Back to work after a long leave

[mayflower21]

Had four years leave after having a baby. I'm not getting any replies to my applications. Is finding a job after maternity leave so hard?
Or is it something else and I'm blaming it on that. What did you put on cv for the period of not working?

There is usually a space on applications for you to explain what you have been doing in that time.
You were taking care of your child/children so it shouldn't be an issue. If you haven't heard back then I just think those jobs aren't the right fit for you and your life right now.

I have put that I have been a SAHM but that's only once. My other gap was being at university

Good luck on your search 😊

Thank you. That is reassuring. It's been a while since I applied for a job so maybe just not doing it right or am simply not the right fit for them

It's SO hard. People snap my hand off to work for them now, when I applied after my mat leave no-one gave a shit. I'm the same person, had most of the same skills. I think I've applied for my current employer about 5 times in the past with no interview. You just have to keep going, keep motivated, hard as it is.

I think I put career break or something like that, but what got me the job was application after application. Eventually I got a really crappy 2 days a week fixed contract but 4 years later I'm full time (by choice) in a senior role and earning £10k more. Sometimes you have to take something unpopular to get a foot in the door again.

Like any sort of person facing discrimination, you have to be 10x better than the equivalent person, so get some good advice on your applications and interviews. I signed on which was actually a good experience, some supportive people, second pair of eyes for CV and discipline to apply for a lot of jobs.

Reskill too, anything IT based, even your regular office applications, they've changed a lot in recent years and now teams, sharepoint etc are all commonly used.

Good luck, keep going.

The other poster said "it shouldn't be an issue" and it shouldn't, but it is. Many managers won't hire someone of child bearing age or with young kids, it's commonly talked about from financial services to public sector, just never in ear shot of someone likely to bring a tribunal. Try looking up maternity action and pregnant then screwed, so many brilliant women up and down this country thinking it's them, not the employer. Honestly you are good enough, it's just finding and employer that's good enough that's the hard bit.

Just wanted to say, there's a whole "Back to Work" section on here - https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/going_back_to_work

Not to say you shouldn't post this on AIBU, esp as it'll get more traffic here since it's late, but you might find some of the posts over there interesting too. There's a SAHM back to work support thread right at the top with some people in similar situations.

I think it's typically a little harder to find a job when you're not in work and when there's a gap, but it's not like you don't have a good explanation. If it's skilled work in a specific field, though, there may be a perception that your skills wouldn't be current after a few years out and you might need to highlight how you've kept your skills/knowledge up, etc. Otherwise it may just be normal turn-around time - it always seems slow when you're ready to go back but haven't found the right place yet.

@Yazo - I have that book "Pregnant and Screwed".
Haven't started it yet though but I've been in the same situation that's why I bought it

@Yazo thanks so much for the pep talk and empathy! Yes I've heard re some employers not wanting to hire child bearing age women too, but I thought it wasn't very common.
Will keep trying

Thank you! And the link you've sent is really helpful didn't realise there was a section on that here

I was in this position but after 8 years. I took a voluntary job. Sucked working for no money but I did get a job eventually so it was worth it.

Thank you. How long did you volunteer for?
That'd be my last resort, as need to sort childcare.

I was in the same situation after 8 years off, and I ended up being successful applying for a returners programme. If you look up the website for Women Returners ( they also have a Facebook page), they have lots of good information , CV writing clinics, webinars etc. Returner programmes tend to be for people who have had a break of at least two years.
I also found, like a PP, that once I was back in work I was contacted by recruiters, when nobody was interested before.
Is there an opportunity to do volunteering related to your career or skills, or a way of getting involved with a professional organisation linked to your role? That is always useful for networking and adds skills to your CV.
Good luck, it took me two years to find a job, but 5 years later I am still really enjoying it , and it gets easier as the children become more independent.

6 months. I really enjoyed it. But both my kids were in school when I worked and the charity paid my travel costs, otherwise I’d not have been able to afford it.

I don’t know if I was just very lucky but a friend of mine persuaded me to apply for a job in a very large firm as a trainee. I applied and was successful.
My CV was very honest, stating I had been a sahm and a carer for 8 years. Luckily I was completely honest as the background checks checked EVERYTHING!
Good luck

Are you applying for the same sort of roles you did pre kids or something different?
I think it can depend a lot on what industry you're in, I work in marketing and went back after mat leave because its a fast paced industry and I didn't think it would be easy to get back in after a longer break. I have friends who were teachers, so it's less of a concern to them as jobs will always come up and people are leaving teaching in droves