In an ideal world, you would really be able to “have it all.” You know, the perfect parent with a model career, which fits neatly alongside family life.
The reality is, though, that parents often feel like they’re under pressure from all directions.
Naturally, you want to do the best for your children and support your family unit. Oftentimes, this means one parent taking a break from their career, dedicating their time instead to raising a family. Many of us worry about the impact this decision will have on our long term career, and whether we’ll ever be able to pick up where we left off.
Taking time out for family doesn’t have to negatively affect your career path. But there are some considerations — and some smart steps to take — to ensure that you can still access the roles you want when you’re ready to reenter the workforce.
Here are some ideas to get you thinking.
Plan your time out or risk resenting it
There are pros and cons to taking time out of your career to raise your family. You might worry about slowing your career progression, but it’s also common to find yourself missing adult company when you’re at home most of the day. Of course, that’s without even considering the financial impact of losing pay, pension contributions, and other benefits.
Whatever you do, there will be some impact on your career if you take time out. For many people, the benefits of spending time at home far outweigh the potential pitfalls. However, it’s a big decision, and more likely to pay off if you plan for the time in advance.
You should think through the financial impacts. Also plan how you’ll balance your varied roles as a parent, a partner, and an adult in your own right. Keep a flexible mindset if you can. Each individual and family unit will have a unique way of organizing life. If you decide to take time off work, but ultimately the arrangement doesn’t suit you, have a backup plan so you don’t feel trapped.
You risk long-term damage — not only of your career, but of your personal confidence — if you end up resenting your time spent out of the workforce.
Avoid missing professional development opportunities
Time out of work can cause you to fall behind your peers in terms of professional development, or lose track of the latest changes in your field of work. As well as making it more difficult to reintegrate into your previous job, this can damage your confidence… you may feel like the world is moving on without you.
However, it’s not inevitable. You can still take advantage of professional development opportunities when you’re staying home, if you plan carefully. In some cases you might be able to formally arrange to spend some time in the office, to maintain relationships and undergo any necessary training. In the UK, these (paid) days are known as “keep in touch” days. However, even if there is no formal arrangement for doing this, it’s worth talking to your boss about setting something similar up, if you can…
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