To ask if anyone has any success stories of a career after career break?

[RainRainComeAgain]

Inspired by the various childcare threads as although I am a SAHM I find myself nodding in understanding with points made about returning to a career, setting an example and financial independence etc and although I absolutely love being at home I do find myself up at night worrying about this.

I have a 20 month old and didn't return from mat leave for very specific reasons (terminally ill relative at the time, husband starting new role with long and uncertain hours, my own long hours in previous role and long commute). I realise we are very fortunate that he earns enough to pay (small) mortgage and bills, with just enough left over to enjoy some things (I have given up most luxuries and my hobby but we probably could manage it if I really wanted) plus pay life insurance and illness cover etc and I'd like to discuss my pension albeit I plan to return to work. That said, I'm acutely aware things can change.

DS is due major surgery next year which might need me to be around for quite some time and we are planning another child in the near future too (once DS recovered.)

My husband is very supportive of me being at home at the moment but we both agree I'd like to return to a career when DS at school or preschool.

This is where I wonder if we're just dreaming; I've usually been quite determined and successful (maybe lucky too) in getting roles and made it from absolute bottom to manager role within three years at my last workplace, but I appreciate whole years out is a different kettle of fish.

I'd be open to retraining and starting again if necessary but would like to get to somewhere where I can earn enough to give DC opportunities and also provide an example.

Has anybody got any examples of a successful career after a break of three or more years? Is it possible? I don't necessarily mean high flying lawyer but just a fulfilling and progressive role.

Jumping on to see what other posters have to say. Am in similar boat to you OP in that I am currently at home but would like to get back in to a good career.

I took 10 years out of teaching to be a SAHM. Relocated, tried to get a part time job (like hens' teeth) and eventually returned full time.

Same career though.

Also following,
It's so hard tho I think realistically it prob best to wait till kids are settled in primary school to retrain in somthing that requires study or indepth training. What do you want to do if you could could do anything?

I returned 6months ago when baby was 1,tho part time at 2 long shifts however I struggle having a 90min commute if anything would happen I can't rush back. Hoping to try for second now and then not go back or take career break after, or if not just want to work locally for social reasons really but then I'd be giving up a good job and wage but it's not making me happy, and I think that's more important. Goodluck

Yes I took five years off as I had 2 under 2 . Returned back to same job . No problems at all .

I started a totally new career after having children. I used to teach secondary school and it's very tangentially related but required studying for different qualifications part time while working. I sort of took ten years out (3 children) but not completely as I always did little bit of work, teaching evening classes or tutoring or for a couple of years between babies 2 and 3 teaching one day per week.
I also moved abroad and had to learn a new language from scratch during my decade of mainly being a sahm.

My new career is in a shortage area and pays better than my previous one if you look at the per hour pay because the salary is similar but there's no taking work home with you and extra hours worked are taken in lieu, so you genuinely work the hours on your contract balanced over the year.

So it's been a success I guess, and if I hadn't taken the time out I wouldn't have done it.

Retraining with a heavy exam and coursework load is a bit shitty whilst working and raising children, but I wouldn't have wanted to return to teaching (my qualifications aren't recognised where I live now so I'd have had to retrain even to return to the same job).

Thanks. This is encouraging

I'd love to work in medical science but I think I've missed that boat now really, especially if I want to have any family time later down the line!

There's two more realistic accessible careers with reasonable pay that I would consider if I can't get back into my previous sector (although the skills for that are very open - ie customer services management so the industry shouldn't matter too much)

Started retraining when my maternity ended, wanted another career before he hit school. So I did a conversion MSc part time and now in a relatively well paid sector, but more importantly, it is great for work/life/family balance.

I had an 8 year career break, in which I also moved countries so I had no job to return to. I work in quite an unusual line of work and also live quite rurally, so was initially quite limited for options when I wanted to go back to work. I ended up volunteering for 10 months (15 hours a week) to prove to my now employers that I was worth employing. I had lots of negativity from some friends and family about working for free, but I felt it was the right thing to do at the time. I was proved right, a role was created for me and I've got a great job I love, it fits with the family and it pays really well. When I was a SAHP I did get a lot of "you'll never get another job like your old one" from some people who just seemed hell bent on insisting that anyone who had taken a career break had to expect to trade down in their career when returning to work. I've always worked on the principle that some people manage to get great jobs, so why couldn't I be one of them. Good luck OP

I had a career break and when I tried to return to it got told that my skills were outdated and I wouldn’t be suitable for a job that just required A level when I was degree educated. It was in the scientific industry. I was very upset and depressed about that as I had only been out of it for 6 years.
I had considered becoming a teacher prior to having children. The teaching profession welcomed me with open arms. I’ve now been teaching for eight years. I wouldn’t say it’s always the most child friendly job but the holidays, job security and pension are good. Also the actual being in the classroom is fun too.

I returned to the workplace in my 40s and it was so different to my pre-child experiences.

I spent 15 years working in jobs where I was not allowed to learn new things ('none of your business', 'only X is allowed to do that', 'who do you think you are? Y has been here for far longer than you and she is happy with her lot') and I was miserable and depressed because I couldn't get any decent experince on my CV, I was so limited, and I couldn't find a new job because of that lack of experince.

In my new work life, I started again at the very bottom in terms of salary but my employer is amazing. From the very start it has been 'you're capable of so much more than this job. Let's get you some experience for your CV. Would you like to learn this? Would you like to go on that training course? Start studying for professional exams, it's not too late'. It has been completely life changing.

If I had managed to get a job with such a good employer when I was young my life would have been so different.

Go for it, try something new, never think it is too late.

I has 11 years out due to children and living abroad. Started back into the same career (teaching) part time and quickly climbed the ladder again. Am now working at a higher level than previously. I have been surprised as I thought it would have been more difficult then it has been. I have been fortunate to be in the right place at the right time for different opportunities.

Twice! I retrained when my first was born and worked in the field for almost 10 years.

I gave up that job to care for my mother who eventually died. 2 years I was out of the workplace. I'm now building up a new career in a related field, but a totally different job.

I think I was both determined and lucky.

Look up programs specifically for 'returners' who have been out of work for a while. Companies have started to realise that there's a giant talent pool out there of, let's face it, mostly women who've taken a career break to raise a family. They run schemes similar to those for graduates. My company does one and it's been really successful, people going into roles at all levels.
Might be an option when you're ready to go back?

Yes I did. Had DS after having left work for other reasons -,work that bored me rigid and offered very little in the way of advancement. Then when DS was very small I started in a different field - very part time, say 2 hours per week, and gradually built up. When I recently retired I was in a high status intellectually challenging role and earned, for me, a shedload. That would never have happened had I stayed in the original field. PS I’m genuinely not boasting, just giving context,

I was out of the workplace caring for parents full time. I went back to college, I went into Nursing.

It's worked out very well for me as I work part time hours with no weekends or nights so is very family friendly. And I will never be unemployed.

But I retrained before I had kids - it's not a course that's easy to do with kids.

In your shoes I'd probably look at Physiology courses. That job is always fairly 9-5 and is very interesting, there are 3 or 4 areas you can choose to go into. Pays well too.

I haven't been in this situation although may be in future as expecting DC2 and wondering about taking a career break after that. However, from observing others do the same (mostly women, let's face it) what I've noticed is that those who do best when they return to work are those who have a lot of support behind them usually from a partner. Would your DH be willing to go part time for a while and/or put his career on the back burner for a bit to enable you to fully focus on building a new career? I've also seen other women at work who either had a lot of family support locally (grandparents to do school pick ups etc) or got a nanny.

When I'm not sure it can work is if you want to build a new career but trying to work school hours/term time and still being the default person on call for when kids are sick, booking kids appointments, running the home with DH not sharing the load.

These are really helpful, thank you

It is tricky that we don't have any family nearby that can help at all, which is part of the reason for my decision not to go back at the time a few months ago. I think DH would support me but he will (all being well) also have a lot on his plate at the time. I guess we'll need to play it all by ear

I had a budding career but my new job was eliminated just after I got pregnant. My DH was able to support us and my children became my project, for 12 years. During that time I looked for work but nothing came by, possibly because we were in recessionary era. I was then very very lucky to get a job at a small company whose owner allowed me flexible time to work remotely from home when my children were not at school. Once my DS were in high school I was able to work nearly full time. I have been underpaid and was conscious of being underpaid, relative to my education and output. I have been recently promoted and my prospects are good. If I were ever to be let go I doubt I could find a job at my age (50s).

Things I wish I had done:
-Kept up with my education. Not using my technical background for 12 years meant I forgot a lot. Right now, taking qualifying exams that would allow me to command a higher salary are beyond my ability. I would have to cram and re-learn high school and college material to pass these tests and it would take years to do that. Don't let your training lapse or your mind stagnate.
-Worked part time as soon as the DS were both in school. I did try and didn't find anything. I volunteered in the schools to keep busy but felt quite superfluous during this time. I kept house, gardened and gave my DS the security of having a stable home life but it was at the cost of my self-respect and future career prospects. I know what I did was valuable but I can't live on praise and no income.

RainRainComeAgain I retrained with only the support of my nuclear family (dh and DC) but started when my youngest DC was 6. DH works full time office hours but has some flexibility, time in lieu and very generous holiday. Getting study at home done is the most difficult thing, coupled with the fact that as a mature student workmates forget you aren't fully qualified and are meant to be mentored and get study time, so you have to fight for the support a 20 something trainee/ early career college gets automatically.

My MIL was healthy when I got my training/ student place but was diagnosed with cancer and died very quickly two months before the start date She would have supported me with childcare but as it was I paid a neighbor to fetch the youngest from after-school program which finishes at 4:30pm...

He had problems with a bully at the after school care though and I took him out in my last year - my 14 year old was "in charge" and this actually works far better. The after school program was too much for him and he was quite stressed out and emotional. He actually gets his homework done better at home simply with the companionship and example of his luckily fairly diligent older siblings - he never got it finished at after school club so we were still struggling with it late in the evening or writing notes explaining why it wasn't done.

Having to skip out early to take my own DC to appointments is a big struggle - they don't even have any specific health issues and are remarkably healthy, but there are phases when all 3 manage to be plagued with sporting injuries at once, plus orthodontic treatment... It adds up.

It can be done without family support though - my fil doesn't even acknowledge his grandchildren's birthdays let alone help out in any way, and my family are a flight away.

It's a bit much sometimes but it keeps life interesting, I must admit I need a certain amount of change and variety in my life and get really down when I get into a rut, so a new career/ retraining provides that. It's positive overall IMO.

Totally possible. My DSis has just done this. She used to work in retail, was made redundant when the business folded, then was a SAHM for about 5 years.
She retrained to set up on her own as a childminder, but then got distracted when a temporary job came up as a part time nursery school TA in her kids' school. She applied, got the job and is now full-time, permanent and absolutely loving it.

I had a seven year break, from employment. I did do some freelancing for a few years, part time, and then once second baby was born, a year just pure SAHM.

I then decided I wanted to get out of the house. I took ST contract doing some forecasting in a drug company (I have a science and financial background). It was low pay compared to what I had done before, but it got me out of the house. When my contract came to and end, I applied for a PT permanent role at the same company and got it.

Nearly 10 years later, I'm head of department in a bigger company, full time, very senior.

Still can't quite believe it, but it can be done.

I had 7 years out. Went back in at the bottom and worked my way to senior management picking up 2 professional qualifications on the way, with the third starting soon.

Also as a single parent I feel very lucky to work for a brilliant employer.

I was a middle manager in the Civil Service before taking 10 years out to have my children. I then retrained as a primary school teacher and am now a primary Head. ( In between I became a single parent too!)

I only had a few years out but wouldn’t advise leaving it much longer, I was up against a lot of competition for every job and it took a lot of hard work to get back to where I had been. It’s not a whole lot easier once kids are at school either, the school holidays are 10 plus weeks and school ends at 3.30. But childcare should be considered a joint outgoing, not just from your pay, it’s your husband’s responsibility too. I now earn a good salary but that’s as a result of being back at work for many years, working hard and full time, moving jobs to get promoted and not stepping off again. It also helped that between us we earned enough to pay for decent childcare and support, we’ve had no family help at all. Good luck. Our children are now older and have had a nice life, partly as a result of dh and I both earning well and I wouldn’t change it at all.