So you decided to take a year-or six-off to take care of your children, and now you are returning to the workforce and are trying to figure out a way to explain-and possibly defend-your leave of absence.
This seems to be a regular issue now in the workforce. Mothers, some of them who held high paying business positions and climbed to the top of the corporate ladder, are deciding to take a break when the little ones come along.
Studies show that once a woman leaves the workforce she may have a difficult time getting back into the swing of things when she decides to return; and even if she does find a new job in the same field, chances are her salary will decline, particularly if she previously worked in the business world.
So what can you do to make reentering the workforce easier and to hopefully keep your salary at least level with what you were making before you left?
First, stay involved with the field. Certain areas change quickly. Technology advances daily it seems and the medical field is always evolving. If you want to stay on top of things, you have to remain involved in your field. Attend seminars, keep up with the latest trends and news and remain active in associations.
Read everything you can about your field. Subscribe to magazines and newsletters, keep up with the current news and check the latest nonfiction books out of the library. This is just another way to stay involved with the field. It is important that when you begin interviewing again you understand the changes that have taken place during your absence.
Stay in touch with your last boss/job setting. Keeping contacts does several things. First, these people can keep you informed of the newest and best in your field. Secondly, when you begin looking to return, you can let them know; they may know of openings in your office or in another, making it easier to find work when you are ready to hit the pavement with your resume in hand.
Finally, when you do start interviewing, explain your leave. Some shy away from this break, thinking that it ‘looks bad’ or won’t be accepted when they are ready to return to the workforce. Instead, tell your potential boss why you chose to leave the job that you were in and stay at home with the kids. Also, include this absence on your application along with the reason you were gone. “Stayed home with young children,” works just fine. It explains the break without going into too much detail.
There are ways to increase the possibility that when you return to the workforce you will be making the same salary, or at least close to the same salary, as you made when you left. By staying informed and keeping up with the times you are helping to assure your monthly paycheck won’t dwindle down to nothing when the time comes for you to return to the office.