Mum's Guide to Returning to Work After Maternity Leave or a Break

Going back to work after a break can be daunting at the best of times. However, as a new mum who has taken time away from work to raise a family, it can be especially challenging. Chances are you’ll be feeling a whole range of mixed emotions about your imminent return to the office.

It’s not only that you’ve been out of the loop for weeks, months or, in some cases, years. You’re also returning to your old life with a whole new set of priorities, hopes and concerns. For mums who have just had a baby, you may also be dealing with health problems as a consequence of childbirth. These challenges make a return to work all the more nerve-wracking.

In this guide, we’ve put together some simple, easy-to-apply suggestions for new mums returning to work after maternity leave or raising a family. We will address all the nagging doubts and anxieties that may have manifested while you’ve been away.

We’ll also take a look at what options are available for you to refresh your skills or retrain in a new career, such as career training courses at Pitman Training. And, we’ll provide practical advice for boosting your confidence during job hunting and interviews. Finally, you’ll find tips and tricks throughout this post to help you manage your new work-life balance without feeling overwhelmed.

In this article

• Preparing to go back to work
• Stay in your old job, or build a new career?
• Job hunting, application and interview advice for new mums

By the end, you’ll have the confidence to embrace both your role as a working parent and as a highly valued member of the team.  

Let’s get started!

1. Preparing to go back to work

Returning to work after maternity leave can be a rough ride, and one that’ll no doubt be rife with mixed emotions. One minute you’re exhilarated at the thought of getting back to a career, job or colleagues you love. The next you’re consumed with guilt about being separated from your child for the first time.

A return to work can bring about an emotional rollercoaster. However, there are many effective ways you can prepare for this upcoming life change and ease potential anxiety.

Here are some simple steps you can take right now to make this transition as smooth as possible for both you and your family. Follow these steps to go from stay at home mum to happy mum at work in no time.

Stay informed

Before you even start to think about an exact date for returning to work there are a few things to brush up on. First, staying up to date with developments in your field and place of employment is important. Doing so will make it a much easier transition when you return. Here are some simple ways to stay in the loop while you’re still on maternity leave:

• Stay in contact with old colleagues. Inviting a close work friend for a coffee is an opportunity to find out what has changed at work while you’ve been away. They can brief you on everything from new processes and tools on your team to management changes and new hires.
• Align with your boss.  If you’re planning on taking up your old position, it’s definitely worth getting in touch with your boss. You should set this up well in advance of organising your return to work. First off, this meeting gives you the chance to align expectations on both sides and discuss your needs (and how they have changed). You can also discuss what positions may have shifted or evolved in your old team. This conversation means everyone will be on the same page when you do start back. It will also give you a chance to air any fears or worries while there is still plenty of time to address them.
• Keep abreast of industry changes. Although you may only have been away for a matter of weeks or months, a lot can change in a short space of time. Try to stay at the top of your game by browsing relevant industry news. Or, try listening to podcasts with experts in your field. You may also be able to try out new tools while you’re still at home. With a little practice time, you won’t feel like you’re starting from scratch on your first day back in the office.
• Sign up to newsletters. If you haven’t already, sign up for your company’s newsletter. Doing so will allow you to get regular business updates with minimum effort. If you’re unsure about returning to the same job after maternity leave, sign up for company newsletters from organisations that you are interested in. Then you will be the first to know when a new vacancy opens up.

Adjust your mindset

An effective method for changing a personal outlook is by altering how we talk about ourselves, both in our heads and to others. We should use positive language to describe ourselves and what we do for a living. Then, we can mentally prepare for the transition from home to working life. It will also keep roadblocks like imposter syndrome at bay.

Techniques to practice might include talking about yourself as a professional rather than as a mum. You can also begin discussing your career and work with friends. The sooner you’re able to begin introducing this shift into your home life, the more confident you’ll be when you do decide it’s time to go back to work.

If you’re thinking about applying for a new job after your maternity leave ends, you can prepare for that, too. Talking about work, your field, your goals and your professional interests to your partner, friends and family (or to yourself!) will also be great practice for speaking to potential employers in the context of a job interview. First, you’ll be more at ease with work-related terminology. Plus, you will be able to demonstrate confidence when discussing your skills in a professional context.

Prepare loved ones

Luckily, there are lots of ways you can start preparing your family for this upcoming change. You can even implement these changes while you’re still on maternity leave. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

Plan your childcare early

Try to have your childcare planned well in advance of going back to work, even before the baby is born if possible. There are frequently waiting lists for childcare services and nurseries. So the earlier you start looking, the higher the likelihood of finding available childcare that feels right for you and your child. Knowing your child is in the best hands allows you more mental energy to focus on your job when you’re back at your desk.

Discuss childcare expectations in advance

If a family member will be responsible for your child while you are working, discuss with them exactly what you are hoping for and expect from the arrangement. Outline your routine in as much detail as you can and, before your start date, arrange to have at least one ‘dry run’. Afterwards, you can troubleshoot any issues before you do it for real.

Arrange a back-up

Make sure you have an emergency childcare contact in case your regular provider is unavailable. You might consider asking friends who are also parents, close neighbours, grandparents, siblings, and your partner’s family. Organising this now will considerably reduce your stress if you do need help at short notice.

Start the new routine before you go back

Whether you and your partner need to shift roles and responsibilities within the home, or you need to learn the route from the childminder’s to the office, it’s a good idea to establish your new routine before you start back as a mum at work. Starting one or two weeks early (or earlier!) will give you and your family some adjustment time before you start work. Plus, it gives you a chance to align expectations and troubleshoot issues well in advance.

2. Stay in your old job, or build a new career?

Is the thought of going back to your old job getting you excited or filling you with dread? Whether you can’t wait to return to the job you had before having a child, or you feel like now is the time to try out something completely different, it’s worth using this time to consider your goals and needs in light of your new responsibilities and routine.

In this section, we’ll be running through your employment rights, taking a look at prioritising your goals and needs, and outlining options for polishing your skillset or retraining in a new field.

Know your employment rights

A good place to start when thinking about going back to work after maternity leave is knowing exactly where you stand legally. If you’re in the UK and returning to employment after 26 weeks or less, you’re entitled to return to the same job you had when you left. The only exception to this rule is if your employer has a good business reason for not allowing this, e.g.: if the company has been restructured while you were on leave and some positions were no longer deemed necessary. However, if that’s the case, your employer is then required to offer you an alternative job with the same terms and conditions as your previous position.

Reflect on your goals

You may have found that your goals have shifted since taking time off to have a child. Perhaps maternity leave has brought the realisation that you’re not satisfied with your current career path. Or maybe you’ve decided that you’d like to work part-time or freelance instead. Perhaps you would simply like to earn more money. Either way, it’s helpful to write a list of your priorities and goals before making any big decisions.

Try to focus on the things that have brought you joy or fulfilment in the time you’ve been away from your job. You may find that, rather than going back to your old company, now might be the perfect time to start looking for a new position. Or, it could be the perfect time to learn skills that align more closely with your goals now that you are a parent.

Things to consider might include:

• Working fewer hours to have more time at home
• Finding a role that allows you to pursue your passions
• Having a shorter commute to work, or a remote working position
• Building a career that you’ll find more stimulating or fulfilling
• Learning new skills or refreshing your current skill set
• Moving to a different team within your current company
• Taking on more or fewer responsibilities
• Earning more money, or enjoying more perks
• Taking on a more managerial role
• Going freelance or starting your own business

To refresh or retrain?

Online learning

This can offer new mums a level of flexibility that a traditional classroom setting is unable to.

Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of retraining online:

• You can study from home, or wherever is most convenient for you
• Self-paced learning and schedule flexibility come as standard
• Overall costs tend to be lower, as travel and parking are no longer required
• You’ll have access to course materials 24/7
• Many courses offer mentorship programs or personal tuition
• You’re not limited to the courses on offer locally

In-person Learning

When we think of going back into education a bit later in life, the traditional classroom is usually what springs to mind. In the UK, many higher education establishments offer adult evening classes or part-time daytime courses, as well as full-time courses for those who can fully immerse themselves in nine-to-five learning. There are numerous benefits to learning in a physical classroom which are worth considering when deciding which educational route is the right one for you:

• Fewer distractions and demands on your time than if you were learning at home
• You’ll have the chance to dig deeper into the stories and experiences of your fellow students, as well as your teacher, in a real-world context
• You’ll have the chance to meet new people, make friends, and form study groups with your fellow students
• Talking to others face-to-face often provides greater clarity and understanding than when conducting the same conversation via texting or email
• A real-life learning setting can be a positive boost to your mental health as in-person friendships and connections can greatly reduce stress and anxiety.
• Discussions flow more easily in a real-life setting

Blended learning

Blended learning combines the best aspects of both online and in-person methodologies. This method ensures students have the flexibility of online courses without missing out on the student camaraderie and face-to-face interactions that power a successful course outcome. Here’s a rundown of the benefits of this approach:

• You’ll have the opportunity to engage with the class in the environment that you feel most comfortable in, be that online or in-person
• How you receive your education will be varied, and therefore more stimulating
• You’ll have more autonomy over how you learn
• Course accessibility will never be a problem
• Studies have found that student engagement is higher when taking a course that offers blended learning

3. Job hunting, application and interview advice for new mums

Starting the search for a new job at any time in life is no easy feat. But for a new mum transitioning from maternity leave back to the office after a long break, it rings even more true. This next step can feel fraught with practical, emotional and professional hurdles. You may experience the standard insecurities we all feel when applying for new jobs. And along with those feelings, you’ve also got some new and very legitimate worries related to your new status as a parent.

In this section, we’ll be showing you how with some simple preparation you can put these worries to one side. Then, you can concentrate instead on demonstrating why you’re the best person for the job.

Let’s take a look at the best job search, application and interview preparation for stay at home mums.

Training

As we’ve already mentioned, a course is a great way to update your knowledge and brush up on your skills. However, it’s also an opportunity to demonstrate your intentions to potential employers at the job application or interview stage. A training course such as Microsoft Excel Courses or Administration Courses will also boost your confidence and give you something to put in the gap on your CV from when you were raising your family.

CV Overhaul

Your CV may need some updating if you’ve been away from paid employment for a while. But that doesn’t mean you have nothing to add to it. Aside from a course or training, make sure to add the relevant skills and experience you gained while raising your child. You can add things such as involvement in nursery groups, time management, working under pressure and budgeting. These are all transferable skills that are valuable to any prospective employer.

Update Your Social Media

If you have social media profiles that you’re using for more personal sharing, consider switching your settings to private. It’s pretty much guaranteed that potential employers will do a quick scan of all your public content to check your suitability for a role before requesting an interview.

Networking

Whether you do it online or in person, building a network of professional contacts will be a huge help when launching your new career, or looking for a new position. Why? Because networking is the quickest way to hear about job leads. More often than not, you’ll hear about a vacancy through your network before it’s been officially announced. Earlier knowledge gives you a significant advantage over other candidates

Building a large professional network takes time, but there are lots of simple steps you can take while you’re still on maternity leave to get the ball rolling.

• Let your friends and family know your intention to find a new job; they may know someone in your field they can introduce you to
• Talk to other parents at your baby’s play group and be open about your job search
• If you can, attend meetups for professionals in your area or on Zoom.
• Contact former colleagues; they may have moved on to companies which are looking for candidates with your skillset

Dealing With Difficult Interview Questions

One of the most nerve-wracking aspects of re-entering the job market after a break is the interview phase. First off, you should seriously congratulate yourself on landing an interview. However, many new mums worry about having to answer personal questions about time management with a child or how they’ve spent their ‘career break’. This can be a cause of extreme anxiety in the lead-up to that one-hour sit down with the hiring team or company boss.

Rest assured, most good hiring managers will do everything they can to make you feel as comfortable as possible. They are likely aware of the difficult transition you’re embarking on. However, even though most of your worries are likely to be unfounded, it’s still a good idea to prepare yourself for less sensitive questions.

With some prep, you will know that you’ve got every angle covered when the real thing comes around. Then you can sail through the questions with confidence and ease.

Tips to keep in mind:

• Be honest about your time off to raise a family or have a child. Mention any side projects or volunteer work you may have done alongside, if relevant. But don’t try to hide why you’ve been out of employment for a while.
• Focus on any transferable skills you may have acquired as a new parent that would be relevant to the new role.
• Use humour to deflect and redirect inappropriate questions, which although insensitive, may stem from a good place.
• Try to reframe an inappropriate question to get at the root of the interviewer’s potential concern, then address that reframed question.
• If you’re not sure how to respond to an inappropriate or illegal question, you can politely say: ‘Can I ask how this relates to the role?”
• Try to remain calm in the face of difficult questions. If you find yourself faced with questions that you know you shouldn’t be, it’s probably a direct reflection on the company culture and not a place to pursue a new role or career.
• Remember you are under no obligation to answer illegal questions. Be aware of your rights and know that you can always walk away from the interview.

Be Proud

Finally, be proud of what you’ve achieved in the time you’ve been away from a paid job! As a parent, you’ve learned a host of new skills, many of which are extremely valuable in various contexts, not just at home. Be open and honest with potential employers about what you’re excited about in the company, the steps you’ve already taken preparing for the transition back into work, and the plans you’ve got in place for when you do start back. Demonstrating your organisational skills in this way will only make you a more attractive candidate.

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We hope you’ve enjoyed this guide for stay-at-home mums returning to work after maternity leave or a break. Hopefully, by utilising these tips and tricks, you can launch or return to a career that is not only professionally fulfilling, but that enables you to do the best job you can as a parent, too.

If you’re interested in refreshing your CV or retraining for a new career, contact us at Pitman Training, today. We have a variety of high calibre, affordable courses ranging from business to technology, and more. With our flexible courses, you can accomplish your career goals without sacrificing family time.