Six year career break to raise 3 children now looking at returning to work and feeling old and out of touch…..

[Temporarynameforthisone]

How do I return to work?

I left my last job thanks to redundancy after maternity leave.

I have 20+ years experience. When I left I was middle management with line management experience and I was good at my job.

After six years at home due to lack of childcare options, I want/need to return to work but I feel so out of touch. Everyone keeps telling me how much IT has changed and how I will feel so old going back as a mum of three young ones.

If you had a similar length career break did you feel like this? Did you go back to your ‘old career’? Did you return to a similar position and salary to what you left on or did you have to take a position and salary drop?

How did you explain/justify your career break?

Can you enrol at the local college? They often do IT courses.

You say you took time out to raise a family.

When industry were you in? I suppose you start by looking around for vacancies, and start applying, either in your old industry or in new areas.

I took 6 years too. I just said “career break to raise family”. I went back in at same level (different company similar/same job/title) because I had qualifications and experience. I’m now back at the same level as if I hadn’t taken a break.

I will say the first 3 months were hard in terms of having imposter syndrome. But I just keep going.

good luck, you can do it

@Temporarynameforthisone you may find the Mature Study and Retraining board useful. It was set up to support people in exactly this situation. (And similar.)

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

I was off work and a SAHM for even longer than you! I changed direction and went into a different (but related) job. It was really stressful at first but after about 3 months I was back into it. That was 10 years ago now! Good luck OP. Hopefully it won't be as hard as you think.

Doing some general certifications such as ITIL, Agile, Prince will help bridge the gap.

And unless you actually work in IT I don’t think things have advanced that much in 6 years. Have you used Teams before?

I had a 5 year career break for child-rearing. I blagged my way back in, stressing all the new skills I had learned as a home manager. Do a quick course to update if needs be.

Obviously it depends on your job but I expect the biggest difference will be the use of Microsoft teams, virtual meetings and the general shift towards paperless processes.

I'd really recommend taking a look at joining the civil service. I'd taken a big career break to raise my children too. It wasn't even touched on during my interview. Likewise, out of touch re IT skills, my colleagues have been very understanding and appreciate that my skills lie elsewhere and take the time to show me how things work. I've also found using YouTube really helpful for tutorials on MS office skills.

Who is telling you that it’s changed? Are they really knowledgeable about this? Otherwise I would ignore them and do your own research!

When you say IT do you mean the sector or just the technology you would use in your role? I don’t think the sector has altered that radically in that time and if it’s using Office or whatever you can do online courses etc to brush up easily.

Can you afford a career coach? You might feel more confident and have a better understanding of what would be a good fit for you from that.

I’ve had 12 years and first interview Monday. I’m 51 - 52 this summer (if it comes!) and I’ve opted to go down a level as priorities have changed but like you - I’m out of touch with some IT developments, but know a bit from the husband home working. I am more worried about saying I’ve had 12 years out to raise my family, and why I don’t want to return as a manager. I figured honesty is probably best.

Plus fashion has changed and now I’m in my 50s. It used to be tights, skirts and heels and I read on mumsnet it’s not anymore. I’m having to tan my poor white legs.

Good luck OP in the job hunt.

Check out the various career returner programmes, they offer more structured support and will help ease the transition.

https://careerreturners.com/returners/returner-opportunities-programmes/

I totally get how you’re feeling! I was in the same boat after being out of work for years. It’s scary thinking about how much has changed, especially with all the tech stuff. But honestly, you might be surprised how quickly it all comes back to you.

I found that leaning into the skills I gained while managing the kids and the house (like serious multitasking!) helped a lot. There are some great tools and communities out there specifically for mums returning to work that can help you brush up on what’s new. ivee.jobs is good for this, or there’s plenty of forums on here to give you more general advice!

Don’t sell yourself short—your experience is gold, and there are companies out there that get it. You’ve got this!

i had 6 years out and returned 5 years ago. Unless you are in cutting edge IT, it won’t have changed that much. We had moved country, so on my cv I put maternity leave followed by international move, and left it at that. I just went into the same sector and at the same level as I left. I didn’t do the same rule, but a rule I had done 10 years before, that always seems to have jobs ( as it’s pretty awful!) I did it to get a foot in the door and have moved on from that since.

it’s fine. I am very glad I did it after 6 years rather than more, as 6 is easier to justify than 10 + in my sector.

Good luck!

Thank you everyone.

Within days of posting my question I was called back for a follow up appointment to my first ever mammogram. I’ve since been diagnosed with breast cancer, can’t believe it. I start chemo soon. I asked my consultant how long my treatment will take, chemo, surgery, radiotherapy, and I’ve been told to put my job search on hold for a year. Can’t believe it. I was excited to be going back to work and resurrecting my career. I just hope beyond hope I’m job hunting this time next year 😊

All the best OP - I’m sure I’m not the only person who will be rooting for a speedy recovery for you to get back to something interesting work wise when you are ready to go for it , 💪💐

Wishing you all the best Op, sending you prayers and good wishes for a full return to health and a return to work in due course ♥️♥️

I had my son almost directly out of Uni so only a few months career if you like. I didn't work for 17 years because of the kids / my health / dh working abroad.

I've recently started a new work from home role and I love it. I panicked I wouldn't be able to do it but I can. It's not well paid as it's in the charity sector but I really enjoy it.

Oh OP ignore my last post I hadn't read your update.

I'm sorry you're going through this - I really hope your treatment is swift and effective

Good luck with the cancer treatment t a f job hunting @thaegumathteth .

One day at a time.

Oh no @Temporarynameforthisone I'm so sorry to hear this. Wishing you all the best for your treatment.

OP, you sound like me 10 years ago. I'd had a long career break of 11 years, decided I'd go back to retrain as a mental health nurse, got a place on the course, and was looking forward to starting afresh. Then, I was diagnosed with BC and had to start treatment, and it would last a year. It's awful as you feel like your whole life has been pulled from under you. Anyway, 10 years later, I'm still here. I retrained as a teacher in the end; I taught for 3 years, and I've now gone back to my original profession. Anyway, I hope your treatment goes well and don't ever think you're too old to do something new.