In today’s workplace, where responsibilities, technology, and even colleagues can change in a matter of months, it can be daunting for stay-at-home parents to swap nappies and tummy time for Excel sheets and boardrooms.
It is a transition Matrix Recruitment expert Joanne Foley is very familiar with: Joanne returned to work in August 2024 after two years at home caring for her two young children. Now thriving in her role, Joanne is keen to help other parents navigate the return to work with confidence and put their newfound parenting skills to good use.
“Yes, going back to work can be exciting, but it can also be intimidating, especially after maternity or paternity leave, not to mention lack of sleep!” says Joanne.
“But I’ve found that with the right approach, work experience can be refreshed, transferable skills can be highlighted, and parents can confidently reestablish their place in the professional world.”Joanne shared her top tips for stay-at-home parents to ease the transition and re-establish themselves in their careers.
Refresh & upskills: Whether you’re rejoining a familiar industry or entering a new one, upskilling is invaluable. Staying current in your field can boost confidence when considering a return to work, and, if you’re in the market for a new role, it can help your CV stand out to hiring managers, says Joanne.“There are multiple ways to refresh your skills from home, from online courses, webinars, or certifications,” she added. “This is an accessible way technical and industry-specific skills while still being a stay-at-home parent.”
Keep in touch: LinkedIn is a relatively easy way to reestablish yourself in the professional world before physically returning to the workplace: “Ensure your profile is updated, showcasing recent skills, certifications, and career highlights,” advised Joanne.“Consider sharing relevant personal or industry insights to position yourself as an informed, engaged professional. Another good move is to reconnect with people within your workplace or network to ease the return to work and in particular, those first-day jitters.”
Preparation: Before returning to the workplace, make sure you know your rights. This is particularly important if you’re a first-time parent returning to work, policies that previously meant little to you as a non-parent might now be a saving grace.“A good example of this is that your workplace should have specific policies in place for breastfeeding mothers who need to pump, and there may be specific entitlements in place when you have to take time off to care for your sick child,” says Joanne.
Be honest & embrace career gaps: Joanne advised parents to be honest with hiring managers and don’t ignore career gaps. Rather than seeing them as a negative blight on your CV, reframe it and highlight what being a parent has taught you and highlight those transferable skills; be it time management, budgeting or problem-solving. Use these examples to demonstrate your value to potential employers.
Stay informed: Things change significantly in a short period of time, so make sure you stay informed about your industry and changes within it, advises Joanne. Studies show parents spend on average of about five hours on their phones so use that time wisely to brush up on skills, even when you’re at home: “Take ten minutes a day to browse industry news, or listen to a podcast with experts, so you stay abreast of what’s going on, or sign up to relevant newsletters.”
However, Joanne said the biggest tip for parents returning to the workplace is to be kind to themselves: “Being a parent is a job in itself, and returning to the workplace means that you’re effectively taking on two roles and patience is needed as you ease yourself back to work,” she explained.“If you are considering a return to work but aren’t sure where to start, reach out to a recruitment expert, they can help with interview preparation, offer insights, and share job opportunities that specifically align with your skills and career aspirations, making the process much more seamless.”
