Returning to work after having children can feel daunting. But plan ahead and it can be as easy as one, two, three…

A higher number of women than ever before are stopping to have a career break and, for most, this usually happens when they start a family. After a few months, or years, at home, the thought of returning to the world of nine-to-five work – especially since your domestic life has become far more hectic – can really feel like a mental hurdle.

As a mum, you might feel that the career you were in previously no longer suits your lifestyle and you may have to consider posts in a different field. If you can convey to a potential new employer that you have transferable skills, it’s not impossible – but, remember, you may have to retrain to gain a foothold in your new job.

Our following guide will help you along the way as you embark back into working life…

Time for a change
Learning a new skill if you want a career change is not as tricky as you might think. Once you have done so, all you’ll need is a winning CV and a great performance at an interview – and you’ll be in a fantastic new job before you know it.

Working women nowadays are better qualified than ever before. In 1963, a quarter of undergraduates were female, nowadays it’s slightly over half. In 1970, women’s pay was 65% of men’s – now it’s 81% and rising. However, many women are juggling raising a family with stressful careers to pay massive mortgages – their job’s as essential
to the income of the home as that of their partner’s.

But jobs for life have disappeared and, unless pensions perk up, much of the baby boom generation, now in its 40s and 50s, will be working long past its retirement age. In your lifetime, you’ll face more workplace changes than your mother did. And to cope with these changes you’ll need to keep your skills up-to-date.

Learn the art of networking
Many people think networking means being pushy. Wrong. Effective networkers don’t come across like that, as they have the right approach. So, first up, make a list of family members, friends and former co-workers and let them know about your job search. Give them a good idea of what jobs you are interested in as well as your relevant skills and experience. Ask those on your list to recommend other people to speak to about potential job opportunities and any publications or websites they think might be of use to you.

Don’t hesitate to contact people they recommend. Remember that social networking takes practise and nearly everyone will be happy to
help you as much as they can. Don’t forget to send a thank-you note to those who provided you with a great job lead. Also, remember to keep everyone on your list updated on your job search and check back with them regularly for possible job leads.

Think positive
If you’re finding it harder than expected to land your perfect job, don’t be disheartened. The key is to stay motivated and believe that the right opportunity is just around
the corner, and be proactive about finding it. Consider the time you spend looking for your next job as a golden opportunity to spend time polishing your CV, perfecting your interview technique and researching what you want to do. Treat finding a job as you would if you had a job, so get up early, dress smartly and plan
your day wisely and the chances of landing your dream role will rocket.

Get qualified
Brushing up on your skills or learning a new one through home learning is particularly beneficial for mums who have little ones. It means your hours are flexible hours and you could obtain a qualification at the end of it. In addition, it could help prepare you for when you do land that dream new role.

Get your CV right
A common mistake made by jobseekers is to write longand rambling CVs. In fact, a short and easy read will work far better. Employers want to know about your knowledge, skills and experience, but they don’t have time to trawl through lengthy tomes to extract information. Think about what you’ve learned as a wife and mother, which could add substance to your CV, especially if it’s of relevance to prospective employers. Experience should be listed in reverse chronological order – start with your most recent job and work backwards – and show a clear job history with greater detail in the more recent jobs and very little in the earlier ones. Don’t leave gaps. If there is a break in your job history, state why, for example, travelling – or becoming a mum, of course!

Don’t overlook the layout of your CV. It should present all the relevant information in an easy-to-read way – you only have 30 seconds to grab your prospective employer’s full attention, so don’t waste it. It may sound obvious, but do make sure your contact details are up-to-date.

Do your research
If your CV has done its job – the next stage is being invited to an interview. This is your chance to wow future employers face-to-face, but before you show up, do some research. Nothing impresses interviewers more than a thorough knowledge about the company and the role you hope to be taking on – it shows dedication and a real desire to work for them.

Check out the company’s website as this will give you a good overview of its ethos, earning power and who’s who in the office. Check out whether the companies you’re interested in are family friendly and can offer flexible hours.

Flexible working is still crucially important to mothers, even though there is widespread concern about jobs amid the recession, according to a survey. Nearly eight out of 10 women said that flexible working was a top priority for their careers, according To a survey of 1,677 women, published on the WorkingMums website, www.workingmums.co.uk.

Our guide will give you an idea of which careers and jobs best suit you, and it will equip you with the essentials to get you started…

Teaching assistant
This profession offers a vital role in primary, secondary and special schools. You’ll support the teacher, help with classroom organisation and assist children with their work and learning, either individually in the classroom or in small groups,  and work on administration. You’ll never have a dull day at work again!

Good for mums because… The hours fit in with school hours and it may be possible to find work  in the same school as your children. Part-time posts are available, too.

Qualifications: No formal ones are required, but experience working with children is useful. You’ll need to be confident in Maths and English (strong literacy). NVQs at Levels 2 and 3 are expected by certain schools.

Salary: Full-time teaching assistants tend to earn a salary of between £14,700 and £16,800.

Healthcare assistant
This job involves helping healthcare professionals to care for patients in hospitals or in patients’ homes. It could include supporting nurses’ duties such as checking blood pressure, taking blood samples and inserting needles into veins.

Good for mums because… Hours can be flexible and part-time positions are frequently available.

Qualifications: Neither specific qualifications nor a scientific background are needed. You can study for an NVQ in Health or Health and Social Care which offers greater responsibilities to you.

Salary: Newly qualified healthcare assistants earn £13,000 to £18,200.

Registered childminder
If you’re keen to stay at home and look after your child and make money in the process, childminding is ideal. You can legally look after up to six children: up to three under-fives and up to three more five-to eight-year-olds. In order to be a childminder, you must register with Ofsted which will check that you and your home are suitable for childcare.

Good for mums because… You can stay at home with your child.

Qualifications: You must be over 18 and you will be required by law to have a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. Some training and a first-aid course may be required
once you have started.

Salary: Income varies from area to area, but it should be around £10,000 to £18,000.

Get net savvy when searching for your job
A wealth of online resources are now available and they have made jobhunting far quicker and easier. Internet jobsites, online CV creators, and social networking sites,
such as Facebook and LinkedIn, mean that it’s possible to find and apply for vacancies either from your own home, or from a local internet café. Many job sites also make your life easier by sending alerts to your email address when the kind of job that you’re looking for becomes available, so you don’t have to spend hours trawling through hundreds of unsuitable vacancies. The fact that you can look for or apply for jobs at any time of the day or night is also a big plus of using the internet, particularly if you already have a job which means you can’t spend time during working hours looking for your next position.

 When you don’t want to work a nine-to-five…
It can be tricky when you have kids to find a job that uses your skills, pays you enough and gives you enough time to look after your children. Increasingly, women returning to work are looking to work reduced hours, with about 44% of all employed women working part-time. If this sounds like you, there are several options available.

• Flexi-time allows you to work an agreed number of hours over the week or month. You’d expect to be in the workplace during a core time each day.
• Part-time work includes anything less than the standard nine-to-five working week.
• Jobsharing is where two people agree to share the responsibilities of one job.
• Term-time-only working normally applies to the world of education, but some companies will allow you to take unpaid leave during school holidays.
• Temporary work covers short-term contracts and seasonal work.
• Freelancing is selling your services to employers without a long-term commitment to them.

A new direction
If the idea of going back to your former role no longer appeals to you, or you’ve lost interest in that field of work, you could think about exploring a new career. You could retrain in a totally new profession, such as engineering or plumbing, and learn new skills.

In the past five years, more and more women have begun electrician courses and plumbing training. In fact, there is also an enormous untapped market for female tradespeople. And those women who decide to pursue a career as an electrician may find more work headed their way because research has also shown that women – especially older women or those living alone – prefer female electricians to men and feel more comfortable around them.

Like electricians and plumbers, women plasterers, too have traditionally been few in number. If you’re thinking about a career change, there are no formal qualifications to become a plasterer. Start by gaining experience and seeking a job as a plasterer’s mate.

 Images: Getty