Returning to work: providers, information, tips, FAQs

Returning to work after maternity leave has the following advantages:

• Mothers remain independent and autonomous
• Women can also achieve their professional goals and realize their own potential
• an employee who is also a mother can bring the skills acquired in the family into the job
• Returning to work after maternity leave can also be an opportunity for reorientation
• A mother who is happy in her job brings family satisfaction
• When it comes to mother-child bonding, it is not the amount of time a mother spends with her child every day that matters, but the quality
• Returning to work for mothers has a positive effect on the child's development if the mother's job contributes to her well-being
• Returning to work after parental leave makes economic sense, especially for well-trained employees

In addition to individual coaching sessions, there are also seminars designed to make it easier for you to return to work. These cover a wide range of topics and teach you various methodological, social and personal skills. You will carry out a location analysis, formulate your goals and wishes and determine your further training needs, learn how to rewrite your CV and make contacts. As each seminar in the area of professional reorientation or professional re-entry has a different focus, you should definitely obtain detailed information about the objectives of the course, the target group, the duration and the methods before registering. Simply use our contact form (free of charge and without obligation) and you will receive all the information by email or post.

The following is important when returning to work after illness:

• Insurance companies pay for the transition period until you return to work and for reduced activity
• you can try things out and see what is (still) possible
• the feeling of being treated as a fully-fledged person, even if your work performance is not yet 100 percent
• the confidence that you can say without feeling bad if a task is not yet manageable
• Support where it is needed, but no protective posture
• Solidarity from other employees, because no one is immune to serious illness or an accident
• the confidence that you will find your way back to your old performance, even if you take a step backwards
• Real sympathy instead of a lot of curious questions - the course of the disease is a private matter
• the recognition that you have come through a difficult time
• Accepting any changes that have taken place as a result of the illness

Returning to work after taking time out as a housewife can be challenging, especially balancing work and family life. In Switzerland, statutory protection against dismissal ends 16 weeks after giving birth, after which there are no special protective regulations.

Tips for a successful return to work:

• Show self-confidence and recognize your own potential
• Realistic assessment of your own skills
• Use soft skills, e.g. communication skills, organizational talent, conflict resolution, reliability and professional experience
• Look into part-time opportunities, but bear in mind that pay and promotion prospects are often lower
• Consider your own motivation: Variety, self-realization and confirmation play an important role

Especially after a short break, women returning to work often bring with them valuable experience and skills that set them apart from younger female career starters.

Returning to work affects many people - not just women after parental leave. Although numerous offers are aimed specifically at mothers who want to return to work after taking time out to raise a family, a seminar on the topic of "returning to work" is generally open to anyone who has been out of work for a certain period of time.

Possible reasons for a career break could be

• a prolonged illness or chronic health restrictions
• Caring for relatives
• a burnout or other psychological stress
• a longer stay abroad
• a professional reorientation
• other personal or family circumstances

Re-entry coaching or appropriate advice can provide targeted help to facilitate entry into the job market - regardless of personal background or the reason for the break. Individual coaching sessions in particular are geared towards the participant's current life and professional situation. This does not involve working with blanket solutions, but with concrete steps towards professional integration that are tailored to the respective starting situation.

What does such coaching actually offer?
Re-entry coaching can cover the following topics, among others:

• Positioning and target definition
• Strengthening self-confidence and motivation
• Support with your application and job search
• Support with professional reorientation
• Advice on continuing education, further training or retraining

The content of the seminar on the topic of "Returning to work" varies depending on the provider and can be individually adapted.

Note:
The exact content and requirements for seminars, coaching or counseling services may vary depending on the school or institution. We recommend contacting the desired educational institution directly for more information. You can use our contact form to conveniently forward your inquiry to the relevant school with the seminar on the topic of "Professional re-entry".

Returning to work after a long absence can sometimes be quite problematic, especially in professions that require specialized knowledge, which develop quickly and are continuously adapted to the current state of knowledge. Depending on the profession you worked in, a 20-year absence can therefore make it difficult to return to your old position and often requires further training to (re)acquire the necessary skills and competencies. In many professions, however, returning to work is less problematic, for example in retail, hospitality or construction. Career counseling that discusses your goals and opportunities with you, shows you ways forward and works with you to implement them is highly recommended in such cases.

A successful re-entry requires good preparation and planning, even if you are returning to a familiar job.

Tips for your planning:

• Refresh your specialist knowledge: Attend courses, seminars or internships to acquire up-to-date knowledge.
• Realistically assess your work profile: Show employers your strengths and experience.
• Make motivation and commitment visible: Show that you have taken active steps, e.g. continuing education, further training or internship.
• Analyze your prospects: Think about which roles and industries are exciting for you and plan your return specifically.
• Use your professional experience: The knowledge and experience you have already gained remains a clear advantage.

This will increase your chances of a successful re-entry and find suitable new career prospects.

Whether you return to work part-time or full-time depends on many different factors, such as your personal situation and available time, your role, the industry you worked in and want to return to and your career goals. Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to obtain part-time employment in higher positions in all industries and companies, but in less qualified professions it is easily possible. It is therefore always up to you to decide which employment relationship is sensible and realistic for you personally. Advice on returning to work can be helpful when considering and implementing your goals.