This week, we sat down with some of the ladies leading the way at Railsbank, to discuss the challenges of returning to work after an extended break and to hear some top tips!
What struggles did you face when you began the process of returning to work?
Karine :
When I decided to return to work, I initially chose to go back to my previous role as an Investment Advisor in Private Banking. I had to weigh the pros and cons, as I knew I was committing to working long hours again, but I was ready for it.
As I had no experience working in the UK, I naturally registered for many returners events where I got to meet many other “women returners”. I quickly realised though that these events are good to meet people but also to find a way back in.
Arancha:
I agree, I started by reaching out to as many old colleagues and connections that I made during my previous roles. Networking is so powerful and Linkedin is the best tool available currently for this.
You must never stop networking even when you have your permanent role again. You need to always network. Returner events are a great way to build your network. These events are organised by the main Investment Banks and corporates. Women’s returners or The Return Hub are the best websites to find out who is running these programmes at all times.
I did not feel that managing childcare would be an issue at that point because I had a good child-minder. I was convinced I was ready to take a full time role again. It is important to be honest with yourself here. If you are not ready for it, you will not put the necessary effort into it.
Did you feel ready to take on a big role again?
Joanne:
The answer is yes! I realised that the high point of my career was nearly 20 years ago. I had a few sessions with a career life/coach exactly 15 years ago and I’d documented how my ideal life would look like including my job, my daily routine, my family/personal life……and only now, 15 years later can I tick all those goals that I’d aspired for all those years ago.
It’s never too late to start over! If you’ve taken a career break, use the time to update your skills; there’s lots of FOC material on LinkedIn and other industry sites and remember those in the workplace can easily find their skills are outdated if they don’t keep up the training.
Karine:
I agree, a career break shouldn’t be a weight we carry but instead a choice made that teaches us different values which are transferable skills. I took that opportunity to run a Market survey for 2 french brands who wanted to launch in the UK, and I mentored local women and helped them to become fit and healthy.
What I learnt from these years: resilience, persistence and listening to people around me. I was ready to do the next move in my career, I just needed someone to give me the little push.
You have mentioned networking, how important would you say it is in getting back to work?
Arancha :
Very important! The best tool to find your next role is networking. Some people feel shy about networking and we forget that nowadays perhaps that person you reach out to has been in your situation before and totally understands the help you need at that point. In addition it gives you insights about the industry which you will use in the future when you are invited to interviews.
Joanne: I agree, it’s the most important asset you have. Every person you’ve worked with, or come into contact with in your network, will have a preconceived idea of what you’re capable of. They don’t care how many years have passed from that impression of you…it’s lasting. Make contact with everyone in your network, be honest about your intentions and you’ll be surprised who renews contact…..and it’s fun to reconnect with old friends and colleagues.
Karine : Same, as I mentioned earlier, networking helped me realise I wasn’t the only one. We were about 400 in London expecting to go back to banking/finance in 2018. Networking was the most important task to prioritise when going back to work — You need to meet with old colleagues, people you crossed paths with and also meet peers to support you along the way.
What advice would you give anyone who is returning to work?
Joanne:
“Don’t be afraid to start over. This time you’re not starting from scratch, you’re starting from experience”. (TheMindsJournal)
Arancha:
My advice would be to always highlight your experience, skills and the value you can bring to the role and the company. Career breaks come in many forms. I took a career break to start my own business and since then I appreciate a lot more how hard it is to build a great company.
You are expected to explain why you took a career break and what you did during that time. However the employer has invited you to the interview because of your experience and not because of the career break. Always speak about your career break in a positive way.
Karine:
I would repeat Joanne’s words: don’t be afraid to start over! You have a priceless experience to share with others.
What would you say to employers about hiring people who have taken an extended career break?
Arancha:
It takes huge commitment and dedication for someone who has taken a break to take this step so ask the right questions: How are you doing your search? If they are attending returner events and doing great networking, it means they really want the job and they are 100% committed to get back to their career.
Which industry are they focusing on: is it banks or large corporates or Fintechs? For someone with relevant experience, it is easier to know where they fit best so they will be more specific in their search and if it is a Fintech role they want they will concentrate on that area only.
Appreciate the skills they have gained during their career break: This could be entrepreneurial skills, other studies, caring for a family member.
These candidates usually bring a lot of experience and are more mature. Roles where decision making is needed are perfect for this type of candidate.
Joanne:
I would say: STOP saying you don’t want diversity but hiring ‘mini me’ candidates, STOP saying the most important thing is industry experience when your top performer came from an unrelated field. STOP saying it’s all about values and culture when you rely on AI to screen CVs for buzzwords.
It takes courage, commitment and dedication for employees to return to work after an extended period, so value those qualities and embrace the life experience they’ve gained during that time.
Karine :
I would say look carefully at the person in front of you and assess their transferable skills to see what that person can bring to the team, and to the company.
Send a clear explanation WHY you have not selected her/him. We made the choice to have a break, come back and get into a new industry, we might not tick all the boxes, but we bring our experience onboard, so encourage them.
