To ask if you've got any success stories in your career after a break or having children?

[Bellabooboo]

Of moving your career on following having children?

Im 34 and Ive been working in my profession for 11 years and Ive worked in a variety of industries. Over the past 6 years Ive specialised in my profession but where I have specialised in takes up a lot of my profession. However my role at my existing company has been downgraded (It was brain numbing enough) so after being off having babies for 3 years (short return in between), Ive decided that enough is enough and I want to be more generalist in my profession again.

Opportunities in my existing firm always come up when Im heavily pregnant or have a newborn (though my most recent is my last) and Ive had my 5th interview and 5th rejection today, of course nobody offers any feedback and Im beginning to think perhaps I should leave the profession- perhaps I'm not right for it. I've been looking for part time roles in my profession which seem to come up few and far between. DH says 'oh well just do it for the money' (as he finishes a masters for his career which is accelerating) but effectively when I return I will essentially be an administrator which I didn't train for and all the exciting work goes elsewhere.

AIBU to just give up and let my skills continue to be diluted?

Are there any senior people in your profession who could act as a mentor?

Not that I am in contact with at the moment. I've been out of my organisation for 3 years due to 2 maternity leaves and then short return.
I'm sure I could try and find someone who could mentor me.

My mum managed to go from stacking shelves, to doing a degree, and being on a 70000 salary in under ten years. She started when I (eldest) was in my last year of secondary school. I helped regularly w. Childcare for younger siblings. She did incredibly. It's certainly possible.

Be resilient. You've had 5 interviews, so clearly not aiming above your competence. Maybe it will take 6, or 12, or more. Just keep going!

God I hate how sidelining at work happens over pregnancy/on return from mat leave, just when ideally an employer would be most supportive if your career. I'm in a similar situation but secretly pregnant with third, so another mat leave to go. All I can say is good luck and don't give up... It's hard but I'm almost looking at it as surviving/career continuation at the moment until I can settle back after a third leave and them look around for somewhere new. Look around and keep making it clear you want more interesting work where you are

Well I went from just an ordinary teacher to head of department within 3 years of going back to work. I'm Deputy head of year now and could go further if I wanted to, but I don't want the extra fuss.

It can happen!

Gave up full time job after had DS and went to uni when he was 2. Could not return to work on part time basics after maternity leave. At that time it was ideal solution for us - 3 days a week at uni and still plenty time could be spend with the little one. Went back to full time job 3 years later whilst still doing some post graduate qualifications (self studying+ a few exams). Pretty busy and challenging, but don't regret anything. I've made a plan when started the uni including where I want to be in the next 5-10 years then just followed it step by step. It took a few years but is so rewarding now when I look back. Please don't give up, keep trying, read motivational books/posters every day, print some quotes and stick to the wall to look at them hundred times a day, it works wonders! And think of interview as just another lesson, you will get there

Maybe it's just an interview skills that you need to master? If you have been at 5 interviews recently it makes me thinking that you have enough experience, great cv but it is just maybe learning how to answer these crazy questions they always ask?

Maybe it is just interview skills. I am completely lacking in confidence at the moment feeling my skills have been diluted and that my job has been dumbed down since I was on mat leave.

I am naturally a really friendly and tend to click with most people. But in interviews I clam up so quickly!

Thank you for the support. I'm going to keep a look out for some courses etc

Are the interviews within your company? Do they think you may go on mat leave again?? (wrong I know, but do they think they will offer you the job then within months you may be off again for a year?)

I've been made redundant just as I was about to return from maternity leave
I'm going to do a night class CIPD in a not dissimilar profession to what I have been doing but will get me out of the niche corner I've been in and hopefully make it easier to get jobs.
I've been applying for jobs in the profession that I want to work in with no success so far and I wanted to go back part time - hardly any part time roles.
Have accepted that I will have to go full time and probably take a pay cut to my previous role in the time being until I'm qualified.
Luckily money isn't an issue as dh has a great income and I have 40% shares in his company.
Definitely look into retraining if possible. I know how you feel re feeling deskilled. I finished for mat leave at the end of June 2016 and all I've thought about is nappies since.
I've taken to filing my husbands company accounts and replying to his emails just to keep myself computer literate.

I'm in a similar situation to you Kaytee, my DH earns enough to keep us going but its not all about the money for me its about my own stimulation and using my brains!

The interviews aren't at my existing company. I tend not to apply for anything at my existing place as I know whenever jobs are advertised they already have someone in mind or they don't even bother advertising and just appoint people. Unfortunately Im not a butt kisser so I don't tend to get those roles.