Any success stories following extended mat leave?

[AboutAGirlx]

I’m hoping you can all share success stories following a period of extended mat leave, after I received a disappointing rejection letter today; the role was a basic admin position for 12 hours per week (maternity cover only).

I have an Oxbridge degree, and my career background is in Project Management. I took maternity leave approaching 10 years ago, had 2 children under 18 months, relocated just after the children started school and did a huge house renovation. I volunteer extensively in various roles (I’m a cub leader, for example).

I only want a part time role, and feel utterly deflated after this knock back. Please tell me there is hope!

Could you set up on your own as a project manager? You'd be wasted in basic administration.

Thank you. I hadn’t even considered that; I’ll definitely look into it.

I only went for the role as my husband travels a lot for work and the children are in private school until the end of primary so their holidays are inexplicably long; I was hoping it would give me some interim experience until I can look at doing something more challenging when they’re at secondary.