Re-starting your career is even difficult than starting it. You have lost touch with professional skills and workplace nitty-gritties. You find it hard to communicate your issues and often hesitate to even ask for help. You might feel low on confidence and feel outdated as you might be unaware of the new technologies and practices at work that have surfaced, while you were away.

All these things piled up are bound to have some effect on your return to work, but you can still cope with it if you’re prepared for it.

In this patriarchal society, it is very difficult for women to have a successful professional career as they are bound by so many responsibilities and chained down with the gender stereotypical roles. Women due to all these reasons give up on their career and never even think of re-starting or often curb their desire of starting all over again. Those who set on the journey again, face many hurdles, making it difficult for them to survive.

 Mentioned below are the challenges you face with the way to overcome them and make an easy comeback:

1. Re-fueling: Yes, you heard it right. The engine of your mind was off-track and was not functional in the way of your profession. You need to re-fuel yourself and learn new skills that may have come into the picture in the organizations while you were on a career break. Revise the skills you already had, remember your experiences and focus on learning new skills and current trends. Build network and try not to run out of confidence. Trust yourself.

1. Plan your career: Better late than never. The events in your life should not stop you from progressing or stop you from achieving something in your career. Even if you are starting a second innings, you have all the rights to plan your career and strategize your comeback while ensuring your success. Go for options like flexible work timings or work-from-home opportunities, to balance your personal and professional life. There are a lot of freelancing and part-time jobs available, you just need to find the one that suits you. These options let you stay connected to the workforce instead of being isolated.

1. Have the confidence to negotiate: Women returning to work are often seen as non-reliable resource and this is the reason that they are either not offered the deserving job/post or are offered lower salary. Women must know how to stand for themselves and negotiate for what they want. Be confident in you and know your worth. You might have been away from the workforce for some time but that doesn’t mean that you have lost your skills or worth. Learn to prioritize your goals and outcomes and learn skills to negotiate. There are various online courses available today which helps in strengthening your negotiation skills. You can take help of these courses to learn various skills.

1. Look for a mentor: It is always good to have someone guide you about your career path. Having a mentor to tell you how to re-start your career after a break is not a bad option. Having a women leader who already went through the same phase would be an even better option as she would be able to guide you in a much better way and give you the push that you need.

1. Stay aware: You should stay aware and updated regarding the organizational policies and privileges given to women returning to work. Stay informed about women returnee internships and other relevant programs.

1. Be bold and decisive: Never hesitate to voice your opinion and demand for support from your family and the organizations. Let everyone know what you want and what are you capable of. Scout for opportunities and be very firm in grabbing the relevant one.

1. Be the guiding light for others: Try to achieve your goals and be an example in front of other prospecting women returnees. Be their guiding light and help them revamp their careers. Just think that if you are able to manage everything you can be an inspiration to others. Share your experiences on social media platforms and within your network.

1. Enroll for training programs: There are various training programs helping women get back to work. Be a part of any such program and learn new skills.

It has become a general thinking that one needs to avoid having a career break on his/her resume. It is not the right thinking. Especially in case of women, having a career break is seen in a negative light. The time is to change this thinking and the organizations should think of hiring the eligible and the most suitable talent, irrespective of the career gap and gender.

There is also a need to establish gender equitable norms and the concept of shared responsibility should be encouraged. Women with children should not be looked down upon or considered a non-reliable resource, when men with kids aren’t thought of in the same light. The organizations should support women returning to work.

Women making a comeback should be confident about themselves and look for option that best suit their needs and situation. Giving up is not the option for the women of today.

Turacoz foundation is helping women re-start their career and live their dreams by providing them work-from-home opportunities along with training programs. We are working towards women empowerment. We believe that a woman is more than just a gender.

To know more, write to us at [email protected]