How to keep self-confidence on parental leave
Keep your self-confidence during parental leave, it's important for your career. Many mothers on parental leave often experience a lack of confidence when it comes to their career and the prospect of returning to work. A lack of confidence happens simply because they're removed from the workplace for a period of time.
A lack of confidence on parental leave can be overcome. Experience has shown that women who have returned to work are pleasantly surprised at how quickly they fit back in, and how much knowledge they have actually retained and gained.
In order to overcome a lack of confidence and to make the transition back to work as smooth as possible, it’s important to maintain your skills while you’re on leave. Be proactive. Seek out opportunities that enable you to retain and build on your current skills.
If you want help with returning to work, or are interested in finding a new flexible career, the Career Mums website lists new jobs in Australia as they become available. Click here to go to the Career Mums website.
How to keep your self-confidence on parental leave: Twelve top tips.
While you’re on leave, remember to:
1. Keep your computer skills up-to-date. If you can’t access your workplace emails and systems, continue using any form of technology you have access to – email, the internet, or various applications on your computer. For example, you may avoid a lack of confidence by managing the family budget using Microsoft Excel as then you will keep your Excel skills current. Similarly, you may avoid a lack of confidence by downloading your photos from your digital camera and maintaining familiarity with technology.
2. Keep your name on an email distribution list at work so you are copied in on the progress and updates of different projects.
3. If you don’t have a computer at home, and don’t have access to a work laptop, consider purchasing or leasing a computer. Alternatively, seek out a computer that you can access regularly, it will help you keep your self-confidence.
4. Consider attending team meetings at work from time to time, if appropriate. Even dialing in from home to a meeting can help keep you in the loop.
5. If you’re planning to return to work in a different role, investigate what skills you will need and if necessary enroll in a part-time course while on leave.
6. Subscribe to online newsletters that will keep you up-to-date with industry news and developments.
7. Read relevant articles, newspapers, magazines and surf the internet to keep your knowledge up-to-date. It will all help you keep your self-confidence.
8. Maintain your network of professional contacts. Touch base with your contacts while on parental leave, either by email or telephone.
9. Join relevant professional associations and attend networking groups.
10. Enrol in an external course or ask human resources about any online courses available to staff.
11. Seek out volunteer opportunities while on leave, (if you have time!). There may be opportunities that revolve around your children. Use these opportunities to keep your skills current. When your skills are current there will be no reason for you to have a lack of confidence. These types of activities will also expand your social and business network, and keep you up-to-date on industry developments. Volunteer work is an ideal way to maintain work experience while on parental leave.
12. Talk to your manager about project-based work while you’re on leave. Small projects may fit in with your schedule and will enable you to keep your skills fresh.
Don't risk your parental leave being undermined by a lack of confidence. Keep the skills you need and you will keep your self-confidence.
Written by Kate Sykes. Founder and Director, Career Mums
Career Mums is Australia's leading careers centre for working parents and parents returning to work. They target skilled parents aged 30-50 years of age who are looking for flexible roles to juggle work and family. You can be notified of jobs via job alerts, and their candidate e-newsletter.
Click here to go to the Career Mums website.
Copyright Career Mums 2010.
Rachel Green
Reader Comments (1)
It says: "giving birth is the new financial turning point for many women".
In a book by Sharon Lerner she is reported to have said: "working mothers [are] exhausted from their countless obligations at work and home, their lack of options, flexibility, and assistance." ... There is an “epidemic of exhaustion sweeping through cubicles, cluttered kitchens, and child-care centers around the country.”
“The idea of super moms is a construct created by the media,” Lerner said. “There’s no such thing, it’s something we project on to women. Women [leaders] never say, ‘I’m a super mom.’ We turn them into super moms, but it’s impossible to do everything.”
What do you make of this? Are these your experiences?