Five Books to Inspire Your Summer Reset

As we head into the summer break, you may find yourself with a quiet moment or two to pick up a book. Whether it’s practical return-to-work advice you’re seeking, writing inspiration, insights around how AI is changing the world of work, or some inspiring stories of courage resilience and action, there’s hopefully something in our top 5 list for everyone to enjoy!

Return Journey
Julianne Miles, Co-Founder of Career Returners

Return Journey is the go-to guide for professionals returning to work after a career break. Like having a wise companion by your side, this book will support you at each step of the way through a mix of practical advice, coaching exercises, psychology research and real-life case studies.

We love that Return Journey changes the narrative around career breaks. It’s not about hiding your career break, it’s about valuing the wealth of skills and experience you bring from before and during your career break, and building a career that is more successful and rewarding than ever before.
Write Your Career
Mark Crossfield

Through guided writing exercises and tools, this book introduces writing as a powerful career tool to help you clarify your thinking, navigate change and shape meaningful work. You’ll be guided to create a personal framework for making decisions about your work and turn insight into meaningful practical action.
How AI Will Change Your Life
Patrick Dixon 

This book explores how AI is reshaping work by taking on repetitive and technical tasks, and freeing people up to focus on higher‑value thinking. Rather than removing the need for skills altogether, Dixon shows how AI is changing which skills matter… shifting the emphasis towards problem‑solving, judgment and big‑picture thinking and putting a bigger spotlight on human strengths and qualities such as trust, authenticity and emotional intelligence.

An Ordinary Story from a Pencil to a Movement
Matthew Norton

When Matthew Norton packed a few pencils for a safari in Kenya and Tanzania, he never imagined it would change his life. A chance encounter led to the founding of the Memusi Foundation, transforming thousands of lives. This book is an inspiring reminder that ordinary people can create extraordinary change by simply choosing to act.

The Resilience Project
Hugh van Cuylenburg

This book explores how three simple practices; gratitude, empathy and mindfulness, can transform mental wellbeing. Inspired by his experiences teaching in rural India, The Resilience Project combines personal stories and practical insights to show that resilience isn’t something we’re born with; it’s something we can build every day.

We hope these books bring you fresh perspective and encouragement wherever you are in your journey. Let us know what you’re reading this summer!

Returning to Work After Ill Health: Reframing and Owning Your Narrative

Returning to work after ill health is often approached practically: updating your CV, preparing for interviews and rebuilding confidence. However, for many people, there’s a quieter reality.  You don’t necessarily come back the same person.

Many returners find they have a different perspective. You may be more aware of your limits, clearer on your priorities, and more focused on sustaining performance rather than pushing through at any cost. It’s easy to worry this might be seen as a limitation. In practice, it can be a strength, but the difference lies in how you frame it.

The key is to move away from explaining your gap and instead focus on what you have learned from it and how this can be of value to a future employer.

Employers don’t need the detail of what you’ve experienced. What they value is how you now operate. Qualities like resilience, focus, self-awareness and energy/time management translate directly into the workplace. They signal someone who can prioritise effectively, manage workload and deliver consistently over time.

As a general guide, we wouldn’t suggest including much detail (if any) on your CV. A simple line stating Career Break is usually sufficient. A more appropriate time to mention it would be at interview but again keep it simple and forward looking and move quickly to discuss the strengths you’ve developed. Avoid over-explaining or sounding uncertain. A calm, matter-of-fact tone reinforces readiness and helps prevent the conversation from centring on ill health as a risk. For example: “I have had a career break/ period away from work due to ill health. That experience has changed how I approach work. I’m much more focused on prioritisation, managing my time in a sustainable way, and staying clear on what needs to be delivered.”

From an employer’s perspective, this represents strong focus, consistent performance and a more measured, reliable way of working. This approach keeps the emphasis on capability rather than circumstance. You’re translating personal experience into professional value which is really what an employer is most interested in.

Ultimately, this isn’t about starting again. It’s about returning with insight that strengthens how you work and the value you bring. Framed well, that experience becomes not a concern to a future employer, but a credible advantage in how you show up at work.

How AI-Powered Mock Interview Platforms Can Help You Return to Work with Confidence

When you’re returning to the job market after a career break, the idea of interviewing again can feel daunting. Many returners say the interview stage is where nerves peak, but the good news is that you can now practise interviews in a safe, structured, and surprisingly effective way thanks to AI-powered mock interview tools.

These platforms recreate interview scenarios, ask realistic questions, and provide instant feedback on your delivery, all without the pressure of speaking to a real person. They can be a great way to warm up, rebuild confidence, and reduce anxiety before moving on to more personalised preparation.

Why AI Mock Interviews Are So Helpful for Returners

1. A safe space to rebuild confidence

After time away, whether due to caring responsibilities, health, redundancy or relocation, your professional confidence can take a hit. AI tools offer a judgement-free place to practise answering questions out loud, rediscover your professional voice, and get comfortable before facing a real interviewer. They’re especially helpful for that early-stage confidence boost many returners need.

2. Structured, objective feedback

Human interviewers rarely provide feedback. They simply choose whether to move you forward. AI tools, however, break down your performance into critical areas:

  • Delivery: Were you clear, too fast, or using too many filler words?
  • Tone: Did you sound engaged and professional?
  • Structure: Did you use frameworks like STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result)?

For returners especially, this kind of feedback can turn vague interview anxiety into specific, manageable areas to improve.

The Range of AI Mock Interview Tools Available

AI interview platforms come in all shapes and sizes, which is great news for returners because you can choose the type of practice that matches your comfort level.

Some tools focus on voice-only practice, ideal for easing yourself back in. Others offer fully simulated video interviews if you’re ready to refine how you come across on screen. Many specialise in competency-based questions, giving you detailed feedback on whether you’re using structures like STAR effectively.

Across these tools, you’ll typically find features such as:

  • Automatically generated interview questions tailored to your role or industry
  • Real-time or instant feedback on clarity, pacing, tone and confidence
  • Guidance on structure, including how well you’ve articulated situation, actions and results
  • Options to repeat sessions so you can track improvement over time
  • Different difficulty levels or interview modes to help you gradually build confidence

For returners, this flexibility is a huge advantage. You can start with simple text or voice responses and progress to video interviews as your confidence grows.

Do note: while some platforms offer “unlimited practice,” this often applies only to basic behavioural or text modes. More advanced simulations may have monthly limits, so it’s worth checking what’s included.

Making Your Practice Realistic and Relevant

To get the most value from these tools, practise with prompts that match the roles you’re targeting:

  • Public sector roles: Integrity, budgeting, crisis management
  • Tech roles: Debugging challenges, teamwork, stakeholder communication
  • Leadership roles: Conflict resolution, decision-making, influencing examples

This keeps your practice grounded in the types of questions you’re likely to encounter.

Here Are 3 AI-Powered Platforms to Get You Started

Try Yoodli – https://yoodli.ai

Yoodli is an AI coach that lets you role-play interviews, presentations and difficult conversations. It provides real-time feedback on your speaking style, and you can set up interviews using your own prompts or upload a job description.

Try Huru – https://huru.ai

Huru helps you practise realistic, job-specific mock interviews with real-time feedback on your answers, confidence, and communication style. Tips are shared alongside each interview question so you can think through, before hitting record and giving your answer.

Try Revarto – https://www.revarta.com

Revarto offers job-specific interview simulations with enhanced feedback, including improved answer suggestions, deeper follow-up questions and advanced performance analysis.

Before You Start Practising

A quick word on privacy, AI tools are generally safe, but as a rule don’t upload your full CV, avoid sharing confidential information and use generic, anonymised examples when practising. You’ll still get great feedback without risking your personal data.

As with any online tool, it’s a good idea to check the platform’s privacy policy so you know how your information is being stored and used.

AI vs Human Support

AI tools are excellent for practising the mechanics of interviewing: things like structure, pacing and clarity. However, they can’t fully replicate the personalised feedback, storytelling guidance or confidence-building that many returners value when preparing for real interview opportunities. That deeper support often comes from talking to a real person who understands your individual experience.

Final Thoughts

Returning to the job market can feel overwhelming, but AI mock interview tools can make your preparation more structured, more predictable and far less stressful. They help you rediscover your professional voice, refine your interview technique and show up to real interviews feeling more prepared.

These tools are a great starting point, especially for early-stage practice. Many returners find that once they’ve warmed up with AI, they get even more value from taking those insights into a coaching conversation for tailored, human feedback – especially when preparing for real opportunities.

Disclaimer

Please note, we are not affiliated or associated with any of the AI platforms mentioned in this article. We suggest you practise, explore, and find the AI tools that suit you best – the market is continually evolving, and everyone’s needs are different. Have fun!

Returning to Work After Cancer

A cancer diagnosis can be life-changing in so many ways which go beyond the physical. The period of time through treatment and recovery can bring profound shifts in your values, beliefs, and priorities. For some, once the treatment phase is over, a new challenge emerges: how do you return to work after having a career break to recover from cancer. This phase can be daunting, but it may also provide an opportunity for reflection, growth, and renewal.

 A Time to Reflect, Reprioritise, and Reset

 After any career break, it’s normal to question what the next chapter of your life should look like. What do you want to achieve personally and professionally? What brings you fulfilment now which has perhaps changed? Many returners recovering from long term illness find that that their outlook on life such as what matters most and where they want to focus their energy, has fundamentally altered.

However, going back to work after this time isn’t always about resuming your old routine.  It may also involve navigating a new version of yourself. This period of transition can be seen as an opportunity to reset, to reprioritise, and to realign your professional journey with the new values and goals that have emerged from your experience.

Reconnecting With Your Strengths

 As you prepare to re-enter the workforce, take some time to reflect on your key strengths and skills you already possess. It’s also worth recognising the power of your cancer experience.  It may have provided you with greater insight into your resilience, tenacity, perspective, and motivation. These “new skills” are invaluable, both in life and the workplace.

Here are a few questions to help you reflect:

  • What have I learned about myself throughout this experience?
  • What personal qualities or strengths have been reinforced or developed?
  • How can I integrate these into my professional life?

Setting New Priorities

Work-life balance, fulfilment, and personal well-being may feel more important than ever before. As you consider returning to work, think about the roles, sectors, employers and environments which will align with your values. Are there industries or employers that inspire you? By focusing on what truly matters to you, you may start to see a way forward that feels both energising and meaningful.

Realistic Optimism

It’s important to acknowledge that returning to work after cancer will come with its own set of challenges. There may be days when fatigue, emotions, or doubts creep in. However, it’s equally important to trust in your ability to overcome these hurdles. Realistic optimism is about facing challenges head-on while knowing you have the strength and resilience to navigate them.

Returning to work will require some introspection, patience, and self-compassion. This phase is more than a return to the workforce; it’s a chance to create a new narrative for yourself, both in your career and in your life.  By reconnecting with your strengths, setting new priorities, and approaching the future with optimism, you can create a professional life that aligns with your new sense of purpose and fulfilment.

We are looking to build our support for those returning to work after career breaks for ill health. If you’ve recently returned to work after/with cancer, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch with us at coach@careerreturners.com to share your experience and let us know what helped you in your return. Equally, if you’re looking to return but coming up against various barriers, do let us know what support you’d value most.

Additional Resources

Macmillan Cancer Support

  • Work and Cancer Programme: guidance on returning to work, managing work during and after treatment, and understanding your rights as an employee.
  • Work Support Service:  one-on-one support with work-related issues, including job-seeking advice after cancer.

Website: Macmillan Work Support

Cancer Research UK

  • Employment Advice: information on rights at work, making decisions about returning to work, and dealing with employers.

Website: Cancer Research

Breast Cancer Now

  • Employment Support: advice for those affected by breast cancer, including information on returning to work and understanding your rights.

Website: Breast Cancer Now

Reframing your Career Break: Unearthing Value and Articulating Transferable Skills

Taking a career break, whether by choice or circumstance, often carries a complex mix of emotions and implications for professionals. While the reasons vary, including caring commitments, health reasons, relocation, redundancy and professional development to name but a few – returning to the workforce can feel daunting. However, what if we viewed a career break not as a gap in a CV but as a rich period of growth and learning? This post aims to help you reframe your career break by identifying its inherent value and learnings, and articulating your transferable skills in a way that resonates with potential employers.

Identifying the Value and Learnings

1. Personal Development: A career break often leads to significant personal development, including improved resilience, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. Reflect on how you’ve grown personally during this period and consider how these traits are valuable in a professional setting.

2. New Perspectives: Stepping away from the workforce can provide new insights into what you value in a career, your preferred work culture, and the type of work-life balance you seek. Your experiences on a career break may also help you to bring a different way of thinking and problem solving, which is hugely valued by teams.

3. Skills Acquisition: During a break, many individuals acquire new skills. Whether through exploring a hobby, formal education, volunteering or other employment, these experiences contribute to what you can offer a new employer.

Articulating Transferable Skills 

1. Communication: If your break involved coordinating activities for family, volunteer projects or other employment, you likely honed your communication skills. Employers value clear, concise communication, so this is a key skill to highlight.

2. Project Management: Organising any event such as leading a community project or planning a relocation can enhance your project management skills. Highlight how these experiences have taught you to manage time, resources, and expectations effectively.

3. Problem-solving: Life outside the traditional workforce is full of unexpected challenges requiring creative solutions. Reflect on moments when you had to think on your feet or navigate complex situations, demonstrating your problem-solving abilities.

4. Adaptability: Successfully managing a career break requires adaptability—a skill highly prized in today’s fast-paced work environment. Consider how adapting to new circumstances or learning new technologies during your break has prepared you for the dynamic nature of the workplace.

Making It Relevant to Your Role 

1. Tailor your CV: When preparing for your return, tailor your CV to the specific role. Mirror the language used in the job ad to describe your skills and experiences, making it easier for hiring managers to see the relevance.

2. List your transferable skills: Under your professional profile, list your key skills including your transferable skills developed during your career break as relevant to the role you’re going for now.

3. Confidence in your Career Break at Interview: When you land that interview, discuss your career break with confidence! Clearly articulate how your unique experiences have equipped you with a diverse skill set and a fresh perspective.

By reframing your career break as an opportunity for growth and learning and articulating your transferable skills effectively, you can make a compelling case for why you are not just a suitable candidate, but a valuable asset to any team.

 

Managing Return to Work Fears

Contemplating returning to work after a career break can feel scary and sometimes overwhelming. We’d like to reassure you that these feelings are very normal as you negotiate the ups and downs of returning to work. However, there are strategies that you can use to overcome them. These can be very empowering and help give you the boost you need to keep moving forward.

Common fears

These are some of the typical worries we hear:

  • ‘I’ve lost all my skills and knowledge after such a long time out’
  • ‘I’ll never get back to speed when everything’s moved on so much’
  • ‘No-one will employ me with such a large gap on my CV’
  • ‘My family won’t cope without me’

Fears such as these can be so powerful that they stop you in your tracks before you even get going.

Managing your Fears

The first step is to recognise that this is your Negativity Bias playing loud and clear! Our brains have evolved to keep us safe. In evolutionary times, understanding all the potential risks of a situation kept us out of danger’s way and alive. Nowadays, our minds have not evolved as much as our environment. So when we’re stepping outside of our comfort zone – such as looking to return to work after a career break – our minds fire up with everything that might go wrong. Your mind wants to keep you safe, but it can just keep you stuck!

Alongside negativity bias is its firm friend and accomplice: your Inner Critic! You’ll recognise your inner critic – it’s the unhelpful soundtrack that plays in your head. It might tell you ‘You’re too old to go back to work’, or ‘You’re being selfish for wanting to leave your family to work. We all have this unhelpful voice – recognising that this is what’s at play here, can help you to gain some distance and objectivity.

When your negativity bias rears its head, first acknowledge these are thoughts not proven reality. Then aim to balance the negativity, seeking counter evidence to reality-test your thoughts:

  • If your inner critic is suggesting you’re not capable, list out your strengths, together with the achievements and experiences that demonstrate what you have done in the past and can do again.
  • If your thoughts are focused on what could go wrong, consider all the things that could go right. We call this ‘positive what-iffing!’. So instead of ‘what if I don’t remember anything?’, reframe it to ‘what if my knowledge comes back quickly once I’m back in role, plus I also have a whole host of transferable skills I can bring to it from my career break?’ It opens your mind to the positive possibilities and helps you to get excited about your return.

Now find your ‘inner mentor’. This is your more compassionate voice, the one that would reassure a friend when they’re doubting themselves. In essence, give yourself a pep talk! Tell yourself, ‘you can do this’, ‘you’ve got years’ worth of experience both pre-break and from your break and they’re lucky to have you!’. Aim to mentally turn down the volume on your inner critic and raise the dial on the volume of your inner mentor!

As you navigate the ups and downs of returning to work, remember that fears and doubts are very normal. They indicate that you are challenging yourself to grow and push out of your comfort zone.

 

Returning to work at different ages

Returning to work can be a daunting process after a career break. You may be questioning ‘who am I’ professionally after several years out, and this may feel even more profound when returning to work after a very lengthy break.

Different life factors at play can also bring additional challenges – how does returning to work differ in your 30s, 40s and 50s – and what can you do practically to help yourself?

Your 30s

Careers often accelerate during your 30s, and it can feel hard to return when you’ve stepped out of your career while your peers have continued to progress. You may feel frustrated and that you have to play catch up with others in your age group to get your career back on track. Remember, as working lives grow longer with many of us working into our 60s and beyond, this is just a small pause in your career, and you will be back up to speed and smashing it before long!

The first step is to avoid the trap of comparison and focus instead on the value you bring. Reconnect with your professional brand – what you have to offer in terms of your strengths, skills and experience, and what you stand for – your values and your purpose. Read our blog here on personal brand and focus on raising your visibility in line with this.

This is a prime time to grow in your career and it can be really valuable to seek a mentor to help you think about your career progression, and spot opportunities for development as your resume your career. Explore organisations’ mentoring programmes, or be brave and approach people you think could be a great mentor to set up an informal mentoring relationship.

If you have young children to care for, this can be challenging both practically and emotionally.  Explore child care options early so that you’re well prepared on this front. The good news is that post pandemic, flexible working is here to stay and in many cases has made it easier for professionals to return to work. In addition new laws that come into effect in 2024 also mean that you will soon have the right to request flexibility from day one. Read our flexible working blog post for further tips and advice.

Your 40s

“The advantage to being older is that you know who you are and what you want” a returner in her 40s told us recently. Your 40s is a good time to review what you want from the next 20-30 years of your career. Reflect on your strengths, values and interests and whether these have changed since you last made career decisions. If you have children they may well be at school now, freeing up some time and space for you again and it’s a great time to reignite your career fire!

At this life stage, ageing parents may also start to pose new responsibilities and challenges.  Consider who else can help out to support loved ones when you’re back at work – other family members, friendly neighbours, community support? Explore these now whilst you have the time to set up and trial new arrangements.

Perimenopause can also bring its own challenges in your mid to late 40s. See our blog here on asking for the (peri)menopause support you need as you return to work.

Balancing all of these elements can be stressful so it’s important to practice the basics of looking after yourself well and reaching out for help. Join supportive groups for tips and advice, build your network and challenge yourself to be more visible. Listen to Tamara’s inspiring story on our Career Returners podcast about the value of networks and creating opportunities to reconnect.

Your 50s

At this age you will have achieved many brilliant things throughout your career and life. You will have years of valuable work experience, you may have lived or worked in different countries, developed your own business, volunteered your time, maybe created or designed something. You may have raised your children, cared for your parents, supported a partner, and witnessed life changing events. Value what you have to offer an employer.

Workplace ageism can be a challenge returning to work in your 50s and while it might be true that some organisations fail to recognise the great value and benefit of hiring older workers, the landscape is changing as more and more organisations embrace returner programmes and the government commits to new initiatives to help over 50s back to work.

Returners too often create self-imposed barriers that need not exist. There are lots of free online upskilling courses to help you get up to speed with new technologies, to pivot your career or to retrain into a new area. Explore our resource signposts here to get upskilled and grow your confidence.

Reframing and developing the right mindset where your age is an advantage is essential. There are lots of resources out there to help you realise your potential – check out Restless, a fast growing digital community for the over 50s and 55 Redefined, ‘champions of the over 50s’ with an over 50s jobs board and membership platform.

Whatever age and stage you’re at, remember that you bring many years of skills, experience and wisdom that employers hugely value.  For inspiration, delve into our Library of Success Stories to help you get started on this next career chapter.

Advice from Employers for Returner Candidates

At our annual ‘Back to your Future’ conference in May 2023, Upasna Bhadhal facilitated an insightful Employer Panel on ‘The Value Returners Bring and Top Tips for Success’, chatting to Esme Heaps from Workday, Claire Hodson from J.P. Morgan, Muniba Khan from Edinburgh Napier University and Alexander Trusty from Moody’s Corporation. We’ve selected below some of their comments on why they are targeting returner candidates and how attitudes have evolved towards candidates with career breaks, together with their top tips for returners.

What value do returners bring to your organisation?

  • “We value our programmes because we have seen the positive impact on our organisation … returners have such great skills and experience”
  • “Returners bring fresh ideas and perspective and a rich source of talent. They demonstrate their value through their contribution and now in turn as alumni are recruiting their own returners”
  • “Returners bring cognitive diversity and more value than they realise – the career gap is a CV gift!”
  • “We value diversity of thought and opinion. When businesses bring in experienced returners and get it right it’s a ‘magic combination’. Returners bring huge value and experience – they just need support to brush up their skills.”
  • “Returners enables us to diversity our workforce and enables those with huge talent to get back into the game”

Employer Tips for Success

  • “Own your career gap”. Don’t try and hide it.
  • “Don’t shy away from your career break, celebrate it!” Have a top summary paragraph on your CV with an overview, show what you’ve gained – tell your story!
  • “Do your research”. Look at the job advert to see what skills are required for a role. Then draw on your own experiences and make sure your relevant skills stand out in your application. Be specific about what you bring to the table.
  • “The returners who are curious are the most successful as it takes them further, they learn more and expand their networks.”
  • “Reach out and connect”. Shout loud and proud about your achievements.
  • “Use your support network, ask questions”. Once in the role, don’t get overwhelmed, reach out and seek support, and your skills and confidence will grow.

Advice from Other Returners on How to Successfully Return to Work

At our 2023 Women Returners Conference, we heard from a panel of inspirational returners who shared successful stories of relaunching their careers, after breaks of 4 to 17 years, within the fields of Law, IT, Strategy, Project Management and Professional Services.   

There were so many inspiring stories from our panellists: 

  • Rabiya, a qualified and experienced tech professional, applied unsuccessfully for more than 100 jobs after a 4-year career break due to relocation and ill health. She finally secured a role as a QA Engineer at The Very Group via their first returner programme.   
  • Antona, an experienced Risk Manager who had worked in Professional Services for 16 years, found it impossible to find a job in her old field after a 6-year career break to raise her 2 children. She worked for 2 years in her local petrol station, before getting her career back on track with the Deloitte Ireland Return to Work Programme. 
  • Sal took a 17-year break from her professional career to help run the family chain of Post Offices. With the support of Women Returners’ Career Boost Scotland Programme, she returned to her professional career as a Project Co-ordinator with the Scottish Government in 2023.   
  • Michele, a sales and marketing professional and entrepreneur, took a 5-year career break to raise her young family. She returned to her career via a Home Office Returner Programme in 2017 and is now Deputy Director HR at the Ministry of Defence. 
  • Tamsin, a qualified lawyer, took a 13-year career break from law to raise her two sons.  During her career break, she followed her passion for social justice and worked in the charity sector in a women’s prison and as an advocate for high-risk domestic violence victims.  She also took a sabbatical to travel the world. Once her children were older, Tamsin returned to law with Mills & Reeve.  

 Here’s a summary of some of their top tips for other women professionals wanting to successfully navigate a return to work together with some advice from our coaching team: 

 “Believe in yourself. Keep saying I can do it! You have so many skills”
Don’t let a long career break put you off! Value the things that you’ve done in your career break. You might think you’ve done nothing of value to an employer – “I’ve just looked after two small children” – but spend some time reflecting on it. List all the things you have done, and the skills you have used, to demonstrate the different competencies and skills you have developed during your career break and which you can bring to your new role. 

 “For every one thing you might be slower at there are 3 to 4 skills you are better at”
Remind yourself of the skills you have acquired BECAUSE of your career break – networking, multitasking, communicating, and interacting with different types of people.  All of these are transferable skills which you are bringing back into the workplace. 

 “Equip yourself with knowledge and transferable skills”
If you’re looking to return to a new area of work after your career break, look into different courses that can help you to upskill. There are many free courses available online that you can sign up to – check out what might appeal here, for example Rabiya enrolled in an AWS cloud software course which had just a nominal fee. Upskilling will not only help you to test whether it’s the right career move for you, but it will also demonstrate your proactivity, enable you to talk confidently about your chosen area at interview, grow your network by meeting others exploring the same area and hopefully boost your professional confidence. 

 “Don’t hide your Career Gap”
Be open and transparent both about your career break and any caring responsibilities you have.  You’ll be pleasantly surprised about how the corporate environment is less rigid now and different ways of working are more acceptable. Be honest in your interview; organisations are there to support you. 

 “Surround yourself with as much positivity as possible”
Surround yourself with people who will encourage you and cheer you on. Reach out to others who are doing the role you’d like to do to test whether it’s a good fit, to ask their advice and to explore potential routes in. Use LinkedIn to connect sending a tailored message to reach out.  Ask questions, there are so many people willing to help. 

 “It is possible!” 
Don’t give up! Even if you apply for jobs and get nothing after requesting feedback. Keep trying. If you persist, the right job will come. It’s very normal to have doubts as you return to work and to feel fearful, but this is very common and will quickly go away once you’re back to work.  

Read the Success Stories on the Women Returners website as a great source of inspiration on days where you feel low. 

These returner stories were incredibly inspiring and a real highlight of the Conference. It’s great to see how building self-belief, reflecting on the skills learned during your career break, looking for successful role models, and tenacity and perseverance have helped others to successfully return to fulfilling work. 

For more inspiring stories of returning women, listen and subscribe to our Career Returners Podcast. 

Building your personal brand

Being clear about your personal brand is so important as you return to work. But what exactly is ‘personal brand’, and how can you build it? Karen, Women Returners Head of Coaching, talked to Steph, Senior Coach at Women Returners, about how to build an authentic personal brand in a recent webinar for our professional network. Karen summarises Steph’s key points below.

Personal brand is your reputation. It includes what you have to offer – your strengths, skills, experiences – and what you stand for – your values and your purpose. It’s the experience that people have when they’re with you. So ask yourself the all-important question: is how you’re perceived consistent with what you want your personal brand to be? 

Having a clear and authentic personal brand is so valuable when you return to work. Being able to articulate your strengths, values, motivations and purpose can make you feel more confident, enable successful career conversations and drive decision making. 

Building your Personal Brand Pyramid 

Steph introduced the idea of a Personal Brand Pyramid. At the foundation lies your values. Your  purpose comes above that, then your skills strengths and experience, your behaviours and image, and finally at the top your reputation which is built upon all the layers beneath it. Each layer is important and feeds into the overall experience that others have of you.  

Your Values and Purpose  

Knowing your own values helps you to make decisions and can become the guiding compass for your life. Sometimes, it’s hard to capture what our values are. One simple method is to reflect back on the ‘golden moments’ of your career – activities you most loved doing – and consider what made them so special.  

For me, working on our podcast ‘Career Returners’ has been a real golden career moment. It has stretched me, allowed me to be creative, and enabled me to connect deeply with a number of fabulous returners!  From this, it’s clear to me that growth, creativity and connection are key values to me, so I look for opportunities that enable me to live those values. If you can choose work by your values, that will lead to more contentment and achievement. 

Many people struggle to identify their specific purpose. To help you uncover yours, think about the difference you want to make in the world: what is your ‘why’?  

When you’re thinking about whether a role is the right one for you, coming back to your purpose and values can really help.  

Your Strengths 

One element of personal brand is the strengths you can offer, so being able to articulate them in an evidence based way will be key. If you’re not clear on your strengths, you could: 

  • Look up past work reviews 
  • Speak to friends and family about what they think your strengths are 
  • Consider what comes naturally to you 
  • Reflect on your proudest achievements, both before and during your career break, jotting down what strengths were in play during those times 
  • Use a strengths assessment tool to help you, eg Insights discovery, spotlight, Strengthsfinder, jobmi.com, or principlesyou.com 

Your Behaviours and Image 

To live your personal brand from the inside out, your behaviours must match who and what you say you are.  One way to demonstrate this at interview is to think about the stories you can tell. These stories can make you memorable, while illustrating your strengths, where your values come from and why they’re important to you. 

Body language is important too. Smiling helps build rapport and trust, particularly in online interviews where tone and speech are often ‘flattened’ on a 2D screen. You may also want to use more hand movements to illustrate what you’re saying and become a little more ‘3D’! Do also think about your online background, ensuring the image you portray reflects the type of role you’re going for.  

Other ways to express your Personal Brand 

In addition to how you physically show up, your online presence can also reflect your personal brand. Your LinkedIn profile is an opportunity to showcase your strengths and experience in your chosen style, while your posts can reflect your interests, values and thought leadership. The activities you choose to engage in and talk about, from hobbies to volunteering, also speak volumes about your motivators and values.  

So, as you return to work, remember to be clear about your personal brand. Live your values and play to your strengths in what you do and in your interactions with others. It will help build your inner confidence, consistency and trust with others.