No confidence applying for jobs

[Sesame2011]

I haven't been to a proper job interview in 9 years. Ive been with my employer since then and only had 1 informal interview in that time with colleagues I knew. Now its time for me to move on but I'm completely overwhelmed.

I also returned from maternity leave this year to what is basically a different job and company (we were bought over) and my confidence in my job is in tatters. I've gone from being happy in my job and good at it too to feeling like I know nothing and can't do anything right.

I want a new job and have updated my CV. But when I look for jobs in the same field I'm currently in I am questioning if I am experienced enough. Do I apply and wing it or do I just accept its unlikely so not to bother applying.

I'm so anxious about the thought of formal interviews that I already feel like I might decline if any come my way.

I'm also looking for flexible working and have no idea how and when to word this to prospective employers. Before my baby, I never had to think about this. Any tips?

My current employer also changed our contracts so I now have to work a 12 week notice which I feel has me in a chokehold. I'm not senior in any way and feel potential employers may be put off by this.

I feel like it would just be easier to stay in my job and be miserable!

Any advice?

Hi Sesame2011, a few thoughts. You absolutely can apply — the 9-year interview gap reads much better when you own it in one honest line: "I returned from maternity leave this year into a restructured role following the company's sale, so my last formal interview was nine years ago; I'm keen to be back in the job market." That explains the gap without apologising for it and shows you're experienced. On the CV, cut it back to the last 10–12 years and lead with the roles and achievements most relevant to the job you're targeting — mirror the advert's wording in your bullet points (if they say "stakeholder management", use that phrase) and quantify your results with numbers wherever you can ("processed X claims a week", "reduced errors by Y%", "trained Z new starters") rather than leaving it as duties. For flexible working, don't wait to be asked nicely in an interview: put it in your closing cover-letter line ("I'm available full-time and would welcome hybrid/flexible hours around school runs") so you flag it positively up front, and only raise detailed arrangements once you have an offer or are at the "next steps" stage. During the 12-week notice, treat it as a prep window rather than a chokehold: do a mock interview with a friend (lots of free practice frameworks online), tailor one CV to the type of role you want, and send two or three well-targeted applications a week — small, steady and measurable beats a big list of spray-and-pray applications. You've worked in the profession for years and you've already updated your CV, so the skills are there; it's the rustiness on interviewing that's the real hump and that clears quickly once you've done two or three.

Thank you, thats a really wise and helpful response.

Also. They ordinarily can’t change your notice period unless you agree to that contractual change. So you might want to check that with them when you find the role you want to accept.
Re interviews, I used to find them terrifying. Then I realised that no one has the right answers except you. They’re asking about you - your experience and skills, ideas and opinions. You might not get the job, because someone else might be better suited to what they’re looking for - but try and relax in the process because the expert on you, is you.

A 12-week notice period seems completely extreme. I’d be getting some union advice, if you have one, on whether that’s even allowed.