everything.

I'd been so scared of looking "greedy" that I'd actually limited what I could do for him.

Since that day, I always offer three options. Always.

The cheapest one might be ₹2 lakhs. The premium might be ₹8 lakhs.

And you know what? 70% of clients pick the middle or top option.

If you're pivoting from the corporate sector to consulting in your 40s or 50s, remember this: your clients aren't looking for the cheapest consultant.

They're looking for someone who understands their problems well enough to offer real choices.

Stop slashing your fees. Start giving options.

#CorporateToConsultant

I Help Professionals Thrive With Well-Paying Jobs & Pivot Into Their Second Innings As Profitable Consultants | Former CXO at Cargill & AkzoNobel

I had just left Cargill in April 2014 to become a marketing consultant.

My consulting "business plan" was permanently work in progress.

I spent three weeks obsessing over my website colours. Should it be corporate blue? Or that trendy gradient design everyone was using?

Meanwhile, my savings account was having its own anxiety attack.

Then one morning, my wife asked a simple question: "Why haven't you called Ramesh yet?"

Ramesh. My old colleague from the marketing days. Now heading sales and marketing at a mid-sized FMCG company.

"I'm not ready," I said. "Website isn't done. I don't even have a proper deck."

She just looked at me.

So I called him. Awkward small talk. Then I mentioned I was starting something new and could use his perspective.

"Oh thank god," he said. "I've been sitting on this marketing problem for months. Can you come in next week?"

That "not ready" call became my first project.

Turns out, nobody asked for my website. They wanted my 22 years of experience.

If you're in your 40s or older, sitting on years of expertise but waiting to be "ready" – you already are.

Your network knows what you can do. 

They're just waiting for you to pick up the phone.

#CorporateToConsultant

I was chatting with a friend last week in his mid 50s who's been laid off as a CXO and has spent a year trying to find a new job.

The uncomfortable truth - most senior professionals build careers, not economic engines.

They rely on one employer at a time.

They optimize for stability, not optionality.

Corporate roles hide a hard truth: your employability declines faster than your capability.

Start planning your second innings in your late 40s before the first one ends at 60.

What do you think? Do we need to plan a Second Innings?

#VikramWrites #SecondInnings

Last month, I met an ex-colleague from my mid-management years at a virtual networking event.

52 years old, now. MBA from a top B-school. 25 years in IT services.

He'd been passed over for a VP role. The feedback? "We're looking for someone with a longer career runway."

Career runway. As if we're planes about to crash.

Here's what's funny:

The average millennial changes jobs every 2 years. Most professionals switch every 4-5 years.

But a 50-year-old who could give you 10-15 quality years doesn't have "enough runway"?

That's ageism dressed up in corporate speak.

But here's the twist. Sometimes we invite this discrimination ourselves.

I've seen talented professionals treat their last decade like a countdown to retirement. They stop learning. Stop updating. Stop caring.

Same resume format from 2010. Talk about "the good old days" in interviews. Clothes that scream "I stopped trying."

Then they wonder why 28-year-old hiring managers see them as outdated.

Think of it like this. Would you buy a 2010 car with no GPS, no Bluetooth, worn seats, and expect to pay 2025 prices?

That's how the market sees you if you haven't upgraded.

You can't control ageism. But you CAN control your health, energy, skills, and attitude.

Update your LinkedIn. Learn current tools. Dress like it's 2025, not 2005. 

Stop talking about "how we used to do things."

Most importantly? Stop thinking about the next 10 years as a countdown.

Start thinking about them as your second innings.

Because here's the reality: You're likely working into your 70s anyway. The retirement dream at 58? That's gone.

So make the next 20 years count on YOUR terms.

What do you think? Is "career runway" legitimate or just age discrimination in disguise?

#SecondInnings #VikramWrites

It's Saturday. You're reading this with your morning coffee, thinking about the week that just ended.

How many times this week did you think: "Just 5 more years and I'm out"?

I know this feeling. I've heard it from dozens of people I've coached.

Anil, 48, VP at an MNC in Gurgaon. "I'm just keeping my head down till I hit 55."

Mitali, 52, HR Director in Mumbai. "I'll ride this out. What else can I do at this age?"

Pradeep, 46, IT Manager in Pune. "Better to play it safe than take risks now."

Here's the uncomfortable truth.

Playing it safe IS the risk.

That "safe" corporate job you're clinging to? It could vanish tomorrow. 

Automation. Restructuring. Your entire department outsourced to the Philippines.

The company you've given 20 years to doesn't owe you the next 10.

But here's what nobody tells you or me.

The most valuable skill for the second half of your life isn't on any job description.

It's learning to CREATE opportunities instead of WAITING for them.

Think about it. You've spent decades being excellent at what someone else told you to do.

What if you spent your weekend thinking about what YOU could create?

Not a full-blown business plan. Not quitting Monday morning.

Just one question: What problem could I solve that people would actually pay for?

Maybe it's consulting in your area of expertise. Maybe it's training. Maybe it's something completely different that's been sitting in the back of your mind for years.

If you're in your 40s or early 50s, please start thinking of your Plan B - before your organization forces you to do so.

#SecondInnings #VikramWrites

80% of consultants are really professionals in between jobs. 

Given half a chance, they will go back to a stable 9 to 5 job any day.

15% of the others go through periods of feast and famine. They are usually very good in their domain, but don't know how to monetize it as a business model.

5% crack the code to a growing & stable recurring revenue, scalable business models, hedged risks, and a diversified pool of happy clients.

What do they have that others don't?

1. A proven pipeline of current leads

2. A clear idea of where future leads will come from

3. A personal brand that attracts the right clients who will resonate with them

4. A strong network to tap into, in the initial years

5. A pricing model that is premium and attracts high-ticket clients. 

6. (Optional) A paid lead acquisition model that is > 3 ROAS (return on ad spends) 

Solopreneur consulting is hard to start, but incredibly satisfying once you learn the ropes.

#corporatetoconsultant

Serviquo Systems Private Limited

Serviquo is in area of  Device Lifecycle Management.

The following are the areas , where Serviquo strives to excel :

•	ASC support 
•	Repair & Refurbishment  
•	On Site Support 
•	Warranty/Extended Warranty/Accidental Damage Protection
•	Recycling of Excess/EOL & BER Products

Serviquo Systems Private Ltd is managed by team having extensive experience of leading operations for major Indian & Multinational companies like Nokia , Tata Docomo , Siemens , HCL with  proven track record of , successful depot repairs & refurbishment , Carry in repairs at Service Centers , On Site field Services and recycling of products across product & customer segments.

For more details , please reach out at ashutosh.razdan@serviquo.com

Director

Netcom Softech

Netcom caters to Repair & Refurbishment , On Site Support , Carry in Services , Spare Parts Management , DOA handling & Asset Recovery , Recycling of Products and Re-commerce straddling industries from Mobile communications , Telecom Services , IT , Consumer Electronics , Home Appliances and Security Products.

Founded & Promoted by a group of experienced professionals with rich & varied service and manufacturing experience

Karbonn Mobiles

Head of Service of Karbonn , K Touch and National Panasonic brand mobile phones across India , South Asia and various geographies across world.

Responsibilities include engagement over whole product life cycle covering product finalisation  & new product introduction with Product teams & ODMs , warranty & non warranty walkin support to retail customers at exclusive branded Service Centres , support to trade & carrier customers , repair and refurbishment through in house L4 facilities & external partners , service logistics through in house service warehouses and phone/email/social media support to retail , partner & trade customers through in house & outsourced call/email support centres .

Vice President

Tata Docomo

Complete responsibility for set up & operations of 24x7x365 Onsite and Walkin support ,ranging from Top Corporate /SME to postpaid & prepaid customers across all the country , with products ranging from fixed wireless  (Walky) , wireless data (Photon , 3G Stick) , PCO , Rural to PRI/BRI/Centrex/ISDN/ADSL/MPLS/ILL  wireline circuits.

Have played industry leading role in driving support , refurb & repair and cost optmization initiatives across organisation.

A few key achievements :

• Transformed the unit from Cost Centre to Revenue Centre ( Cost 125 Cr(FY08-09) -> Profit +7 Cr(FY 12-13)-> Profit 75 Cr (FY 13-14).
• Refurb & Repair of ~ 8 Million Devices , by far the highest in the Indian Telecom Industry and led to savings of Rs 800 Cr since launch.
• Architect of Industry leading Automated system for field manpower selection, certification & performance payout system - An industry first.
• Launched Industry first initiatives like Device Escalation Platform,  Replacement Certificate, Distributor Webtool , Service Camp Organiser , Automated ASC Online Information etc.
•Achievement of consistently high field service deliverables (SLA, Repeat, Retat ,MTTR etc).
• Singularly responsible for establishing Multi Branded Service Partner Network , extending up to 3000+ service touch points .one of Industry’s largest .
•Rollout of I Care Centers for walk in support to retail customers at TTL  branded stores

Corporate Additional Vice President & Head I Care Operations

Nokia Mobile Phones

Setup and led the After Market Services operations for Nokia Mobile phones in India & South Asia .
Establised the following from scratch :
- Largest service network /repair centres 
- Only 24/7 365 days National help Line covering 400 cities .
- Largest team of more than 200 dedicated professionals.
Made Nokia # 1 in Service Support amongst all major Cellular Phone manufacturers.
Held responsibility and set up distribution , service & retail network for Nokia in Sri Lanka & Bangladesh for >2 years.

Head After Market Services

RPG Enterprises

Responsibility for  RF Planning for Paging Network for 3 Cities,Identification , Negotiation & finalisation of propspective vendors, Rollout of paging infrastructure ,Testing of Paging operation 
Type approval from national Telecom Testing before commercial launch 

 Acknowledged for Type approval from Testing Body and Timely launch of Paging operations across 3 major cities

Manager (Engineering & Technical)

Siemens

Played key role in securing some of the largest networking orders of its time in Indian PBX industry from Indian Railways , Oil & Defence Sectors.
Successfully helped in Transfer of Technology from ATEA Belgium ( A Siemens subsidiary) to Nashik works of Siemens.

Product Manager

HCL Technologies

Design (Team member) of Stallion range of EPABXs , 16 Channel Logic State & Timing Analysers , all of which were sold commercially.

Senior Engineer ( R&D)

Essayed leadership roles at  Nokia Mobile Phones , Tata Docomo , Siemens , HCL and Karbonn/Panasonic , having been responsible for major new initiatives in Indian marketplace.

Led national operations with large on roll(~400) and outsourced manpower(~2000) in Field Services /Sales/Product Management/Technical Operations providing walk in & onsite support to Corporate, SME , Retail (urban & rural) customers with stringent SLAs, Processes , Cost optimization and profits.

Setup & transformed  Field Services division "I Care" in Tata Teleservices from Cost to Revenue plus Centre. Played pivotal role in saving ~ USD 120 Mio while getting ~ 8 Million units  repaired & refurbished. Played key role in facilitating service network of major terminal suppliers , including Huawei , Haier, ZTE ,Kyocera,Telular,Axesstel ,first time in India on Tata Docomo network.

Part of founding team which setup India & South Asia operations of Nokia Mobile Phones from scratch during era when Nokia enjoyed > 30% global and > 85% India market shares. Personally contributed in setting up service infrastructure in South Asia and distribution & retail operations in Sri Lanka & Bangladesh.

Played key role in setting up PABX operations for Siemens by contributing to Transfer of Technology from Siemens Belgium and supporting sales & service teams in building the business.

Setup 300 Exclusive Service Centers for Karbonn/Panasonic and have streamlined many of the processes & systems leading to major operational improvements.

Led major Industry first Initiatives like Web based On boarding & Performance Monitoring Systems, DOA Process , Device Escalation Platform , ETR , many of which have become as de facto Industry standards.

My core competencies are in Service Operations, Service Delivery , Policy Development, Process Enhancement/Re engineering ,Cost Optimization, Revenue Enhancement , Account Management, Partner Management , Technical Sales , Reverse Logistics , Refurbishment & Repair and Team Management.

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Ashutosh Razdan

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