Back to work after 'Family Time'?

Emmenelle

Hi All - just wondered if anyone could share their experience of returning to work full time after being at home with the family?

Until February this year, I was an Executive PA at a FTSE 100 company earning a decent wage - I took voluntary redundancy as I was going on mat leave anyhow. Anyway, I've now decided I'd like to stay off for 4 years - until my DD starts school, then I will return full time.

Has anyone else had a 4 / 5 year break from an officey type job then gone back? Did you go back at a similar level, or start all over again? Did you bypass office work completely and start something new?

Appreciate your feedback!

Pooky23

I found it exciting, very scary, but hugely rewarding returning to work after taking 8 years off to raise my children. I went from an office job to working in a school.

Aside from taking the break to be there for my children whilst they were very small, I also saw it as an opportunity to think about what career direction I wanted to take once the children were school age. When that time came, I contacted Learn Direct who helped me focus on my skills, I did some voluntary work with children, and eventually that led to me getting my current job. I don't regret for a minute the change in direction as I love what I do.

As far as money goes, I am probably earning roughly the same as I would be if I had stayed in my previous job.

Ms_Piggy_2

I think it depends on how up-to-date your skills are etc. You may well find you have to go in at a slightly lower level. After all you will be competing in interviews against people who have very recent relevant experience.

Krystaltips

You might find your priorities change too... I went from Mortgages and life insurance to breastfeeding support in a hospital... The pay is nowhere near what I was getting before but I'm not doing it for the money... Oh and with Baby no2 on the way it's a lot more ideal than my previous occupation!

onlyroz

It very much depends on the job as to how much a career break affects it. If you were (e.g.) a doctor then a 4-year break would probably put you down at the bottom of the heap as you'd have missed a lot of the more recent developments in the field.

My mum was a teacher (now retired) and she went part-time for a few years when I was a baby - she always claims that if she hadn't done that then she'd have made it to deputy-head.

If, towards the end of your career break, you made the effort to aquire some new qualifications, or refresher courses, or whatever is appropriate for your job, then it'd probably go down very well with any potential new employers.

Moneybubbles

I went from Engineering to Childminding:rotfl: !! so I could be at home with my children!

I really thought when dd2 started school in Sept I would do somthing else but I love my new line of work and am very proud of what I do now! I had to do somthing I couldn't afford not to work:o but now I wouldn't change anything (just the adult company sometimes:p 7 years of toddler groups can be a bit grating after a while lol)


I just wanted to say good luck and I hope you have a great time with your child:T