A sabbatical is not a very easy thing to explain when you are trying to get back into the workforce. It is a major event in your life that can throw you off gear especially if you have been out of touch with the corporate world for some time. I would not shy away from comparing it to a wedding, having a baby or deciding a career.

The Challenges & The Solutions

The kinds of challenges that one faces when getting back to work are daunting. The decision to get back to work itself is not an easy one to make.

Should I or Should I Not?

I know of a large number of women who sit on the fence for ages, deciding whether they should get back into the workforce or not. This is especially true if the decision is not made for them by circumstances where a second income becomes necessary. Irrespective of whether the decision is made for them or by them, the actual act of getting back to work is no easy task.

If circumstances and need for a second income are not forcing you to make that decision, then you may want to ask yourself some questions. Please be aware that these are not easy questions to answer but the fact is that if you do not think of them consciously and if you do not spend some time answering them honestly and courageously to yourself, moving on to either side of the fence is likely to be tough!

• What do I gain by going back to work?
• Is there something that I have to lose if I get back to work?
• What are the compromises that I will have to make in order to work? Am I ready to make those compromises?
• Is getting back to work something I really want?
• What does a job mean to me? What does it add to my life, my personality, my being?
• Is getting back to work something I want or is it something that I think I ‘should’ do because of some notions that I may be holding?
• What can I add to the world by getting back to work?
• Do I feel good about working if you know that you will be successful?
• Am I worried about what people will think about my decision?
• Am I pushing back the decision to get back to work because of fear? What is my limiting belief?
• Do I have to lose anything if I try to get a job that suits my circumstances right now?

The solution– No one can answer these questions for you. However, when you actually answer each of these questions, you will receive the answer to whether you should get back to work or not. How to go about reaching your goal and getting the job you want is something that we can handle once we have made the decision.

Have I Kept Up with the Industry?

The pace at which things are changing in the industry is extremely high these days. It does not take decades for processes, styles, and procedures to change. With a blink of an eyelid, you find that people in your industry and doing things differently and most of this can be attributed to the speed at which technology is changing every industry that one can think about.

Doubts such as these are common and often the reason why some people never really decide to take that first step?

The solution – You have been on a break for some time now and there is nothing wrong in taking it slow and planning ahead. Think about the kind of job or work you would like to do and then work your way towards making yourself relevant and up-to-date. With the number of online universities, online web certifications, it is very easy to get yourself up to speed with the industry know-how that you need. Increasingly, companies are putting less emphasis on the university degree that you have. They realize that someone who is passionate about the job and has taken the effort to learn more is a valuable asset to have.

What Changes Will I Need to Make at Home?

Your absence from home and hours at work will require some changes to be made at home. Most of the time, we settle in our comfort zone so easily that shaking things up can feel extremely uncomfortable. You wonder what your family members will have to say and whether they will support your decision. You worry about things going awfully wrong if you are not there to address them.

The solution – You obviously gave up your job and took a sabbatical because you thought your presence was needed at home. However, the fact that you are thinking of going back to work means that the situation at home has changed from the time you quit. Your child may have grown up or an elderly person may not need the kind of care that you were providing. It is easy to start feeling that things will topple over when you are not around. It is sometimes this belief that keeps us going when we are at home too. However, such beliefs can be self-limiting. Preparation and planning are the keys when you want to make the move. Think of the areas where you are contributing at home right now and make yourself redundant. This may require hiring a full-time cook, asking for help from your spouse in lending a hand at home or talking to your teenagers and making them aware of the changing situation so they can pitch in too! Believe in the fact that it is time for you to do something for yourself too!

What is the Best Type of Work I Want to Do?

If you had taken time off because of the pressure of work, take time to think whether you want to go back to the same type of job. A lot may have changed in the time you were away but corporates still have a knack for sucking you in (especially if you are conscientious worker).

The solution – Define your ideal job in as much detail as you can. Do you want to work full time? Do you want flexible hours? Are you okay with the consequences of these decisions? Do you want to consider only work-from-home options, full-time office work options or would you like to go to the office for a few days a week? Do you want to be in an area of work that requires managing people or do you want to be a lone worker? Is a job with stressful deadlines something that gives you a kick? Think deeply about these and then once you have decided, do not make compromises. A major mistake that people do is that they feel so grateful for being offered a job that they do not negotiate or bend backward compromising on the very things that they said they would not bend over on. When you do this, you set yourself up for failure because you fall into the same trap that led you to take a sabbatical in the first place!

What Else Do I Need to Be Ready With?

Once you have decided the kind of job you want to get back to, managed things at home so that things function smoothly while you are away at work, and gotten that job you want, you are almost ready! Except maybe your wardrobe! The kind of clothing you may need at work may be different from the kind that you have been wearing for the past few years. Take some time off to shop for yourself, invest in some new clothes and get a nice relaxing day at the spa before you get back (who knows when you will get free time again to get a full day to yourself again).

If you have thought through all these ideas in your head and prepared yourself, you will surely be able to step out to work (after a break) confidently and with panache!