Applying for more junior role after a break

[goteam]

Hoping for some advice! I have taken 18 months out of work to stay at home with young children. Prior to this I worked in the charity sector for 15 years, starting in admin with a few sideways moves and was a manager by the time I left (having worked in four different charities). I have just seen a job for a charity I would love to work for. Just two days a week and local (rare in London). The only problem is it's admin. I'm not hugely ambitious but like to think that when my kids start school in a couple of years, I could return to a similar role as before.

Is it a bad idea to take a more junior role as an interim? I really love the charity so it's not just a 'making do' job...

It's a tricky one.

If you get on well with the new role you might find there are promotion prospects. But if you feel the downgrade would do huge harm to your CV then you might want to give it a miss.

I took a step down after a two year career break but after a year I was promoted anyway. It's still not as respected a role as I used to do but it's perfectly reasonable and flexible. Personally I needed a pt job with flexibility more than I needed to maintain the perception of career progression but it may be industry specific.

Thanks secret. That is indeed the quandary! It's quite a small charity so not sure there would be promotion prospects. I also wonder whether they would take me on anyway. I too just want to maintain the perception of career progression and have been doing the odd bit of consultancy for that reason. But really at this point in my life, flexibility, being part time, short commute etc are much more important than actual career progression!

Also, my last job was very london centric (think policy public affairs type role ) and we plan on moving out of London in a few years so I know I need to think long term...