Re-entering the workforce after a career break can be a daunting task. Whether you paused your career for family, health, personal growth, or other reasons, the journey back to professional life requires strategic planning and support. Returnships offer a structured pathway to help you transition back into your career, but pairing them with career coaching can significantly enhance your success. Here’s why career coaching and returnships are a winning combination for professionals looking to relaunch their careers.
Understanding Returnships
A returnship is a temporary, paid position designed for experienced professionals who have taken an extended career break. These programs, typically lasting from a few months to a year, provide opportunities to refresh skills, gain new experiences, and rebuild professional networks.
The Role of Career Coaching
Career coaching involves working with a professional coach who provides personalized guidance, support, and strategies to help you achieve your career goals. Coaches help you identify your strengths, navigate challenges, and create actionable plans for career advancement.
Why Combine Career Coaching with Returnships?
- Personalized Guidance
- Identifying Strengths and Goals: Career coaches help you assess your skills, experiences, and career aspirations. They guide you in setting realistic and achievable goals for your returnship and beyond.
- Tailored Strategies: Coaches provide customized strategies to address your unique challenges and leverage your strengths, enhancing your returnship experience.
- Enhanced Confidence and Preparedness
- Building Confidence: Career coaches work with you to build confidence, especially if you’ve been out of the workforce for an extended period. They help you articulate your value and strengths effectively.
- Interview Preparation: Coaches assist in preparing for returnship interviews, offering mock interviews, feedback, and tips to help you present yourself confidently.
- Skill Development and Refreshment
- Identifying Skill Gaps: Career coaches help identify any skill gaps and recommend relevant training or courses to bridge those gaps, ensuring you are well-prepared for your returnship.
- Continuous Learning: Coaches encourage continuous learning and professional development, keeping you updated with industry trends and best practices.
- Navigating Workplace Dynamics
- Understanding Company Culture: Career coaches provide insights into navigating company culture and workplace dynamics, helping you integrate smoothly into your returnship.
- Conflict Resolution: Coaches offer strategies for managing conflicts and building positive relationships with colleagues and supervisors.
- Strategic Networking
- Expanding Your Network: Career coaches guide you in building and leveraging a professional network, offering tips on networking effectively within and outside your returnship.
- Mentorship Opportunities: Coaches help identify potential mentors within your returnship program, fostering valuable professional relationships.
- Career Transition and Advancement
- Post-Returnship Planning: Career coaches assist in planning your next steps after completing your returnship, whether it’s securing a permanent role, exploring new opportunities, or furthering your education.
- Long-Term Career Goals: Coaches work with you to develop a long-term career strategy, aligning your returnship experience with your broader career aspirations.
Success Stories: Real-Life Examples
1. Sarah’s Marketing Comeback
Sarah, a former marketing manager, took a five-year career break to raise her children. She engaged a career coach to help her navigate her returnship at a leading marketing agency. With personalized guidance and confidence-building strategies, Sarah successfully transitioned into her returnship, ultimately securing a full-time role as a senior marketing manager.
2. John’s Tech Re-Entry
John, a software engineer, took a career break to travel and pursue personal projects. He worked with a career coach to prepare for his returnship at a tech company. The coach helped John identify skill gaps, recommended relevant courses, and provided interview preparation. John’s returnship led to a permanent position as a senior developer.
3. Emma’s Finance Revival
Emma, a financial analyst, stepped away from her career to care for an ill family member. She joined a returnship program at a financial institution, supported by a career coach who provided strategies for skill refreshment and networking. Emma’s returnship experience, combined with career coaching, enabled her to secure a full-time role as a financial analyst.
How to Find the Right Career Coach
- Research and Referrals
- Professional Associations: Look for career coaches affiliated with professional associations such as the International Coach Federation (ICF).
- Referrals: Seek recommendations from colleagues, mentors, or industry contacts who have successfully worked with career coaches.
- Assess Credentials and Experience
- Certifications: Ensure the coach has relevant certifications and training in career coaching.
- Industry Experience: Look for coaches with experience in your industry or field, as they will have valuable insights and strategies tailored to your career goals.
- Consultations and Compatibility
- Initial Consultation: Schedule an initial consultation to discuss your goals, challenges, and expectations. Assess whether the coach’s approach aligns with your needs.
- Compatibility: Choose a coach with whom you feel comfortable and confident. A strong rapport and mutual understanding are crucial for effective coaching.
Conclusion
Combining career coaching with returnships creates a powerful strategy for re-entering the workforce after a career break. Career coaching provides personalized guidance, skill development, confidence-building, and strategic networking, enhancing the benefits of returnships. By leveraging the strengths of both, you can navigate your returnship successfully, achieve your career goals, and set the stage for long-term professional growth. If you’re considering a returnship, investing in career coaching can be a game-changer for your career revival.
