Support and inspiration for career returners
Support and inspiration for career returners
Welcome!
WelcometoourDecemberedition!As2024draws toanend,therehasbeenmuchtocelebratethis yearandsomuchtolookforwardtoin2025!
We’velovedworkingwithyou,ourreturnercommunity in2024,meetingyouinourmonthlywebinars,inour coachingprogrammesandatourConference,hearingyourstoriesandhelpingyoutonavigate yourreturntowork Wecelebrateallyoursuccesses,sodocontinuetosharethemat coach@careerreturners.comandlightupourdays!
TherewasmuchexcitementatCRHQthismonthasournewCareerReturnersCommunity launchedandwewelcomedinournetworkmemberstoregisterandjointheCommunity.It’s beenwonderfulwatchingournetworkchatandconnectandwe’veenjoyedhostingvarious ‘WelcomeandConnect’and‘AsktheCoaches’sessions.Ifyou’venotyetregistered,youcan dosoheretojointheconversationandaccessawealthofresourcesandsupport
ThiswillbeourlasteditionoftheMagazineaswewillbemovingovertosharingmore resourcesliveintheCommunitygoingforwards Inthisedition,wecelebratethe inspiringGemaMananeswhoreturnedtoworkaftera14yearcareerbreakatMarkel, aspartofaninsurancecrosscompanyreturnerprogramme Welovedheradviceto believeinyourselfandtogoforitassuccesscomesfromtakingaction.
Contributors
KarenDanker HeadofCoaching
LizMearns DeputyHeadof Coaching
LaurenWilson SeniorCoach
Ifyou’recurrentlythinkingaboutreturningtoworkafteracareerbreak forhealthreasonsthenourblogthismonthisfullofpracticalstrategies andadvicetohelpyouplanyourreturn We’vealsocreatedabankof resourcesonourwebsitetovariousorganisationsthatofferadviceand supportonyourrightsasyoureturntoworkafterahealthrelatedbreak, sodocheckitouthere
Ifyou’replanningtogetstartedonyourreturntoworkinJanuary,then ournewAcceleratorProgrammeistheperfectfestivegift!Startingon20 Januaryandrunninguntil12March,this6sessiongrouponlinecoaching programmewilltakeyouthrougheverystageofyourreturnfrom workingoutwhatyouwanttodo,toupdatingyourCVandLinkedIn profile,togettingreadyforinterview We’llintroduceyoutoAIandhowit cansupportyouandwe’llcreateanAcceleratorGroupintheCommunity toencouragecontinuedpeersupportthroughout.Tosecureyourplace, jointheCommunityfirstandthenregister!
FaithRuto SeniorCoach
KarenBraakman SeniorCoach
Finally,asthisyeardrawstoanend,makesureyoutakesometimeto pause,reflectandrecharge Our‘AsktheCoaches’Q&Asharessome simplestrategiesformakingthemostofanydowntimeyouhave,sothat youcanstartthenewyearrefreshed,rechargedandreadytogo!
Wishingyouawonderfulfestiveperiod,andaveryhappyandhealthy NewYear!WelookforwardtoseeingyouintheCommunityin2025!
Career Returners Coaching Team
3 Practical Strategies to Support Your Return to Work After Ill-Health
Expertadviceandlived-experience insightsfromourrecentwebinaron returningtoworkafterill-health
9 Ask the Coaches
6 Career Returners Community
OurglobalonlineCommunityisnowlive! Hearaboutsomeoftheexcitingwaysyou cangetinvolved,findsupport,make connectionsandboostyourreturntowork
7 Gema’s Return to Work Success Story
Gemashareshowsheembracedthe challengesofreturningtoworkafteralong careerbreakandregainedherprofessional confidence
Whatstepscanyoutaketogetreadyto startyourreturntoworkin2025?Our coachessharetipstohelpyourebalance, reflectandrechargeamidstthebustleof thefestiveperiod
10 Webinars & Events
Findouthowournew‘ReturntoWork Accelerator’GroupCoachingProgramme willequipyouwiththetools,strategiesand supporttomaximiseyourchancesof gettingbacktoafulfillingjobandour excitingEarlyBirdoffer!
Inourrecentwebinaronreturningtoworkafterillhealth,wediscussed severalpracticalstrategiestoconsiderandimplement.Wewerejoinedby JoYarker,ProfessorinOccupationalPsychologyandManagingPartnerat AffinityHealthatWork,whosharedherexpertinsightsandadvice;and IulianaUdangiu,BusinessAnalystatEDF,whosharedherpersonalstoryof returningtoworkafterafouryearhealthrelatedcareerbreak.
Takingtimetoreflectfirst
Agoodstartingpointistoreflectonhowyou leftworkinthefirstplace.Wereyoualreadyout ofwork,ordidyouleavesuddenlyorgradually afterthingshadbecomeunsustainable?What didyoucommunicateatthetimeandhowdid youfeelabouthowyouweretreatedifrelevant. Thiswillhelpyoutounderstandwhatwenton beforeandwhatthatmeansforyounowin termsofhowyouapproachorreframeyour returnjourney.
Whenthinkingabouthowyourillnessmay affectyourreturntotheworkplace,consider boththeimpactonyourphysicalandmental health,andhowyouaremanagingboth.It’s importanttoacceptandunderstandthatwith fluctuatinglongtermconditions,howyoufeelin termsofreadinesstoreturncanchangefrom weektoweek,andthat’sperfectlynormalthereoftenisn’tasimplelinearprogressionwith health.
It’simportantthereforetothinkaboutwhatyou mayneedtosustainyourhealthoverthelong term,notjustoverthefirstweekormonth. There’susuallynotjustonesolutionthat'sgoing toworkonanongoingbasis,soviewthisasa continuingjourneythatmayneedtoflexand evolveovertime.
Changeinidentity
Achangeinidentityoftencomesaboutaftera periodofillhealthasyourprioritiesmaybe different.Theremayneedtobeaperiodof comingtotermswithyournewwaysofbeing
andpace.So,ifyouwereabletoworkverylong orintensehourspreviouslyorusedtoview yourselfassomeonewhoalwaysgoesabove andbeyond,thismaynolongerbesustainable. Ithelpstoacceptthisandberealisticaboutthe typeofworkboundariesyounowneedto operatewithin,inordertomaintainhealth.
Forsome,it’sperfectlypossibletoresumeor returntoyourpreviouscareer,forothersthis maypresentanopportunitytotakestockand considerachangeofdirectiontoanewroleor sector.Ifso,takesometimetoreflectonyour interests,strengths,transferableskillsandnew workboundariestohelpyouexploreother opportunities.
Whileyou’renotworking,it’salsovaluableto makesurethatyouridentityisnotcompletely tiedinwithyourjobsearchandanybarriersyou maybeexperiencing.Considerwhatactivities youcanparticipateinwhichyoucantalktothat buildalternativenewskillsandbringyoujoy suchassomethingcreativelikepotteryor photography.
Tellingothersaboutyourillhealth
Thiswillbeaverypersonalandindividual decision,andyoushouldonlydisclosewhatyou feelcomfortableto,andinsofarasiteffects yourdeliveryofthejobrequirements.Some peoplewillchoosetobeupfrontaboutthisin theircoveringletterandCV,listingthereason fortheircareerbreakasbeinghealthreasons. Otherswillwaitfortherightpointininterview, namelywhentheyfeelthey’vewowedtheir
interviewerswiththeirskillsandexperienceand thebalanceismoreskewedintheirdirectionto raiserelevantaspectsanddiscusswhat adjustmentsifanytheymightneed.Practice talkingoutloudtofriendsandfamilytosee whatyouarecomfortablewith,andsothatyou canbepreparedforanyquestionsthatmay comeupasaresultofyourdisclosure.
Requestingadjustments
Partofyourpreparationforyourreturntowork isrecognisingwhatyoursymptomsareand howthesemighttranslatetobeingatwork.If youthinkthereareparticularareasoftherole thatyoumightstrugglewithbecauseofyour health,thenbespecificabouthowcertain aspectsofyourhealthconditionmightaffect those.So,attherightpointforyou,youmight saysomethinglike“IknowIcanconfidently deliveronthiselement,butImightfindthis elementdifficultbecausemyhealthcondition meansthat…”
Therearedifferentadjustmentsthatyoumight wanttoconsiderandneedtoaccesstosustain yourworkonanongoingbasisandthesemay includeadjustmentsaroundscheduling, cognitivetasksorcommuting.
Dospendsometimerehearsingwhatyouwill discloseandtheadjustmentsyouthinkyou mightneedtoboostyourconfidenceinasking forthem.Considerpracticingyournarrative withatrustedfriendtosensecheckhow comfortableyoufeltdisclosingthem-youdon't wanttocomeawayfromaninterviewfeeling likeyou‘overdisclosed’.
Embracingself-compassionand supportfromothers
It’sreallyimportanttopractiseself-compassion onyourjourneybacktoworkandespeciallyso afteraperiodofillhealth.Turnkindnessonto yourselfandspeaktoyourselfasyouwoulddo toafriend.Jotalksto“buildingyourownigloo” tostaysafeinsideandcreatebuildingblocksof supportaroundyourself.Youdon’thavetodo thisonyourown!Ifyou'refeelingfrustratedor lost,peergroupscanbereallyvaluablein helpingtocombatloneliness,sharetipsand boostmorale.
JoinouronlineglobalCommunityforvaluable peersupport–we’vecreatedagroup specificallyforreturnersreturningtoworkafter acareerbreakforhealthreasons.Whenyoudo returntowork,othersupportwillhopefully comefromyourlinemanager,fromyour organisationintermsofthepoliciestheyhave inplaceandotherexternalnetworksso embraceallofthesetohelpyoureturn sustainablytoyourfulfillingcareer.
For more resources for those looking to return to work after a career break for ill health, see our website here
Our Career Returners Community - Now Live!
We’velovedwelcomingyou,ournetworkmembers,toournew Communitythismonth!Overthelastfewweeks,we’vehosted‘Welcome andConnect’sessions,‘AsktheCoach’clinics,andwebinars.Andthat’s justthestart there’savarietyofGroupstojoinforReturnerslookingto returntoaparticularsectororforthosethatare‘Explorers’andnotyet surewhatthey’dliketodonext–we’vegotyouallcovered!Ifthere’sa Groupyou’dliketoseethat’snotyetthere,thenemailourwonderful CommunityManagernatalie@careerreturners.comtoletherknow!
Ifyou’dliketochatthroughyourCVorLinkedInprofileorgetsupportfor anupcominginterview,thenpopintoourSkillsroomstoconnectwith eachotherandsharefeedbackandadvice Ourcoachingteamwillalsobe hostingregular‘LiveChats’intheSkillsroomstoanswerallyourquestions
Ifyou’reafanofourSuccessStoryLibrary,thenyou’llalsobe abletohearfromourreturnersliveaswe’llbehosting‘Success Story’LivesessionsintheCommunity.We’llalsobestartingto welcomeemployersintotheCommunitytootosharedetailsof upcomingopportunitiesandansweryourquestions
We’rebuildingawonderful,dynamic,supportiveCommunity andwelookforwardtowelcomingyouonboard!Ifyou’venot alreadyregistered,don’tmissoutandclicktojointoday!
Sign up
Mananes
TechnologyProfessional
Underwriter
Gema’s Success Story
“I never thought I would be where I am now just 6 months after reenacting my career. I feel very enthusiastic about the future, and I’ve gained the confidence I had somehow lost.”
IbeganmycareerwithChubb,anAmericanInsuranceCompany, whereIspent13yearsasaninsuranceunderwriter.Iwasbased inMadridforthemajorityofthetimebutdidspend4yearsin Londontooandenjoyedworkingacrossdifferentlinesof businessincludingCommercialProperty,Casualty,Entertainment andFinanciallines.
IwasbasedinMadridwhenmysonwasbornbutsoonafter decidedtocomebacktoLondonandsothat’swhenmycareer breakstarted Duringthistime,Idecidedtoexploremyinterestin teachingandwentonacoursetoteachSpanishtoyoung learnersforawhileandthenwentontotakeaoneyearteaching assistantqualification.Thisenabledmetoworkinaprimary schoolfor2years,workingwithchildrenwhohaveEnglishasan additionallanguage
Ireallyenjoyedworkingwithchildrenandlookingback,IcanseethatIdevelopedtransferable skillsIcanapplytomynewrolelettingmebemuchmoreopenandunderstandingofpeople thanIwasbefore IalsotooktheopportunitytocompleteadegreeduringthistimeinHistory andArtHistory,arealpassionofmine
“Lookingback,IcanseethatIdevelopedtransferableskillsIcan
applytomynewrole”
Asmysongrewupandbecamemoreindependent,IrealisedIhadmoreflexibilityagaintobe abletocommittoafulltimejobandsoIstartedexploringoptionstoreturntomyprofessional
“Aspartoftheprogrammethey ransupportworkshopsonCVs andinterviewskillswhichreally helpedguideyouthroughout theapplicationprocess”
AcontactIhadmetpreviouslyhadsuccessfully returnedtoworkviaCareerReturners,andsoI joinedtheirprofessionalnetworkandheard aboutacrosscompanyreturnerprogramme theywererunningintheinsurancesector.This lookedlikeafantasticopportunitytoreturnto workviaasupportedprogrammeandsoI applied Aspartoftheprogrammetheyran supportworkshopsonCVsandinterviewskills whichreallyhelpedguideyouthroughoutthe applicationprocess Iwasdelightedtobe offeredasixmonthplacementatMarkel,oneof theparticipatingorganisations,andwasthen thrilledtobeofferedapermanentroleatthe endofthereturnship. career Itwasalittlebitdauntingatthe beginningandIwasn’tsurewheretogoorhow tostartwithsuchagaponmyCV Thesedays, jobapplicationshappenpredominantlythrough socialmedialikeLinkedInwhichisvery impersonal.Followingsuchalongcareerbreak, youneedahumantouchtoguideyouthrough theprocess
“WhenIjoined,Iwasn’tsure howIwouldfitinaftersucha longcareerbreak.Ijust embracedeveryopportunityto learn”
WhenIjoined,Iwasn’tsurehowIwouldfitin aftersuchalongcareerbreak.Ijustembraced everyopportunitytolearn TheteamatMarkel havebeensowelcomingandsupportiveand havealwaysofferedahelpinghand Therewere
“You'renotstartingfrom scratch,thereisalotalready thereanditcomesbackquickly, sobeconfident”
lotsofmeetingswithdifferentindividualsinthe earlydaysthatexplainedhowthingsaredone andhoweverythingisconnectedwhichwasso helpful.Mymanagerwassosupportive,helping tosetmeupforsuccess,andIalsoreceived valuablementoringfromMarkel
Beingbackatworkwasamixofexcitementand fearatthebeginningbutveryfulfillingasyou goalong Itcanbeverychallengingattimes, butyougainconfidencetoembracethe challenge,andyoulearnhowtocopewithit I neverthoughtIwouldbewhereIamnowjust6 monthsafterre-enactingmycareerin insurance.Ifeelveryenthusiasticaboutthe future,andI’vegainedtheconfidenceIhad somehowlost
“Stopthinkingandstartacting”
Forothersthinkingaboutreturningtowork,my adviceistobelieveinyourself You'renot startingfromscratch,thereisalotalreadythere anditcomesbackquickly,sobeconfident.The otherthingIwouldsayistostopthinkingand startacting Forquitealongtime,Ithought aboutreturningtowork,butIalwayshad doubtsIwouldbeabletoworkwithout sacrificingmyfamily Butitworks,itisa challengebutit’spossibleandIwouldn’tgo backnow.Iamhappierforhavingmyown spaceoutsidefamilylife,thatIcansharewhat happensatworkwithmyfamilyandinspire othersaroundmeindifferentways.
Our coaching team is on hand to answer your questions!
I’m hoping to return to work in 2025. What steps can I take over the festive break to get myself ready to get started in the New Year?
Thefestiveperiodisoftenaverybusyandhectictimeformanyofus Addingreturnto workpressureintothemixcanfeeloverwhelming Amidstthebustle,we’dencourageyou toseekoutmomentsofcalmtohelpyourebalance,reflectandrechargeaheadofthe Januaryrestart.
Whenyoucan,getoutforabriskwalkinthefreshairtoshakeoffthecobwebs Tuneinto ourCareerReturnersPodcastwhilstyou’reoutwalkingtogetyourdailydoseof inspiration You’llhearfromarangeofreturnerswhohavenavigatedareturntowork, eithertotheiroldsectororasinourmostrecentmini-series,toacompletelynewroleand sector,andcomeawaywithrenewedoptimismthatyoutoocandoit.
Ifyouhavesomedowntimeathome,curlupwithacuppaandreadsomeofthewonderful returnersuccessstoriesinourSuccessStoryLibrary.OurLibraryfeaturesover100 storiesofreturnerssharingtheirjourneysofreturningtoworkindifferentsectorsandthey sharetheupsanddownsoftheirreturntowork,aswell youtotakeaway
Journallingcanbeveryvaluableandtherapeutic Buyyourselfalovely‘returntowork’journalthat you’llenjoywritinginandcarveoutashortdaily practiceovertheholidaystocaptureyourthoughts andreflectionsaboutreturningtowork Youcould havedifferentpagesinthere,onareas/topicsyou’re interestedin,what’simportanttoyounowabout work,whatactivitiesenergiseyouandyou’dliketo bedoingideally,whoyoucouldchattoforideas, andyoucouldaddtothesepagesasyougotocapture allyourthoughtsandideasthatyoucanbuildoninJanu
Finally,ifyougettheopportunity,grabacoffeewithas oftheseideastoseeandfeelhowtheysoundoutloud! andwhatyoumaydonextcanhelpyoutorefinethisfur yougetoutandaboutexploringtheseideasintheNewYear!
Webinars & Events
Areyoulookingforamotivationalandpracticalboosttosupportyoutogetbacktowork?Join ourexpertCareerReturnersCoachesforour6-weekonlineReturntoWorkAccelerator.The GroupCoachingProgramme,runningfrom20Januaryto12March2025,willequipyouwiththe tools,strategiesandsupporttomaximiseyourchancesofgettingbacktoafulfillingjob.Bookby 31Decemberandyou’llreceive14hoursofexpert-ledsupportforanEarlyBirdpriceof£95 (discountedfrom£125).It’stheperfectfestivepresenttogiftyourselforaddtoyourlist!
“Thecoachingworkshopshelpedbreakdowninternalbarriers,understandwhatIwantedfrom mycareerandgavemetheconfidencetobeclearaboutmydirectionandfindworkthatsuited meItalsohelpedtoteamupwithacohortofreturners,knowthatIwasnotaloneandthe problemswefacedwerethesame.”2023Participant(similarprogramme)
Sixliveandinteractivecoach-ledworkshops,boostedbypracticalexercisesandtailored resources
Rebuildyourprofessionalconfidence,developyourskillstonetworkeffectivelyonlineandin person,enhanceyourCV,identifykeystrengthsandtransferableskills,optimiseyour LinkedInprofile,navigateonlinejobapplicationsandprepareforinterviewsuccess. Throughout,learnhowtoincorporateAIintoyourreturntoworkexperience
Joinaready-madereturntoworkpeersupportgroupYou’llhaveadedicatedAccelerator peergroupinournewonlineCommunityHubforyoutoconnectandsupporteachother throughouttheprogrammeandbeyond
Tobookyourplace,pleasegointoournewCareerReturnersCommunityHuborclickthelink belowandyou’llfindtheAcceleratorunderCoursesandCoaching
Formoreinformation,orifyouhaveanyproblemssigningup,emailcoach@careerreturners.com
