In my twenties, I had a good career in a specialist sector in London. I progressed well within the company (now defunct due to acquisition), managed teams and got frequent calls from headhunters. My personal life was, however, a car crash and I rather stupidly gave my notice in, sold my house, left London and severed all ties. Fast forward 10 years, I have a great personal life but have reached what feels like a career impasse and have completely lost my confidence at work.
After leaving London, I've worked locally in non career jobs and, since having the children, part time. Initially, I didn't work because I didn't need to (this doesn't seem to go down very well at interview BTW). I'm still in a management position but it's very much junior management/supervisory and I don't feel like I've developed any new skills or learned anything marketable for a long, long time. I'm bored, stale and am finding it hard to conjure up any recent achievements for applications/interviews or even the confidence to apply for anything. Although I've been working, I feel like I've been out of the 'proper' job market if that makes sense.
Youngest is now about to start school and I have a fantastic opportunity to forge a career again as I could go full time or have two days a week to volunteer/train but I am really struggling with both confidence and direction. The times when I didn't need to work are long gone financially and I want to feel passionate and engaged about my work again.
Any words of wisdom for someone who is obviously spectacularly useless at career planning?