Julianne Miles
CEO and Co-Founder, Career Returners
Employers can support new hires who have taken a career break to thrive, by providing a supportive pathway to rebuild their professional identity.
In the recent Career Returners Indicator research, 89% of returning professionals said that taking a career break had negatively impacted their confidence.
Loss of professional identity
When taking a career break for childcare, eldercare, health or relocation, it’s a particular aspect of confidence that takes a knock. At Career Returners, we call this ‘professional identity’ — one’s belief in oneself as a qualified and skilled professional.
Cara, an experienced project manager returning after 12 years, explains: “I feel like a different person. Can I really do what I did before? If returning to work is like getting back on a bike, it’s an e-bike, and I don’t even know how to get it started.”
Supportive pathway
An encouraging and supportive return-to-work pathway empowers a woman returner to quickly rebuild their confidence and thrive at work. This is a worthwhile investment for an employer, as returning professionals bring a wealth of skills, maturity and a fresh perspective.
An effective line manager flexes
support as the returner reintegrates.
Line manager support
An effective line manager flexes support as the returner reintegrates. They set clear objectives with confidence-building opportunities. They provide regular constructive feedback and positive recognition of progress. They step back at the right time, as most returners report that they feel back up to speed after the first six to eight weeks. They can then ramp up autonomy and responsibility for stretching assignments, reinforcing confidence month by month.
How coaching fosters success
Where budget permits, offering Career Returners Coaching is a powerful way to set a returner up for success. Structured support from an expert coach, together with a safe space to voice and address fears and doubts, enables them to reconnect with their professional identity faster.
A crucial aspect is to help them value the unique strengths and skills they developed before and during their career break — seeing it as a bonus rather than a setback. One returner comments: “The coaching provided has helped me become emotionally and mentally strong, to look at my break positively and go from strength to strength.”
