Career Returners: Finding your way back to work after a break

Stepping away from work can be one of the smartest decisions you ever make. Stepping back in can feel like one of the hardest.

With close to 30 applications on average to secure a single interview, returning to work after a career break can feel daunting, disorientating and, at times, deeply personal. Industries move on. Technology evolves. Confidence takes a knock. And it’s entirely normal to wonder whether you still fit.

The truth is simpler than it feels. Skills don’t expire. Experience doesn’t vanish. And career breaks, whether planned or not, are far more common than most people realise.

Whether you’re looking for career advice for returning to work mums, navigating a return to engineering after time out, transitioning from the military into civilian roles, or any other reason, the challenge is shared. Different paths. Same question: how do I get back in? 

Let’s talk about that.

Is returning to work after a career break really that hard?

Every year, around 90,000 people in the UK take a career break, for reasons ranging from childcare and caring responsibilities to redundancy, illness or rethinking priorities altogether.

Career breaks affect everyone. But data consistently shows women are more likely to step away for caring responsibilities. LinkedIn’s Global Gender Gaps in Career Breaks report found that across 16 countries, 63.5% of women list a career break on their profile, almost 30% more than men globally.

In STEM, the challenge is real. The STEM Returners Index 2025 reported that 85% of STEM professionals on a career break questioned whether returning was even possible. Not because the skills were gone. But because confidence, visibility and pathways back felt unclear.

The good news is that you’re not alone. With many people facing the exact same difficulty, it is not personal. It is down to the structure, which means it can be navigated.

Career advice for returning-to-work mums

Returning to work after maternity leave or a longer period away can feel like juggling two full-time roles before day one even arrives.

For many mums, the challenge isn’t capability but flexibility, confidence and visibility.

What helps:

• Being open about flexible working needs early
• Framing time away as experience gained, not experience lost
• Focusing on what’s changed in the industry, not what hasn’t

Employers are increasingly recognising that returning-to-work mums bring resilience, organisation, decision-making and emotional intelligence. Skills that matter. Especially in engineering, project delivery and technical leadership roles.

Returning to engineering after a career break

Engineering is a constantly changing sector. New tools, new systems, new standards. That can make returning feel overwhelming, particularly after extended time away.

But here’s the reality. Core engineering thinking does not disappear.

If you’re returning to engineering after a career break:

• Refresh industry knowledge through short courses or webinars
• Reconnect with professional bodies and former colleagues
• Sharpen your CV and interview performance - focus on outcomes, not timelines 
• Be clear about where your skills still deliver value

“To really stand out as an engineer, it goes without saying that you need to keep your technical skills relevant. That means staying current with modern technologies, ways of working, and industry trends, and making these clear on your CV. Beyond that, it’s about clearly highlighting your achievements, what you’ve delivered, the impact you’ve had, and backing it all up with specific examples from your career.”

 

- Joe Parker, Associate Director at Morson Edge

Engineering employers care about problem-solving, safety, collaboration and delivery. Those fundamentals remain intact.

From forces to workforce: advice for ex-military career returners

For those leaving the military, returning to work often means entering an entirely new environment rather than returning to a previous role.

The challenge is translation, not relevance.

Military experience brings:

• Leadership under pressure
• Risk management
• Technical and operational expertise
• Discipline and accountability

The key is learning how to articulate those strengths in civilian language. Ex-forces professionals often underestimate just how transferable their experience really is. 

Through our Morson Praxis division, we are creating engineering opportunities for military talent, currently supporting 2,500 ex-military professionals across Royal Navy, Army, and RAF backgrounds. You can start a new mission where your unique skills can make a lasting impact on the engineering landscape.

Practical steps for getting back to work after a career break

Returning to work is a process. It needs to be strategically planned, instead of trying to do everything at once. Start with small steps. The tips below can help you organise it all:

Update your CV and LinkedIn profile

Ensure both reflect your current direction, not your pre-break identity. Use active language. Be specific about achievements. Include skills developed during your career break, including volunteering, caregiving or freelance work.

Reconnect with your industry

Read trade publications. Reconnect with former colleagues. Attend webinars. Join professional groups. You don’t need to know everything. You just need to know what’s changed. Let people know you’re looking as conversations lead to context. Context leads to opportunities.

Rebuild confidence gradually

Confidence follows action. Not the other way around. Start small. Short-term contracts, part-time roles or project-based work can be effective stepping stones. Also, upskilling can significantly help rebuilding confidence. If you need additional support, consider mentoring.

Explore returner programmes and returnships

Many employers now offer structured pathways designed specifically for career returners. These can include supported permanent roles, returnships or sector-led return-to-practice programmes.

Consider flexible options

Hybrid, part-time or contract roles can offer a manageable route back while balancing personal responsibilities.

Prepare your return story

In interviews, explain your career break clearly and confidently. Focus on readiness, relevance and motivation. Not apology.

Transferable skills employers value in career returners

Career breaks often sharpen skills employers actively need:

• Communication and stakeholder management
• Problem-solving
• Time prioritisation
• Adaptability
• Leadership and decision-making
• Emotional intelligence

Returning to work is as much about recognising your value as proving it.

Take the next step in your career with Morson

Each story is individual and it is important to answer yourself if YOU are ready to return to work. In this article, we’ve highlighted several ways to help you prepare to make the transition as smooth as possible so now just focus on simply reflecting on that time. What your career break taught you, what you learned about yourself and what type of work you really want to do.

At Morson, we care about supporting people at every stage of their careers.

Through Early Careers solutions, we’re helping graduates to navigate their careers.
Through our mentorship programmes, such as the ‘Go Beyond’, we give women equal opportunities and improve their representation across STEM sectors.
Through Morson Nexus, we provide access to learning and training opportunities.

Search for new job opportunities or send us your CV so we can help you!

Career returners FAQs

How do I return to engineering after a career break?
Start by refreshing your technical knowledge and reconnecting with your professional network. Update your CV to focus on achievements and outcomes, not gaps. Many employers value experienced engineers returning with renewed perspective.

How long is too long for a career break?
Should you return to work immediately after a break or not does not matter. There is no cut-off. What matters is how you present your experience, readiness and relevance. Skills don’t expire but confidence sometimes does.

Should I mention my career break on my CV?
Depending on the length, you might want to skip it entirely. However, if it lasted several months or more, you should mention it. Be clear, concise and factual as employers are far more receptive to transparency than unexplained gaps.

Are returnships worth it?
For many people, yes. Returnships offer structure, confidence and recent experience without long-term pressure from day one.

Can I ask for flexible working when returning?
Absolutely. Flexible working is increasingly common and reasonable to discuss early in the process. You might prefer to do a hybrid or part-time job. Also, legally you’ve got the right to request flexible working.

How to regain lost confidence at work?
Returning to work after a break often causes confidence to drop. That’s normal. Confidence rebuilds through preparation, small wins and support. You don’t need to feel ready to start. You start to feel ready by starting.