Anyone who is planning on returning to work after a period at home with their children knows that the step back into the workplace can be a daunting one.
While you have been at home, it can feel like the rest of the world has moved on, new technologies and jargon have arrived and a once supremely confident you feels intimidated by the prospect of returning to the world that you used to live in. In addition, you now have to balance your own career with your family logistics; assemblies, ill children, and sports days all conspire to make it feel unmanageable.
Sell your strengths and experiences
The single biggest obstacle for many parents returning to work is their own self confidence.
Re-read your CV and remind yourself of what you accomplished in your career before your break. Remember, just because you have been at home with your children does not mean that you have nothing to add to your CV.
Many parents returning to work will insert a line on their CV that reads something like “Career break - full time parent”, with the dates included. Underneath this it is wise to add in any school committees, sports clubs and voluntary positions that you have undertaken;are highly valued and can prove multi-tasking, organisational skills and an entrepreneurial edge. Don’t hide your time off, but celebrate it. Once you have identified the roles you have held, consider what you did, what skills you used, and include them on your CV. In addition, include anything you have done alongside parenting, such as online courses, freelance work, volunteering, helping with a family business, etc.
Flexible working
You may be happy to go back to work full time, but if you aren’t, there are other working patterns that you could consider to fit in with your family commitments, or to help ease you back into the workforce. Part time work is sometimes an option and many companies are open to home working or flexible working patterns. Some companies will be able to offer you work during school hours. If you see a job advertised that you like the look of, you can always arrange an informal meeting with the recruiter/employer to see if there is any scope for flexibility. Employers can be surprisingly flexible for the right candidate.
Change is an option
It may be that your previous career is simply not compatible with your family commitments, or you are using the break as an opportunity to make a change. If you want a change of direction, but are unsure of what you want to do, then you might want to consider taking the Morrisby Profile. No prior knowledge is necessary, but we look at your aptitudes, personality, and interests and then give you tailored careers advice. As well as giving you your own online account, the Morrisby Profile includes a meeting with a trained careers adviser.
More information on returning to work after a career break can be found in the returner toolkit (.gov.uk).
