Returning to work from parental leave can be a daunting idea for many reasons. You may be nervous about leaving your children or worried that you won’t be able to cope at work. Going back to work as a new parent is a very unique situation, where everything has changed. Your priorities may have altered, your daily schedule looks different, and you have new responsibilities. Together, this can be a very intense period of your life. Although there may not be one single “how to do it”, there are ways in which this transition can be eased.
Firstly, remember to be kind to yourself and not put too much stock into your emotional state for the first two to three weeks. You will probably have feelings of anxiety, frustration and tiredness, but this will not last forever. Give yourself time to settle in. Be mindful of your schedule and consider how returning to work works best for you. Perhaps, if you can, ease back into work as part-time might be best for you, or you may feel diving straight back in as full-time is optimal. Whichever you choose, a mid-week start, or working two-three days the first week is a good way to adjust your new schedule a bit slower and make that first weekend come round a lot quicker. As noted your schedule will most probably be different now that you are also taking care of a young child, so a tip is to do a few practice runs. For example, doing a few practice drop-offs before you head back to work. This way your first day at work, won’t also be the first time you part from your child. Doing practice runs will also help you gauge the timings of your new morning routines.
As is evident from the above, returning to work as a new mother can be tricky. Perhaps during your parental leave, you’ve also considered a career change? Maybe you’ve always wanted to work in Human Resources, but have been unsure of how to make that transition. Although perhaps not evident, but being a mother and working within HR may have some similarities and as a new parent, you probably already have ample transferable skills. Working within HR requires skills such as efficient time management, organisational skills, the ability to perform under pressure, good people skills and an analytical mind. As a parent, most of these are a given. For example, as a parent, you are responsible for organising the household and preparing meals. In the same vein, an HR professional ensures all documents and work-sheets are organised, so that the employers know where to locate the company’s guidelines or other employee-related documents.
In your search for your new HR role, speak to your friends and former colleagues, ask around, someone will know someone who either works within HR or knows someone who does. Look into what qualifications you may need in your new role and if called to an interview, be knowledgeable about your ability to progress and which courses you may require. Visit www.we-are-hr.com for more information and guidance. There are also specific recruitment agencies that specialise in HR and will be able to provide valuable knowledge and experience-based advice for returning mothers looking for a new career within HR.
We Are HR team
Returning to work from parental leave can be a daunting idea for many reasons. You may be nervous about leaving your children or worried that you won’t be able to cope at work. Going back to work as a new parent is a very unique situation, where everything has changed. Your priorities may have altered, your daily schedule looks different, and you have new responsibilities. Together, this can be a very intense period of your life. Although there may not be one single “how to do it”, there are ways in which this transition can be eased.
Firstly, remember to be kind to yourself and not put too much stock into your emotional state for the first two to three weeks. You will probably have feelings of anxiety, frustration and tiredness, but this will not last forever. Give yourself time to settle in. Be mindful of your schedule and consider how returning to work works best for you. Perhaps, if you can, ease back into work as part-time might be best for you, or you may feel diving straight back in as full-time is optimal. Whichever you choose, a mid-week start, or working two-three days the first week is a good way to adjust your new schedule a bit slower and make that first weekend come round a lot quicker. As noted your schedule will most probably be different now that you are also taking care of a young child, so a tip is to do a few practice runs. For example, doing a few practice drop-offs before you head back to work. This way your first day at work, won’t also be the first time you part from your child. Doing practice runs will also help you gauge the timings of your new morning routines.
As is evident from the above, returning to work as a new mother can be tricky. Perhaps during your parental leave, you’ve also considered a career change? Maybe you’ve always wanted to work in Human Resources, but have been unsure of how to make that transition. Although perhaps not evident, but being a mother and working within HR may have some similarities and as a new parent, you probably already have ample transferable skills. Working within HR requires skills such as efficient time management, organisational skills, the ability to perform under pressure, good people skills and an analytical mind. As a parent, most of these are a given. For example, as a parent, you are responsible for organising the household and preparing meals. In the same vein, an HR professional ensures all documents and work-sheets are organised, so that the employers know where to locate the company’s guidelines or other employee-related documents.
In your search for your new HR role, speak to your friends and former colleagues, ask around, someone will know someone who either works within HR or knows someone who does. Look into what qualifications you may need in your new role and if called to an interview, be knowledgeable about your ability to progress and which courses you may require. Visit www.we-are-hr.com for more information and guidance. There are also specific recruitment agencies that specialise in HR and will be able to provide valuable knowledge and experience-based advice for returning mothers looking for a new career within HR.
We Are HR team