Returning to work after a break
We hear from two women who have joined Grant Thornton after taking a career break. They talk about how they felt returning to work and their tips for others returning to the workplace after taking time out.
Shakira, Programme Support Assistant, Talent Solutions
When I joined Grant Thornton in February 2022, I'd been out of the corporate world for 12 years. I moved to the UK in 2010 as a mature student and, with raising a young family and finishing my studies, it’s only recently that I've felt ready to return to work.
Right from the beginning when I applied to Grant Thornton, it felt like they wanted the best for me. I applied for another role in the firm originally but the resourcing adviser I spoke to suggested I was better suited to this role in Talent Solutions – and here I am.
I was nervous about the 12-year ‘gap’ in my CV, but the interviewers weren’t phased by it all. We talked about what I had done during this time, but they didn’t see it as a negative. I think it’s important for people who are returning to the workplace to realise, and remember, that what they've been doing during the career break is still really important. They have still been building up valuable skills and experiences that are transferable into the workplace.
My driver to return to work has always been my family and children. I am a firm believer in setting good examples for your children: I want them to see challenges that we go through, and to see me setting and achieving my own goals. Grant Thornton is a firm that really cares about and encourages its people. Small things like being able to take my lunch at 3pm to allow me to collect my children from school make a big difference.
My team have been fantastic. I had a great buddy who really helped me integrate into the firm and the role. I can’t say it’s been easy – there have been challenges such as issues with my confidence and imposter syndrome – but my team has been very understanding and have let me find my ground. Equally they have felt okay to challenge me and haven’t treated me like I have been out of workplace for 12 years. They've given me challenging work and have that belief in me that I can do the role.
Camilla, Restructuring Manager, UK Restructuring
I joined Grant Thornton in 2019 on one of the first returner programmes, after an 11-year career break. A friend who worked at Grant Thornton knew I was looking for part time work and suggested I apply. Luckily for me, one of the partners within the firm looked at my investment banking experience, together with history degree and saw a role for me researching and writing thought leadership for UKR.
It did feel daunting coming back to work after so long. But everyone was so kind and welcoming and took the time to get me up to speed. Once I started I could also see that, even though I didn’t have work experience that was directly relevant for over a decade, I had still been building up knowledge, experiences and skills that were useful in the workplace.
Most big companies talk a good game when it comes to flexible working, but it seems that Grant Thornton work hard to make it a reality. The returner programme I was on gave extra support along the way - primarily coaching sessions and a ‘buddy’ system to help you reacclimatise. I work three days a week, which gives me much-needed time to focus on work while not compromising on being there for my family. During the pandemic I was able to reduce my hours temporarily, which allowed me to support my three children with home schooling. This August I took parental leave for the first time, and it was great to be able to take that time away from the office when I needed it without impacting my work.
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