5 pro tips for mothers returning to the workforce

Returning mothers face unique bias. Learn five strategies to come back stronger.

Before You Start

Goal: Explore practical strategies for owning your story, refreshing your network, and positioning your career break as an asset when returning to work after time away.

Watch: "5 pro tips for mothers returning to the workforce." Members are encouraged to watch beforehand, but a quick recap at the meeting works too.

Note: This video and guide are aimed at mothers who took extended breaks from paid work. But even if you've never taken an extended break, the activities can still help you overcome the biases and challenges that all working mothers face.

Meeting Agenda · Approx. 90 mins

  • Member Updates · 15 mins
  • Icebreaker · 15 mins
  • Key Takeaways · 5 mins
  • Activity 1: Know Your Worth · 15 mins
  • Activity 2: Tap Into Your Network · 15 mins
  • Activity 3: Own Your Story · 15 mins
  • One Action · 3 mins
  • Wrap-Up · 7 mins

👋 Member Updates · 15 mins

Go around your Circle and share personal updates. Keep them brief and focused on significant changes or important decisions since the last time you met. It's OK not to have one every month. If you have a One Action update from last time, share that too.

🧊 Icebreaker · 15 mins

Invite everyone in the group to share. Keep answers to one or two minutes per person.

Reflect on any new accomplishments or skills you gained during your time away from paid work. If you haven't taken time away from paid work, reflect on new accomplishments or skills you've gained since becoming a mother. Go around the room and share one.

💡 Key Takeaways · 5 mins

When seeking paid work after an extended break, it's important to keep a robust sense of your own high value. You're still the same person and you're still very qualified.

  • Know your worth. The skills and perspective you've gained since stepping out of the workforce are real and valuable, even if they don't appear on your resume.
  • Tap into your network. Reconnecting with people who know you as a talented professional helps you find opportunities and counter bias.
  • Own your story. Presenting a clear, confident narrative on your resume about your career break and your passion for your work makes your application stronger.

🏋️ Activity 1: Know Your Worth · 15 mins

Write it down (5 mins): Make a list of your greatest accomplishments and skills. To get started, respond to these prompts:

  • What are the biggest challenges you've faced and overcome at work?
  • What are the biggest projects you've worked on over your career?
  • What educational attainments, languages, technical skills, and professional expertise did you work hard to acquire?
  • Can you think of a time when you negotiated for something and received it?
  • What skills and perspective have you gained since stepping out of the workforce?

Discuss as a group (10 mins): Go around the room and share one achievement or skill you're proud of that you hadn't thought about for a while. Then share what new skills or perspectives you've gained during your career break.

🏋️ Activity 2: Tap Into Your Network · 15 mins

Write it down (5 mins): Make a list of people in your professional network with whom it would be helpful to reconnect or build stronger relationships. Under each name, note how you might renew that relationship authentically, for example, by sharing an article you think they'd find interesting, or inviting them to a coffee chat.

Discuss as a group (10 mins): Is there someone you'd like to reconnect with but aren't sure how to start? Ask your Circle for ideas. Share your best practices for building and maintaining authentic professional relationships.

🏋️ Activity 3: Own Your Story · 15 mins

Write it down (5 mins): Draft a career summary for your resume—two or three sentences at the top of the first page that describe your qualifications, experience, and ambitions at a high level. Note: the career summary is not the right place to address your career gap. Address the gap briefly in your employment history and cover letter instead.

Discuss as a group (10 mins): Have everyone read their career summary aloud. Each person can signal whether they're open to receiving live feedback from the group. End by congratulating each other on the bravery it takes to leave and re-enter the paid workforce.

✍️ Write It Down · 2 mins

Take a few quiet minutes to connect the discussion to your own life. Make a quick list of actions or questions to revisit later.

Think about the story you're telling about your career break. Is it the most confident, accurate version? What would you change?

🎯 One Action · 3 mins

Commit to one concrete action — big or small — you'll take before next meeting. Go around the Circle and share (1 minute or less per member). Vocalizing it helps hold each other accountable.

This week, identify one person from Activity 2 to connect with. Circle or highlight their name on your list and commit to reaching out.

📅 Wrap-Up · 5 mins

Before you break, plan your next meeting and close on an energetic note. Go around your Circle one by one and finish the sentence:

Now I am feeling… (choose one word).

  • Set the day, time, and location
  • Choose the next topic or resource
  • Confirm who's leading the discussion
  • Decide how you'll stay in touch in between