Coming back to the work after an extended maternity leave-5 tips to resume career momentum

As a Career Coach for new migrants & job seekers in my business Careers Reborn, I recently met a woman who was finding it difficult to get back into the workforce after a slightly long career break post pregnancy and raising children. Most women want to devote all their attention to their babies, at their tender age or at least till they are of school age.  She now wanted to get back to work as they were ready for pre-school. Adding to that she had also migrated to Australia during this so called ‘time off’.

She was frustrated and asking if it was this difficult for people like her, to come back into the work force after taking a slightly long gap. While she has gone through my career coaching and landed a new job successfully through the silver package, here is what I would suggest anyone planning on doing the same to avoid getting stuck in a similar situation.

Firstly you are the same high flying career women you were say 3 to 5 years ago. If you could achieve success before, you can do it now, not necessarily exact way again, but in another way maybe.  Never let doubt creep into your mind. Plug the loopholes and clear out those thoughts who say you are a ‘has been’. Belief is the big mental step followed by right attitude and commitment towards your objective.

Secondly taking time off work does not mean switching off work totally. Try to keep yourself busy and do part time work or work from home if possible. At least keep in touch with your work, colleagues and what’s happening in the job market. For example, doing costing or project reports or even simple documentation from home for various company projects. I know someone who learned and did something totally different in order to work from home.

Thirdly keep training or learning the latest skills. This is a crucial step that most women taking time off work sometimes don’t do. Keep yourself in the game indirectly. Keep learning latest softwares, tools and /or work techniques. If you cannot do it all the time try to re-train yourself before coming back into the job market. If you apply with same old skills you may not go very far.

Fourthly accept the fact that things change. Systems and procedures change. People change. Office locations change. Company strategies and budgets change. Softwares change. Work is out sourced and done differently nowadays. It’s more the lean and mean way of doing things. Work is there, but the way to do it has changed.

Fifth point is to keep networking and don’t lose out on your contacts and connections. Attend old office parties, annual Christmas dinners and reunions. It’s surprising what you might hear, like a new division being started, or your ex-boss being promoted and looking for a new executive.

Sixth point is you may need someone to motivate you and coach you along the way. Career Consultants are there for a reason. Yes they do charge fees, but which professionals don’t?  You are the same women you were few years ago. In fact you are now wiser and more mature person with a new resilience called patience acquired while raising your child(ren).

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