After serving as the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama took a break to focus on her family and personal projects. She later returned to public life as an author and advocate, inspiring many with her memoir "Becoming" and her continued activism. Similarly, before achieving fame as the author of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling took a break from her career after facing numerous personal challenges, including divorce and single motherhood. She returned to writing and created one of the most successful book series of all time.
Like them, do you want to resume your career after being among the numerous women who took a temporary leave? You are not alone, though. Due to the high cost of child care and a general lack of acceptable maternity leave, many women take temporary breaks from their careers to care for their young children. In reality, the main reason women take temporary leave from their jobs is to care for family members. Many of these women may want to return to work at a later stage of their life, but it is not always easy. A career gap can become a challenging barrier for any job seeker. There’s always a dilemma in women whether to keep financial, family or personal needs first.
Here are some tips to keep in mind before making a comeback in your career-
Show Confidence: Don't feel apologetic or embarrassed about your career break. Don't undermine its value. Even family commitments such as elderly care and child care stand as warranted. If you lost your job and went back to studying, tell them about it. It is easy for women in our society not to think of working and contributing, but that thought shouldn't come into your mind. You need to bring out the confidence in you at your interview. That your resume has a small gap doesn't mean you are not as good as the next capable candidate.
Build Professional Connections: Note opportunities to join professional associations, network, and attend industry-specific conferences that will present you with an opportunity to learn something new or hear from individuals with similar interests. Expanding your network introduces you to those who will either become a hiring manager themselves, know someone that is hiring, serve as a reference for you in your job search, or become mentors who can help guide you on your job search.
Rework on Your Resume: Your confidence should be reflected in your resume too, so rework on your resume to make sure it conveys your belief in yourself. Also, make sure it uses current industry terminologies and emphasizes any previous skill sets that are still in demand. To do so, take a look at job qualifications on a job-listing site to learn what employers are looking for today and how those line up with your past experience. Then, rewrite your resume accordingly.
Prepare for Your Interview: Another way to secure a return to work is by nailing a great interview. You can prepare for this by practicing answers to questions about your absence. As you develop your answer, include what you're doing during your career break, and consider explaining why you made that choice. Get insight into the areas of your field that have changed, so you will know how and where to brush up your knowledge. Help the hiring manager be confident in you as a strong candidate for the role by projecting confidence in your responses.
Stay Focused: One of the first steps in returning to work is to assess your situation and focus on your needs. Review your education and experience, but also think about your skills, interests, strengths and what you value most in a new position and an employer. Keep in mind that both your interests and your skills may have changed since last you were employed. By focusing on what you want from a new position and narrowing down your job search to fit, you'll minimize the risk that you'll job-hop and maximize the potential for happiness in your new role.
Support from Family: Family and partner support is crucial for women re-entering the workforce after a career break. It offers emotional encouragement that boosts confidence and helps combat self-doubt. Practical assistance with household chores and childcare allows women to focus on their job search and transition smoothly. Additionally, leveraging family and partner networks can create job opportunities and professional introductions, making the return to work more effective and less stressful.
Although going back to work after a professional break may seem difficult, it is a brave step that is worthwhile. Women may effectively relaunch their professional careers despite the genuine obstacles they face if they adopt the correct mindset, make smart plans, and consistently work on improving themselves. Recognize that the workforce values variety and the distinct viewpoints and experiences that women can offer. After a professional sabbatical, going back to work is a journey that calls for bravery, tenacity, and planning. Women must accept the events that have shaped them during their sabbatical and acknowledge their value as they take on the challenge of re-entering the workforce. Women can successfully return to work and create doors to new and rewarding opportunities by heeding this advice and remaining proactive.