A career break may seem like an obstacle, but in reality, it’s a moment for growth. Maternity leave, relocation, caregiving, burnout — these are life events that do not diminish your value as a professional.

Here’s how to return to your career with confidence, step by step:

1. Embrace the break as part of your journey, not as a fault

You don’t need to justify it. A break is also a time for growth — even if it wasn’t in a “professional” role.

📘 “To Be. To Do. To Have.” — Carl Honoré
On mindful slowing down, the value of pauses, and how they help us reimagine our path.

2. Reevaluate your professional identity

Ask yourself:
• Who am I as a professional?
• What am I truly good at?
• What do I want to contribute to the world through my work?

🛠 Exercise: Create a “success map” — what you created, solved, or improved before the break. It will help you reconnect with your strengths.

3. Refresh your resume and LinkedIn — with a focus on your value

Instead of: “on maternity leave” →
Try: “2019–2022 — career break for family reasons. Currently returning to the profession with renewed motivation and a focused interest in [topic/field]”.

📘 “How to Talk About Yourself: Career Coach Tips for Self-Presentation” — Debbie Millman
A guide to speaking confidently about yourself in any situation.

4. Practice telling your story

Employers are people too. It’s important to be able to explain:
• why you had a break
• what you did during that time
• why you’re ready and eager to return

🗣 This isn’t an excuse. It’s your story — honest, human, and worthy of respect.

5. Move step by step — with support
• Do a mock interview with a coach
• Get feedback on your resume
• Optimize your LinkedIn profile so others can find you

🔁 Support matters not just for results, but for inner confidence too. Returning to your career after a break isn’t a step back — it’s a conscious step forward. With a new perspective, fresh experience, and refined priorities. It’s a chance to ask yourself honest questions, rethink your goals, and build a more sustainable, meaningful career path.

Every story is unique. Yours is too.
Allow yourself to move at your own pace, with support, with confidence, step by step.