Leading Ladies

Time & Leisure caught up with some of our local leading ladies to look back to the start of their successful careers and how their lives have been affected. Read the interviews here:

• Kim Peacock of Peacock & Co
• Idene Doyer of Doyer & Doyer Hair Design
• Charlotte Adler of TWM Solicitors

Many women choose to take time out of successful careers to be full-time mothers. As their children get older and more independent, they may feel ready to re-enter the workforce. However, going back to work is often challenging and intimidating.

As a Wimbledon-based occupational psychologist and career coach, I run workshops for women considering returning to work after a career break. The most obvious problems they discuss are the practical ones of outdated skills, difficulties in finding good childcare and the inflexibility of many corporate jobs. However, just as important are the psychological barriers, in particular a lack of self-confidence and guilt that their family will suffer. The good news is that I have met many women who have successfully returned to work: they admit their lives are now more complicated but all are happier now they are combining work and family.

Clear thinking

Take time to consider why you want to go back to work, what you enjoy doing, what you are good at and what is most important to you - then you can look for options that will best suit you. A consistent message from working mothers is that it’s vital to choose a job you enjoy. Psychology research has found that work can make us happier and give us more energy for family life, but only if we feel competent, satisfied and sufficiently challenged at work. Nicola went to work as a nursery teacher after a five year break: ‘It fitted with the children, but was not really me and I felt drained and irritable. Once I went back to my old area (insurance), I worked longer hours but I was much happier at work and at home.’

Time for action

Studies of successful relaunchers provide tips on how to maximise your chances of finding the job you are aiming for:

• Be able to clearly explain what you are looking for and what you can offer, spread the word widely and be persistent.
• Use your existing contacts and make new ones. An estimated 70% of jobs are unadvertised and women returners are particularly likely to get a job through networks. These leads are just as likely to come through a parent from school as a professional contact.
• Update your knowledge and skills through courses, journals and conferences.
• Look for opportunities to volunteer, work shadow or do project work (work experience isn’t just for teenagers).
• Be creative: large numbers of flexible jobs and schedules are negotiated.

Flexible working ideas

These are some ideas for finding work you enjoy that fits with family life:

• Target smaller and local businesses. Julia, a finance professional took three years out and then found a financial controller position at a local company and negotiated a 20 hours a week schedule.
• Make a ‘career shift’. Return to your old company/sector in a different role. One local consultant took on a part-time human resources role in her old firm after a five-year break.
• Work freelance or by appointment. Olga, a sub-editor in publishing returned to freelance work two to three days a week after a six-year break.
• Set up your own business. Two ex-City lawyers set up a boutique law firm (SW19 Lawyers) which allows them to work locally and flexibly.

In the words of one relauncher: ‘Take your courage in your hands and go for it!’ The positive experience of women who have successfully made the move back to work suggests the effort pays off.

Julianne Miles is a chartered occupational psychologist and helps people find fulfilling work that fits with their lives (www.careerpsychologists.co.uk). She offers small-group workshops in Wimbledon for relaunchers. Email: julianne@careerpsychologists.co.uk