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Original poster

Have I committed career suicide with career break?!

16 replies

squeakyclean13 · 05/09/2021 21:07

I'm finally returning to work after 8 years. My youngest starts school tomorrow and I'm job hunting. I can't go back into my old work as it's not very compatible with picking up the kids from school (it involved travel and overnight stays in hotels which isn't feasible now) and I fear I've committed career suicide after such a long break. I look at what my peers have achieved and feel so depressed in comparison. Has anyone else successfully navigated the return to work in a new field? What tips would you give? Or am I stuffed?!!

OP posts:

StuffLikeThat · 05/09/2021 21:26

Not sure what field you are looking to enter but I know that some large companies have schemes for people returning to the workplace after a prolonged break- certainly one or two of the banks do. Be positive. Your reasons for having a break are perfectly legitimate. It will be daunting but I expect it's like riding a bike and once you have a job, it will be like you've never been away.

StuffLikeThat · 05/09/2021 21:27

home.barclays/careers/our-programmes/encore/

StuffLikeThat · 05/09/2021 21:28

womenreturners.com/returners/returner-opportunities/

StuffLikeThat · 05/09/2021 21:29

www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/careers/articles/return-to-work.html

sofakingcool · 05/09/2021 21:31

I didn't change career, but going back after 11 years of being a SAHM was tough! I found it so difficult to get anyone to take me on. In the end I managed to get a very temp job, they weren't bothered by my past (I was simply a pair of hands for a few weeks), then they asked me to stay on! I honestly think if I'd not been given that chance, I'd still be looking a year on.

I'd definitely advise anyone looking to take a career break/be a SAHM to make sure you keep your finger in something, even if it's very part time.

thesandwich · 05/09/2021 21:32

What have you done to keep your skills up to date and maintain contacts over this time? If you haven’t, a good time to upskill using free online courses coursera, futurelearn, loads of others.

minipie · 05/09/2021 21:36

Very few jobs are compatible with picking the kids up from school (and with school holidays). You will need to consider roles requiring childcare.

I understand not wanting to travel though, but are there other jobs in your old industry that don’t require travel? You may find the travel has dropped away anyway with covid and new technology.

I agree with looking at returner programmes, also get back in touch with old work colleagues/contacts - LinkedIn is great for this. You don’t need to say explicitly that you are looking, just do your profile, request to connect and they will probably work it out!

MackenCheese · 05/09/2021 21:37

I took a 5 year career break and at the end started looking at jobs, thinking the same way as you, OP I was really starting to worry as I work in a niche technical area. What I did was stay in contact with old colleagues (multinational company) and let them know I was available. Within 6 months they were asking me to take on a role similar to the one I left! So it can be done. Just don't burn any bridges and keep communications open. Good luck 🤞

tiredanddangerous · 05/09/2021 21:40

I went back last year after 12 years as a sahm. It did take me over a year to get my job but I needed term time only (child with SEN) so it was always going to be difficult.

minipie · 05/09/2021 21:44

how did you find returning MackenCheese? I am going back after a 4.5 yr break very soon and am worrying I won’t remember anything!

DramaAlpaca · 05/09/2021 21:49

I went back after 9 years as a SAHM. For the first few years I was part time, then went back full time when my youngest DC started secondary school. I went back into a completely different field to my previous one, and after a few years I'm much more senior than I was before my career break. I don't talk about my job on here so I'm not going into specifics, but just to say it absolutely can be done.

MackenCheese · 05/09/2021 22:19

I've found it surprisingly easy, as I was worried I would be rusty. It helped that I went back to the same company (slightly different role) so I knew the systems. I advise that you get on some courses and start brushing up your skills. A potential employer will look at that in your cv - even if you are part way through the course - and know that you mean business. Good luck 🤞

Gherkingreen · 05/09/2021 22:34

I returned to FT work after about a decade of raising my family, although I did still do some bits of freelance work throughout as and when it fitted in.
I struggled a bit with confidence and imposter syndrome when I returned, at a senior-ish level in a related profession to the one I trained for and worked in during my early career. I'm a few years in now and now very comfortable and confident in what I have to offer.
Main advice would be get to grips with changes in technology and learn how to work effectively remotely as many jobs will be non-office based for the foreseeable. And remember that you will have multiple transferrable skills to bring and loads of experience to benefit from.

Original poster

squeakyclean13 · 07/09/2021 13:00

Thank you all for your input, it helps to get new perspectives. I'll have a look at the free courses and see what I can find

OP posts:

Eesha · 16/10/2021 07:06

There are two issues raised here, going back to work plus comparing yourself with others who may not have taken a break. I took 5 years off from finance (single parent) and actually found a new role contracting in the same field. I would advise speaking with relevant agencies in your field who could pitch you as a parent returning to work rather than you lost amongst many more job hunters. Returners programmes are rife but were at a much higher level than for me.

I do report to people younger and who have no children but my work life balance is excellent and I can do all the pick ups and drop offs on my own. I try and avoid any talk of children as none of my team have them! I work longer hours in the evening so I'm always on top of things. If you want to get to where your peers are, I think you can do it if you have strong support at home because employers will know you have got the early child rearing stuff out of the way and can focus on the job in hand.

Don't sell yourself short! Good luck!

Firstdayofautumn · 16/10/2021 07:35

I went back to work after 10 years to an entirely different job. I earn a lot less money but I enjoy it and worked reduced hours while children were young. I did voluntary work for a year and a part time course whilst applying for jobs which helped in terms of having a mix of old and more to to date experience to talk about at interview, and got me used to functioning in the adult world again.

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