For Moms Thinking About Going Back to Work

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In this episode:

For Moms Thinking About Going Back to Work

As my baby’s due date is quickly approaching and I’m about to enter the world of motherhood, I couldn’t think of a better guest to have on the Career Foresight podcast than Diana Cregan.

Diana is a career coach who specializes in helping women reconnect with their professional identities and navigate the job market after taking time away from the workforce to focus on raising their children.

Her coaching business is Back to Work Roadmap for Mothers and she was kind enough to share her expertise and wisdom on this topic with us in today’s conversation.

In this episode we discuss:

The most common mindset barriers women face when they are ready go back to work after taking time off for their families
The misconceptions people have about the role recruiters play in landing jobs, and what you can do to actually make a difference in your job search
How to know when you’re ready to go back to work as a mom, and what steps to take

The most common mindset barriers women face when they are ready go back to work after taking time off for their families

Diana has found that there are three major mindset barriers that most frequently present themselves to women as they are thinking about heading back to work after taking some time off.

1. Feeling like they are abandoning their families

She encourages women to challenge this thought and binary way of thinking. Going back to work does not mean that you are being selfish, or neglecting your family at all. Rather, it’s important that you integrate the two and find a path forward that allows you to nurture yourself so that you can be the best version of yourself for your family.

2. Feeling like you have nothing left to give, or no longer have relevant skills

Diana made it clear that this path of thinking can be dangerous when job searching. If you don’t recognize the value that you bring to the table, then you become susceptible to feeling “overly grateful” for any job you may be offered. This means it's more likely that you could accept a position that doesn’t actually fulfill your needs, or in which your work is undervalued.

It’s important that women take the time to reconnect with their professional identities and learn how to articulate their skills and value before applying to jobs to avoid this, Diana recommends.

3. Feeling disconnected from work life and lacking a supportive, professional network

Diana shared so much practical advice for overcoming this barrier in our conversation. She provides specific recommendations for building an organic, relationship-based network through asking for informational interviews and making genuine connections.

While the thought of networking is overwhelming to many, Diana breaks down the process to her approach in a way that not only makes “networking easy” but also way more effective in leading to employment opportunities.

The misconceptions people have about the role recruiters play in landing jobs, and what you can do to actually make a difference in your job search

In a past career, Diana was a recruiter herself. So she knows a lot about the industry and the role that recruiters play in hiring talent. She shared that on average, only 20-25% of positions that are filled across industries are filled by either recruiters or via online job applications.

That means that the vast majority of positions filled are being filled through personal connections.

Some people may read that and become even more intimidated by the job market. However, Diana shares how you can start building your connections in an easy, natural way. And, I think you’ll find that the approach she recommends actually turns out to be less stressful or intimidating than the frenzy of reaching out to recruiters and applying online!

How to know when you’re ready to go back to work as a mom, and what steps to take

Diana shares two key telltale signs that a woman who has taken time away from work to focus on her family is ready to re-enter the workforce.

1. Waking up and feeling like your life is a “Ground Hog Day” scenario

If you find yourself going through your day feeling bored or burnt out from having the same experiences over and over again, you’re likely ready for a change. Diana has found that this trigger is one of the most common ones that lead her clients to reach out and seek support in making a career change.

2. Starting to feel disappointed in the reality of your life compared to what you had envisioned

If you find that you aren’t happy in your situation and how it’s all working out in real life compared to your expectations, starting to make a career change can be a really positive way to channel that energy.

Rather than suppressing the feelings of disappointment, which could lead to resentment, Diana says it’s important that women feel the freedom to explore their options and reconnect with themselves and the vision for their life they really want to lead.

One of the most practical things Diana and I talked about in our conversation had to do with the timing of job searching and preparing to go back to work.

For many women, the task may seem daunting--either they don’t know where to start, or they don’t yet feel “ready” to go back to work. The uncertainty can lead to put off taking any action and punting the problem down the road.

Diana shares that starting the process of reconnecting with your professional identity and actually pursuing/obtaining a job typically takes about 3-6 months for her clients. But, ultimately, the time it takes is completely up to the individual.

What does that mean? Well, if you’re starting to think about heading back to work after taking some time off, you have nothing to lose by starting the process. You can learn a lot about yourself, build your confidence and when you’re ready to actually take the leap--you’ll know.

If you are a mom that is currently thinking about heading back to work, I highly recommend you reach out to Diana to learn more about her coaching services!

You can learn more and contact her via these methods: