Kirsten Lees
|
Let go of my leg!Top ten tips on getting back to work Recognise the opportunity
Time off to have children – whether it is 3 months or 3 years – may be just the shot in the arm your career needs. Its an opportunity to consider your working life from a new perspective, to do a reality check on how closely it fits to what you want to do or who you want to be. You may never get such a great chance to reassess your circumstances and recreate your working life again. Plan ahead The smart ones among us think about how they are going to manage the impact of children on their working lives even before they get pregnant – by choosing family-friendly firms, flexible careers, or simply by working so hard and so well that they know their employers will bend over backwards to entice them back to work under any circumstances. If you haven’t planned ahead – or if your plans have changed now that you have actually held your little bundle of joy – no problem. Start planning now. Work out what you want to do There are so many options to consider – steady as she goes, renegotiating your existing role to give you the flexibility you need, extending your time out, taking on further study, using the opportunity to explore a new career direction, or a new company. The key is to work out what you want your post-children working life to look like – and to map out a path to get yourself there. Believe in yourself Women who step away from work – even for a short time – often complain of a drop in their professional confidence. But remember you as qualified and as impressive and as talented as you were pre-children. Believe in yourself and surround yourself with people who believe you can achieve your goals. Know your value Whether you are negotiating new flexible terms for your existing role once you get back from maternity leave, or a new role with a different company, know your worth. It’ll cost your existing company more money to lose you than to introduce some flexibility to your role. And if you are considering a new job, remember that on average women negotiate salaries of 7% less than men. If they have offered you a role, it is because they want you to work for them. Don’t be afraid to negotiate what you are worth. Know your rights As a parent you have a right to request flexible working arrangements. And your employer has a duty to consider your request. Know you are not alone Almost 500,000 women with a career gap find work every year in the UK. Employers have seen gaps on cvs before. If you have a career gap don’t hide it. It is part of who you are and what you bring to the role. Network Most jobs come through someone you know – up to 70% according to some experts. And women are especially good at networking – getting something done or finding something out by casting a net over all the people you know, and the people they know until the right name pops up with the skills or information to get a job done. We chat, we share info we pass on names if we think they can help – good doctors, great schools, plumbers, divorce lawyers or gynaecologists with warm hands. Why should it be different to ask for information or help that may assist you find a job or change careers? You are the expert in your individual circumstances. You are the only true expert in your child and your choices. Guilt and worry about whether or not you should be at home or working only sap your energy. Understand why you make the choices that you do and remember that the model of women working is not a new one – women have carried children into the fields on their backs for centuries, or left them with their mothers when they went to the factories. Children whose parents are happy, purposeful and have some financial security are well positioned to help their children grow into confident and contented adults Get the help you need Have reasonable expectations of what you can and can’t do yourself now that you are a working mother. Work out what help you need and where you are going to get it. Whether it is getting help from friends and family, or setting money aside for paid help. The one thing that will make the biggest difference to your transition back to work is your relationship with your partner/ Let go of my leg!
|
 • Do you want to go back to where you left off, or strike out in a new direction?
• Do you want to work from home, go freelance, or try a new business venture? • Do you know where to start looking for a job? • Do you know how to put together a convincing CV? • Do you know how to work the system to get more of what you need from it – job sharing, telecommuting, term-time only contracts?  |
