A career break is a planned period away from work, often taken by mid-career professionals to care for children, support elderly relatives, recover from illness, travel, or reassess life priorities. It is increasingly common, yet returning to work can feel daunting. Many returners worry about confidence, outdated skills, and how employers will perceive their gap.
This guide is here to help. Whether you are a parent, carer, or someone re-evaluating your career direction, we offer a practical roadmap to help you return to work on your terms. From financial planning and CV tips to upskilling and real-life success stories, we break it down step-by-step.
At Macildowie, we partner with organisations across the East Midlands and Home Counties to create inclusive recruitment strategies - championing skilled professionals ready to re-enter the workforce.
Planning a Career Break
Financial Preparation
Before stepping away, take time to understand your financial position. Calculate your living costs and consider adjustments to reduce spending during your break, such as cutting commuting costs, pausing subscriptions, or even renting out a room.
For those planning a break, explore phased options like part-time work, secondments, or freelance contracts to maintain some income while stepping back. Some employers may support formalised sabbaticals or career breaks if negotiated in advance.
Government resources on GOV.UK can help you assess entitlements and budget accordingly.
Designing the Break Strategically
Treat your break like a professional project. Set a clear goal - whether that’s re-entering marketing in Nottingham, transitioning into HR, or shifting sectors altogether. Break it into steps: stay updated on industry news, set up job alerts, and attend occasional webinars or networking events.
Keep your LinkedIn profile active. Comment on posts, share relevant articles, and remain visible. This not only maintains your network but demonstrates continued interest and awareness of market trends.
Building Career-Return Confidence
Emotional and Practical Support
Confidence dips are natural after time away. Create a support network - connect with friends, ex-colleagues, or others on a similar return journey. Peer encouragement and shared accountability can go a long way.
Use tools like a return-to-work calendar to schedule small, manageable goals: updating your CV, signing up for a course, or sending out your first application. Structure brings momentum, and momentum builds confidence.
Reframing the Career Break Narrative
Instead of apologising for the gap, embrace it. Use storytelling frameworks like the "Career Break Sandwich": open with your previous experience, add the skills and strengths gained during the break, then close with how you’re ready to re-enter.
Perhaps you ran a PTA group, managed house renovations, volunteered, or supported others. All of these build transferable skills - project management, communication, problem-solving - that employers value.
Refreshing Skills & Building Presence
Upskilling & Learning
Start by identifying skill gaps. Look at job adverts in your field and note any repeated requirements - software, certifications, or terminology.
Tackle these with flexible learning. Platforms like LinkedIn Learning or FutureLearn offer short online courses. For structured support, try returner-specific bootcamps like ivee’s Return to Work programme, which combines training with community and coaching.
Volunteering & Online Profile
Volunteering helps you maintain a routine, build confidence, and gain relevant experience. Choose roles that align with your target field - for example, bookkeeping for a charity, mentoring students, or organising community events.
Meanwhile, update and optimise your LinkedIn profile. Add a "Career Break" entry, include a clear headline, and showcase your recent learning or volunteering. Stay active: join groups, comment on posts, and build a digital footprint.
CV & Application Strategy
Hybrid CV Crafting
A hybrid CV blends a functional format (skills and achievements first) with a reverse-chronological section. This allows you to highlight strengths without drawing attention to time away.
Use your summary and skills section to showcase core competencies. In your experience section, include voluntary work or unpaid projects during the break, quantifying impact where possible.
Application Mindset
It’s easy to feel underqualified - but if you meet around 70% of a job spec, apply. Hiring managers look beyond perfect matches; attitude, adaptability and cultural fit matter.
Be open about your break in your cover letter, focusing on what you’ve learned and how you’ve stayed active. Frame it as a phase that’s enhanced your skillset - not as lost time.
Accessing Structured Support
Returnship & Fellowship Programmes
Returnships are short-term placements with training and mentoring, designed for professionals re-entering the workforce. Programmes like those run by iRelaunch and The STEM Returners scheme offer structured routes back.
Daphne Jackson Trust fellowships support STEM professionals returning to research after a break. In one case, Renu Amin re-entered as a mechanical design engineer after a decade away.
Even major employers like O2 run returner schemes. Alice Peacock joined after 17 years out and was soon promoted into a senior role.
Returner Campaigns & Platforms
Ivee offers job listings with returner-friendly employers, bootcamps, and a Returner Rating tool. The Career Returners platform also works with over 4,000 professionals, matching them with suitable roles.
GOV.UK’s Returner Toolkit is a helpful free resource offering templates, CV advice, and guidance on flexible working and job searching.
Returner Stories: Inspiration & Insights
Real-life Role Models
Alice Peacock (Reading, 55) took a 17-year parenting break. Through O2’s returners programme, she re-entered as a problem process manager and was later promoted.
Renu Amin, a mechanical engineer, returned after 10 years via the Women’s Engineering Society and STEM Returners. She now works permanently in mechanical design.
The Ivee Returners Collective showcases many success stories: from using hybrid CVs and the 70% rule, to forming supportive peer communities at events like their Hyde Park meet-up.
These stories reflect resilience, adaptability and the power of community - showing that returners can and do thrive.
How Macildowie Can Support Your Return
Macildowie supports businesses across the East Midlands and Home Counties to design inclusive recruitment and retention strategies that welcome returners.
We help employers:
- Audit people strategy to include returner-friendly policies
- Design onboarding programmes tailored for returners
- Create interim/temp roles to ease transitions
- Build employer branding that supports mature and inclusive talent
Our recruitment consultants know how to position returners effectively - championing their experience and supporting long-term success.
Actionable Roadmap: Next Steps
Ready to return? Start with this plan:
- Set a goal: Define your desired role or sector.
- Make milestones: E.g. update your hybrid CV, attend an online networking event, apply to one returnship this month.
- Refresh your skills: Enrol in a relevant course or bootcamp.
- Optimise your profile: Update your LinkedIn and join key groups.
- Find support: Connect with returner communities, and reach out to Macildowie to explore tailored recruitment opportunities.
Conclusion
Taking a career break is not a weakness: it’s often a brave, necessary, and enriching decision. With the right strategy, returners can step back into work stronger, more focused, and with a refreshed sense of value.
From building your confidence and reframing your story to connecting with supportive employers and communities, your journey back can be positive and empowering.
Macildowie is here to support you - whether you’re returning yourself or looking to hire talented returners ready to make an impact.
