Your Return July 24

Issue 5 I July 2024

Support and inspiration for career returners

In this issue:

Welcome!

Welcome to our July edition! Summer has finally arrived, and we hope that it brings you an opportunity to recharge as well as carve out a little space for reflection and planning for your return to work.

Our return-to-work summer holiday action plan takes you step by step through the practical actions you can take to get ready – from thinking about what upskilling you might want or need to do and how you can find this, to looking afresh at your network to think creatively about who might be valuable to connect with. If you fear all your old contacts have moved on, take a look at ‘Ask the Coaches’ where we tackle how to get started with your networking plan.

For your summer inspiration, read Dagma’s Success Story of returning to work at Starling Bank after a 10-year career break. We love her advice to returners to ‘get comfortable with being uncomfortable’ – a simple mindset shift that can really help you to go for new opportunities!

Contributors

And if you’re looking for a motivating summer holiday read, check out our book review of ‘How Women Rise’. Leadership experts Marshall Goldsmith and Sally Helgesen identify behaviours that can hold women back from achieving their full potential and share ways to address them to achieve greater career success.

Karen Danker Head of Coaching

Liz Mearns Deputy Head of Coaching

Lauren Wilson Lead Coach

We’ll be back in September – in the meantime, do email us at coach@womenreturners.com to let us know what you’d like to read about as well as ask your questions for our ‘Ask the Coaches’ feature.

Have a brilliant summer!

Karen & Liz Career Returners Coaching Team

Maharukh Dalal Lead Coach

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Contents

Sponsored by:

JULY 2024

3 Your Return-to-Work Summer Holiday Plan!

We look at practical steps you can take over the summer to gear you up for your return to work

5 Dagma’s Success Story Dagma shares how she overcame the challenge of returning to Finance after a long career break and her top tips for success

7 Book Review Our highlights from How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job by Marshall Goldsmith and Sally Helgesen

8 Ask the Coaches Our team gives advice on what to do if the contacts in your network have moved on

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The summer break presents a unique opportunity to refresh, recharge, and ready yourself for exciting career opportunities ahead.

Advice BLOG

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you gear up for your return to work.

1. Reflect and Set Goals: Before diving into preparations, take some time to reflect on your career aspirations and set clear, achievable goals.

Identify your career aspirations: what roles or industries excite you? Reflect on your passions, strengths and skills to identify roles to explore.

Set SMART goals – those that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, aim to update your CV by the end of July or complete an online course by mid-August.

2. Update your Skills: Staying current with industry trends and skills is crucial.

Use the summer to start to bridge any gaps in your knowledge.

Online Courses: enroll in online courses related to your field. Websites like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and Udemy offer flexible options. If you’re looking to return to tech roles, check out the free courses with Cisco Academy on our website members’ resource page.

Workshops and webinars: attend virtual workshops and webinars to gain new insights and stay updated on industry trends.

Certifications: consider obtaining certifications that can enhance your CV and demonstrate your commitment to professional growth.

3. Revamp your CV and LinkedIn Profile: Your CV and LinkedIn profile are your professional calling cards. Ensure they reflect your current skills and experiences.

Update your CV: highlight your most recent experiences, skills, and achievements. Tailor it to the type of roles you are targeting.

Optimize your LinkedIn Profile: make sure your profile is complete and up to date. Use a professional photo, write a compelling summary, and list your key skills and experiences.

Gather Recommendations: reach out to former colleagues and managers for LinkedIn recommendations.

These can add credibility to your profile.

5. Practise Your Interview Skills: Confidence in interviews is key to securing your desired role. Use the summer to polish your interview techniques.

Mock Interviews: conduct mock interviews with friends or family. Practise common interview questions and receive constructive feedback.

Record Yourself: record your answers to practise questions and review them to improve your delivery and body language.

Research and Prepare: study the companies you’re interested in and prepare tailored responses that highlight your skills and experiences.

5. Create a Work-Life Balance Plan: Balancing work and personal life is essential for sustained success and well-being.

Establish a Routine: begin to structure your day as if you were already working. This can help ease the transition.

Set Boundaries: determine how you will manage your time and responsibilities to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Self-Care: prioritise self-care activities that help you relax and recharge. This will ensure you’re in the best mental and physical state when you return to work.

4. Reconnect and Network:

Final Thoughts

Rebuilding your professional network can open doors to new opportunities and provide valuable support.

Reconnect with former Colleagues: reach out to former coworkers and managers. Inform them of your return and seek advice or job leads.

Join Professional Groups: participate in industry-specific groups on LinkedIn or other professional networks.

Attend Networking Events: look for virtual networking events or local meetups. These can be great opportunities to meet new people and learn about job openings.

Returning to the workforce can feel overwhelming, but by taking these proactive steps over the summer, you can position yourself for a smooth and successful transition.

Remember, preparation is key, and every step you take brings you closer to achieving your career goals.

Embrace this journey with confidence and enthusiasm.

You’ve got this!

Read more in our Back to Your Future Blog Your Return

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Dagma’s Success Story “Never give up, you may rest for a while, but never give up, because if you stop, you will not get an opportunity; if you persist, you have a greater chance.”

Dagma Cummings Operational Risk Analyst Starling Bank (10 year career break)

I worked in Finance and Banking for over 20 years and in Risk as a Risk and Control Officer. In 2012, my role in Risk was made redundant during the financial downturn and it was challenging to return to other financial roles due to the difficult economic times.

In the end my career break lasted 10 years. Unable to find a job in the finance sector, I turned to retail and worked at Harrods on a small-scale basis. I also took the opportunity to start my home cake making business which I thoroughly enjoyed!

I always wanted to return to professional work, but I unfortunately found that the longer I was out of Finance, the more challenging it became to return. When covid hit, there were many changes and that pushed me to try harder and smarter to get back to my professional industry.

However, the experience was extremely challenging. Recruitment agencies were telling me that I had been out of the industry too long. I had a couple of interviews through networking with excolleagues, but it was a case of ‘so close and yet so far’ – I received good feedback but was ultimately unsuccessful.

“I unfortunately found that the longer I was out of Finance, the more challenging it became to return.”

Inspiration SUCCESS STORY I carried on networking and through a friend of a friend heard about Career Returners. I joined their network to access all their resources and hear about returner opportunities and was delighted to successfully secure a position as an Operational Risk Analyst on Starling Bank’s Returner Programme.

I was extremely happy to be back at work. I settled in well, but on the inside, I was nervous, wanting to prove myself and do an excellent job.

It was a new environment, navigating hybrid working and gaining my confidence. However, my manager and team have been so supportive and that helped enormously. My employer also organised a mentor for me to answer any questions I had and to help me reconnect with my professional identity. I also received coaching support from Career Returners which helped me navigate my return to work successfully.

“Now I’m back at work, I wish I’d known about Career Returners sooner - they have literally changed my life! ”

Now I’m back at work, I wish I’d known about Career Returners sooner - they have literally changed my life! I feel more confident not only at work but within myself and although a job does not define you, I feel really happy being back in my profession which I have studied and trained for.

Since I returned, I’ve progressed well. I successfully completed my probation project and was delighted to have secured a permanent position with Starling Bank. I also sat on the returner panel at the Career Returners 2024 Conference – it was a great experience to be able to confidently speak out and inspire and motivate others who were in the same position that I had been in, the previous year.

“It was a great experience to be able to confidently speak out and inspire and motivate others who were in the same position that I had been in, the previous year”.

For others trying to get back to work, my advice is to: Keep networking - you never know who knows who!

Never give up, you may rest for a while, but never give up, because if you stop, you will not get an opportunity; if you persist, you have a greater chance.

When you return you may feel like a fish out of water, but you have to “get comfortable with being uncomfortable”. I was told this by another returner, and it made perfect sense to me.

Celebrate your small wins daily!

Read more inspiring stories in our Success Story Library

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Book Review

"How Women Rise" provides invaluable insights for women reentering the workforce and seeking to advance their careers. Leadership experts Marshall Goldsmith and Sally Helgesen identify 12 specific behavioural patterns that can hold women back from achieving their full potential. By understanding and addressing these challenges, women can position themselves for greater career success during this transition.

Key Takeaways:

Reluctance to claim your achievements: women often struggle to take credit for their accomplishments, hindering their advancement.

Expecting others to spontaneously notice and reward your contributions: relying on others to recognise your value can lead to disappointment and missed opportunities.

Overvaluing expertise: prioritising deep technical skills over other critical competencies like communication and influence.

Failing to ask for what you want: women can be more passive in their career advancement.

Putting your job before your career: focusing too much on current role responsibilities rather than long-term career goals.

Minimising: downplaying your abilities and qualifications, which can undermine your credibility.

Overthinking decisions: excessive analysis can lead to inaction and missed chances.

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Actionable Insights:

Actively claim your achievements and contributions. Document your successes and advocate for yourself.

Develop a proactive mindset. Expect to be recognised and rewarded for your work.

Cultivate a broad range of leadership competencies beyond just technical expertise.

Get comfortable asking for promotions, stretch assignments, and other career-advancing opportunities.

Maintain a strategic, big-picture perspective on your career growth, not just your current role.

Challenge the impulse to minimize your skills and qualifications. Own your worth.

Practice decisive, timely decision-making to avoid overthinking and inaction.

Final Thoughts:

By addressing these nuanced behavioural patterns, women returning to the workforce can overcome barriers to advancement and unlock their full leadership potential. "How Women Rise" provides an essential roadmap for women seeking to relaunch and elevate their careers with confidence and success.

Advice

ASK THE COACHES

Our coaching team is on hand to answer your questions!

I don’t have a network as my contacts have moved on, what can I do?

The first thing to consider is that you do still have a network.

It may be a different network to the one you had before your career break, but former colleagues are still contacts and will remember the professional you from when you worked with them. Reach out to reconnect via LinkedIn or a simple email to find out what they are up to now as well as bringing them up to date with your plans and interests.

The second thing to consider is that your new contacts social or otherwise can still provide amazing networking opportunities.

People generally like helping other people. A lot of leverage can come from a personal network, particularly after a career break. Making your friends and family aware of jobs, sectors and industries you are interested in can be hugely beneficial in building your network. Remember you are not asking your friends for a job but simply for information or an introduction to someone in an area/organisation that interests you.

Another tip is to join membership organisations/professional associations and follow relevant LinkedIn groups to keep informed about emerging trends, training opportunities and upcoming events.

Initiating/contributing to discussions is a great way to raise your profile and make new connections.

Don’t forget about informal/local networks too by taking a more active role in social or community activities. Local networks may provide exciting new connection opportunities.

Rebuilding your network takes time and persistence, but by being proactive and engaging, you'll be able to create new connections and rekindle old ones. Good luck!

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