Returning to work: from career gap to career growth

Julianne Miles

CEO and Co-Founder, Career Returners

Returning to work after a long career break — for childcare, eldercare, illness, relocation or other reasons — is both a major challenge and a unique opportunity.

This is one of the few times in your working life when you have the chance to step back and reflect on what you want for the next chapter of your working life — seize it. Are you excited to pick up your old career where you left off? Are you ready for a career pivot? Are you excited by a career reinvention, retraining into a role that is more in line with your current ambitions and motivations?

Overcoming return-to-work challenges

Even if you’re motivated to get back to work, it’s easy to become filled with self-doubt and low confidence. You might be concerned that you’re not employable: you’re too old, you’ve been out of work too long or you’re too out-of-date.

Be reassured that employers are increasingly valuing the skills, experience and perspective that returners bring. Leading Irish private sector employers including Deloitte, J.P. Morgan and FDM Group have established annual returner programmes, providing a supportive pathway back into a professional role. Last year, returner programmes moved into the public sector, with the Irish Civil Service launching a returnship programme for finance, HR and tech professionals.

If you’re not sure which path to
take or are feeling overwhelmed
or stuck, don’t try to do this alone.

Career returners bring a wealth of experience

Shirley Comerford, Assistant Secretary, Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform highlights the value of returners. She says: “We are delighted to have partnered with Career Returners to deliver an Assisted Return to Career (ARC) programme for the Irish Civil Service. Career returners bring a wealth of experience and fresh perspectives to the Civil Service, promoting diversity, innovation and enriching our workforce.”

Seek out support

If you’re not sure which path to take or are feeling overwhelmed or stuck, don’t try to do this alone. Look for encouraging friends and family to keep you motivated. You can also get a wide range of return-to-work advice, inspiration, motivation and peer-to-peer connection through the new Career Returners Community, a global online social network and support hub for returning professionals.