5 Working Mums' Confidence Boosters After a Career Break

For a woman who spent her after-college life working and takes pride in her career and accomplishments, a break could be an idea that breaks her heart. Of course, it is something she'll consider if the situation is as demanding and exciting as attending to her new arrival. A career break is something a working mum has just got to do when raising a child competes with her time and focus. Luckily for us, most institutions are understanding enough that you would hardly find a new mother without the financial and emotional support she needs.

While some women put a great deal of effort into planning their entire working career around their life aspirations, planning in intricate detail what will happen from the moment they find out that they are expecting a child, all the way through a transition back to regular work, for most of us this is represents a process of discovery. It is, after all, very difficult to plan your entire career and personal life in advance, most especially given the financial and economic uncertainties that we have encountered in recent times. Such economic turmoil is enough to throw anyone's plans off track, but for the mother getting ready to return to work after her break, it can be a particularly stressful time.

Mum needs to be very confident when she returns to work after a career break, for a number of reasons:

First, she should remember that she was hired in the first place due to a combination of skills, ability, education and personality. This combination is not easy to find in a replacement, as the human resources department will be only too well aware. Not to the point of sounding too promotional, a working mum should shift focus to these characteristics.

Second, remember that there is nothing to feel guilty about. Childbirth is a natural right for women in our society and the vast majority of employers recognise and accept their liabilities as a consequence of doing business. While it is true that a lengthy absence can be a little disruptive for the employer, this has to be taken in stride and there is no reason to feel guilty at all when returning to the fold.

Additionally, the entire process of giving birth and planning a family provides a ground for you to hone your planning and managerial skills. Acknowledge these significant skills and bear in mind that these will be put to use within the workplace, as well.

Fourth, statistics is on your side as half of the workforce is composed of women - women like you whom at one point or another went through the same situation as yours! You will have many a sympathetic ear, when you return.

Lastly, the fact that you now have a family to take care of is a marvellous achievement in its own right. Take pride in your achievements and if you already went through the hardships of giving birth, by all means you can take down any challenge in the office!

If this really is too much for you, consider professional coaching as you work through it. In our fast-paced lives, online life coaching can be a valuable resource, like for example, women springing from a career break can make use of professional coaching to iron out difficulties that they would encounter in their return.