A return to work after maternity leave can bring up complex emotions. On one hand, you want to get back to work to realize your potential, but on the other hand, you are afraid of leaving your kids for such long periods of time. In this post, we will discuss 3 useful tips for returning to work after maternity leave.
You are also scared that your absence will cause stress for the kids or that they will resent you later in life for not being there for them enough. When you have such thoughts, it is essential to remember that you are not alone.
Many women have had to deal with the exact same situation before you, and there are ways to help ease the transition.
First of all, getting back to work will be difficult as you will have to get out of your comfort zone. You would have earned used to a comfortable routine at home during your maternity leave, and your entire schedule would have been made around your child’s needs. But it is possible to reset and revise your life.
Your success will be dependent on your capability to adapt to work timings and the responsibilities at work quickly.
Here are some suggestions that will hopefully help you transition back to work:
Reconnect with your Colleagues
If you are returning to the same company that you were working at before, you will need to reconnect with the entire team. A lot of changes can happen in a span of a few months, so this step is crucial.
Your supervisors might have new goals and visions, and your colleagues might be facing new challenges or trying different strategies. Test the waters by getting in touch with your colleagues and enquiring about the current condition of the workplace.
Call your supervisor to make sure that your job requirements are the same so that you are not surprised by anything when you get back. Get familiar with the strategies that the company is adopting and catch up with all the work that has happened since your absence.
Prepare your Elevator Pitch
If you are interviewing for a new job after your maternity leave, prepare a pitch that clearly outlines the type of job you are looking for, what you offer, and the working conditions that you will accept.
This self-presentation can be applied directly at an interview or at any meeting with a recruiter or potential employer. The pitch should provide concise information about the job opportunities that you are looking for and what you can, in turn, offer.
The elevator pitch will clearly outline your needs and boundaries. This gives the employer the chance to accept or reject your presentation on the spot. This is better than waiting for days for a call only to find out that you have been rejected. If you are not selected, you can move on to the next employer.
Know Your Schedule
While applying for jobs, you should have a good idea of the hours you can devote to the workplace. You might need to breastfeed your baby at a particular hour of the day or drop them at a nursery.
Once you know what kinds of hours you can comfortably work, you can state that in the interview so that there are no issues later when you start working.
Many companies have flexible timings these days, so make sure you mention these details. Most bosses are happy to accommodate small breaks during work hours, so don’t worry about that.
Returning to work after a long time can be very challenging. How did you adapt to work after returning from maternity leave? Let us know by writing in the comment section below.