Going back to work after a break can be daunting at the best of times. However, as a new mum who has taken time away from work to raise a family, it can be especially challenging. You’re returning to your old life with a whole new set of priorities, hopes and concerns — which is why having a clear guide to returning to work can make all the difference.
Recent figures show that around 75% of UK mothers1 return to work within a year after childbirth. Many find roles in fields like administration, customer service, healthcare, and education, which often offer part-time or flexible options.2 Knowing these trends can help you target sectors that actively welcome parents returning to work. At Pitman Training, we help hundreds of parents every year build skills for these high-demand fields.
Quick Wins to Get Started Today:
Update your CV to show parenting strengths:
For example: “Managed daily schedules, appointments and budgeting — showing organisation, planning and financial skills.”
Prepare a confident career gap explanation:
Try: “I took time to raise my family, which strengthened my problem-solving and communication skills. Now I’m excited to bring these back to the workplace.”
Explore flexible training options:
Short, self-paced courses (like Pitman’s Admin, IT or Bookkeeping diplomas) can help you upskill around family life.
This comprehensive guide provides practical, easy-to-apply strategies for new mums transitioning back to employment after maternity leave or raising a family. We’ll address all the nagging doubts and anxieties that may have manifested while you’ve been away, plus provide actionable steps for a successful transition.
Essential Information for Planning Your Return
Before diving into the step-by-step process, let’s establish the key timelines and requirements for a successful transition back to work.
At a Glance: What You Need to Know
Timeline:
Start preparing 3-6 months before your intended return date. Most mothers successfully transition back within 2-4 weeks when following a structured approach.
Success Rate:
Mothers who follow structured preparation plans report 85% higher satisfaction with their work transition.
Key Requirements:
Reliable childcare, updated skills, financial planning, and mental preparation.
Essential Steps in Your Guide to Returning to Work
Mental preparation forms a crucial part of any effective guide to returning to work. Start adjusting your mindset gradually to embrace the professional and personal changes ahead. Here are the key steps to take right now:
Your Most Common Questions Answered
How long should I prepare before returning to work after maternity leave?
Begin preparation 3-4 months before your target return date. This allows sufficient time for childcare arrangements, skill refreshers, and mental adjustment.
What are my legal rights when returning to work after maternity leave?
In the UK, you’re entitled to return to the same job if you’ve been on leave for 26 weeks or less. Your employer must provide equivalent terms and conditions if your original position is unavailable. You also have rights to request flexible working arrangements and are protected from discrimination. For the latest updates on employment rights, visit gov.uk.
How do I explain a career gap due to maternity leave in interviews?
Be direct and positive: “I took time off to care for my newborn and used this period to develop time management and organizational skills that directly benefit workplace productivity.”
Should I return to my previous job or look for something new?
This depends on your personal circumstances, career goals, and how your priorities may have shifted. Consider factors like work-life balance, commute time, growth opportunities, and whether your previous role still aligns with your values.
Preparing to Go Back to Work
Returning to work after maternity leave can be a rough ride, and one that’ll no doubt be rife with mixed emotions. One minute you’re exhilarated at the thought of getting back to a career, job or colleagues you love. The next you’re consumed with guilt about being separated from your child for the first time.
A return to work can bring about an emotional rollercoaster. However, there are many effective ways you can prepare for this upcoming life change and ease potential anxiety. Here are some simple steps you can take right now to make this transition as smooth as possible for both you and your family. Follow these steps to go from stay-at-home mum to happy mum at work in no time.
Stay Informed
Before you even start to think about an exact date for returning to work there are a few things to brush up on. First, staying up to date with developments in your field and place of employment is important. Doing so will make it a much easier transition when you return. Here are some simple ways to stay in the loop while you’re still on maternity leave:
Stay in Contact With Old Colleagues
Inviting a close work friend for a coffee is an opportunity to find out what has changed at work while you’ve been away. They can brief you on everything from new processes and tools on your team to management changes and new hires.
Align With Your Boss
If you’re planning on taking up your old position, it’s definitely worth getting in touch with your boss. You should set this up well in advance of organising your return to work. This meeting gives you the chance to align expectations on both sides and discuss your needs (and how they have changed).
Keep Abreast of Industry Changes
Although you may only have been away for a matter of weeks or months, a lot can change in a short space of time. Try to stay at the top of your game by browsing relevant industry news. Or, try listening to podcasts with experts in your field.
Sign Up to Newsletters
If you haven’t already, sign up for your company’s newsletter. Doing so will allow you to get regular business updates with minimum effort. If you’re unsure about returning to the same job after maternity leave, sign up for company newsletters from organisations that you are interested in.
Adjust Your Mindset
With such a big life change ahead, it is important to start slowly adjusting your mindset to what’s around the corner, both professionally and personally. You should do this before taking any practical steps towards returning to your old job or finding a new one.
An effective method for changing a personal outlook is by altering how we talk about ourselves, both in our heads and to others. We should use positive language to describe ourselves and what we do for a living. Then, we can mentally prepare for the transition from home to working life. It will also keep roadblocks like impostor syndrome at bay.
Techniques to practice might include talking about yourself as a professional rather than as a mum. You can also begin discussing your career and work with friends. The sooner you’re able to begin introducing this shift into your home life, the more confident you’ll be when you do decide it’s time to go back to work.
Professional Identity Practice
Practice introducing yourself as a professional in your field rather than simply as “a mum.” This subtle shift reinforces your professional identity and builds confidence in work-related conversations.
Career-Focused Conversations
Engage in regular discussions about your professional goals and interests with friends and family. This practice prepares you for networking and interview situations.
Visualization Exercises
Regularly visualize successful work scenarios and positive interactions with colleagues. Mental rehearsal builds confidence and reduces anxiety about returning to work.
Prepare Loved Ones
There is so much to organise before returning to work after having a baby. Hence, it can be easy to forget that you’re not the only one who has big changes ahead when your new routine starts. Your partner, other caregivers, as well as your new baby will all have to adjust to your return to working life.
Luckily, there are lots of ways you can start preparing your family for this upcoming change. You can even implement these changes while you’re still on maternity leave. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
Plan Your Childcare Early
Try to have your childcare planned well in advance of going back to work, even before the baby is born if possible. There are frequently waiting lists for childcare services and nurseries. So the earlier you start looking, the higher the likelihood of finding available childcare that feels right for you and your child.
Discuss Childcare Expectations in Advance
If a family member will be responsible for your child while you are working, discuss with them exactly what you are hoping for and expect from the arrangement. Outline your routine in as much detail as you can and, before your start date, arrange to have at least one ‘dry run’.
Arrange a Back-Up
Make sure you have an emergency childcare contact in case your regular provider is unavailable. You might consider asking friends who are also parents, close neighbours, grandparents, siblings, and your partner’s family. Organising this now will considerably reduce your stress if you do need help at short notice.
Start the New Routine Before You Go Back
Whether you and your partner need to shift roles and responsibilities within the home, or you need to learn the route from the childminder’s to the office, it’s a good idea to establish your new routine before you start back as a mum at work. Starting one or two weeks early (or earlier!) will give you and your family some adjustment time.
To Refresh or Retrain?
Studies have found that almost two thirds of mums are interested in retraining in something new.
If you’re dreading the thought of going back to your old company or position and have decided it’s time for a change, there are a host of flexible, affordable study options available to new parents who wish to refresh their skill sets or learn about a new field.
Thanks to the rise in part-time, flexi, virtual and hybrid learning models, there are many alternatives to the more traditional, fully offline classroom learning model. With Pitman Training, you can refresh your skill set or train for a whole new career. They offer flexible in centre, virtual, or blended study options, so you are guaranteed to find a study option that fits you and your family.
Let’s take a look at some of the key benefits of virtual learning, in-person learning, and blended learning.
If you’re considering a career change, it’s worth checking current government support for training and education at gov.uk to see what financial assistance may be available.
Virtual Learning
Virtual learning has seen a boom in recent years. And due to the Covid-19 pandemic, studying virtual has become the norm for students all over the world. The good news for potential students is that thanks to the high volume of in-person classroom closures, many more courses are now available remotely. This can offer new mums a level of flexibility that a traditional classroom setting is unable to.
- You can study from home, or wherever is most convenient for you
- Self-paced learning and schedule flexibility come as standard
- Overall costs tend to be lower, as travel and parking are no longer required
- You’ll have access to course materials 24/7
- Many courses offer mentorship programs or personal tuition
- You’re not limited to the courses on offer locally
In-Person Learning
When we think of going back into education a bit later in life, the traditional classroom is usually what springs to mind. In the UK, many higher education establishments offer adult evening classes or part-time daytime courses, as well as full-time courses for those who can fully immerse themselves in nine-to-five learning. There are numerous benefits to learning in a physical classroom which are worth considering when deciding which educational route is the right one for you:
- Fewer distractions and demands on your time than if you were learning at home
- You’ll have the chance to dig deeper into the stories and experiences of your fellow students, as well as your teacher, in a real-world context
- You’ll have the chance to meet new people, make friends, and form study groups with your fellow students
- Talking to others face-to-face often provides greater clarity and understanding than when conducting the same conversation via texting or email
- A real-life learning setting can be a positive boost to your mental health as in-person friendships and connections can greatly reduce stress and anxiety
- Discussions flow more easily in a real-life setting
Blended Learning
Blended learning combines the best aspects of both virtual and in-person methodologies. This method ensures students have the flexibility of virtual courses without missing out on the student camaraderie and face-to-face interactions that power a successful course outcome. Here’s a rundown of the benefits of this approach:
- You’ll have the opportunity to engage with the class in the environment that you feel most comfortable in, be that virtual or in-person
- How you receive your education will be varied, and therefore more stimulating
- You’ll have more autonomy over how you learn
- Course accessibility will never be a problem
- Studies have found that student engagement is higher when taking a course that offers blended learning
Job Hunting, Application and Interview Advice for New Mums
Starting the search for a new job at any time in life is no easy feat. But for a new mum transitioning from maternity leave back to the office after a long break, it rings even more true. This next step can feel fraught with practical, emotional and professional hurdles. You may experience the standard insecurities we all feel when applying for new jobs. And along with those feelings, you’ve also got some new and very legitimate worries related to your new status as a parent.
In this section, we’ll be showing you how with some simple preparation you can put these worries to one side. Then, you can concentrate instead on demonstrating why you’re the best person for the job.
Let’s take a look at the best job search, application and interview preparation for stay at home mums.
Training
As we’ve already mentioned, a course is a great way to update your knowledge and brush up on your skills. However, it’s also an opportunity to demonstrate your intentions to potential employers at the job application or interview stage. A training course such as Microsoft Excel Courses or Administration Courses will also boost your confidence and give you something to put in the gap on your CV from when you were raising your family.
CV Overhaul
Your CV may need some updating if you’ve been away from paid employment for a while. But that doesn’t mean you have nothing to add to it. Aside from a course or training, make sure to add the relevant skills and experience you gained while raising your child. You can add things such as involvement in nursery groups, time management, working under pressure and budgeting. These are all transferable skills that are valuable to any prospective employer.
Transferable Skills to Highlight:
- Advanced time management and prioritization
- Multi-tasking and project coordination
- Budget management and resource allocation
- Crisis management and problem-solving under pressure
- Community involvement and volunteer leadership
- Event planning and coordination
- Team collaboration in parent networks
Update Your Social Media
Don’t underestimate the power of social media in helping you find a job. LinkedIn is a great platform for showcasing your skills and experience. In addition, it is useful for researching companies and finding job vacancies. As of this year, more than 90% of recruiters search for candidates on LinkedIn. So it’s important that your profile is showcasing your best work.
If you have social media profiles that you’re using for more personal sharing, consider switching your settings to private. It’s pretty much guaranteed that potential employers will do a quick scan of all your public content to check your suitability for a role before requesting an interview.
Networking
Whether you do it virtually or in person, building a network of professional contacts will be a huge help when launching your new career or looking for a new position. Why? Because networking is the quickest way to hear about job leads. More often than not, you’ll hear about a vacancy through your network before it’s been officially announced. Earlier knowledge gives you a significant advantage over other candidates.
Building a large professional network takes time, but there are lots of simple steps you can take while you’re still on maternity leave to get the ball rolling.
- Let your friends and family know your intention to find a new job; they may know someone in your field they can introduce you to
- Talk to other parents at your baby’s play group and be open about your job search
- If you can, attend meetups for professionals in your area or on Zoom
- Contact former colleagues; they may have moved on to companies which are looking for candidates with your skillset
Dealing With Difficult Interview Questions
One of the most nerve-wracking aspects of re-entering the job market after a break is the interview phase. First off, you should seriously congratulate yourself on landing an interview. However, many new mums worry about having to answer personal questions about time management with a child or how they’ve spent their ‘career break’. This can be a cause of extreme anxiety in the lead-up to that one-hour sit down with the hiring team or company boss.
Rest assured, most good hiring managers will do everything they can to make you feel as comfortable as possible. They are likely aware of the difficult transition you’re embarking on. However, even though most of your worries are likely to be unfounded, it’s still a good idea to prepare yourself for less sensitive questions.
With some prep, you will know that you’ve got every angle covered when the real thing comes around. Then you can sail through the questions with confidence and ease.
Remember, certain questions about pregnancy, family planning, or childcare arrangements may be inappropriate or even illegal. For current guidance on what employers can and cannot ask during interviews, check the employment rights information at gov.uk.
- Be honest about your time off to raise a family or have a child. Mention any side projects or volunteer work you may have done alongside, if relevant. But don’t try to hide why you’ve been out of employment for a while.
- Focus on any transferable skills you may have acquired as a new parent that would be relevant to the new role.
- Use humour to deflect and redirect inappropriate questions, which although insensitive, may stem from a good place.
- Try to reframe an inappropriate question to get at the root of the interviewer’s potential concern, then address that reframed question.
- If you’re not sure how to respond to an inappropriate or illegal question, you can politely say: ‘Can I ask how this relates to the role?’
- Try to remain calm in the face of difficult questions. If you find yourself faced with questions that you know you shouldn’t be, it’s probably a direct reflection on the company culture and not a place to pursue a new role or career.
- Remember you are under no obligation to answer illegal questions. Be aware of your rights and know that you can always walk away from the interview.
Be Proud
Finally, be proud of what you’ve achieved in the time you’ve been away from a paid job! As a parent, you’ve learned a host of new skills, many of which are extremely valuable in various contexts, not just at home. Be open and honest with potential employers about what you’re excited about in the company, the steps you’ve already taken preparing for the transition back into work, and the plans you’ve got in place for when you do start back. Demonstrating your organisational skills in this way will only make you a more attractive candidate.
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We hope you’ve enjoyed this guide for stay-at-home mums returning to work after maternity leave or a break. Hopefully, by utilising these tips and tricks, you can launch or return to a career that is not only professionally fulfilling, but that enables you to do the best job you can as a parent, too.
If you’re interested in refreshing your CV or retraining for a new career, contact us at Pitman Training today. We have a variety of high-calibre, affordable courses ranging from business to technology, and more. With our flexible courses, you can accomplish your career goals without sacrificing family time.
- Source: ONS – Families and the Labour Market, UK: 2023 ↩︎
- Source: Working Families and CIPD ↩︎
