1 What this course can offer you

Getting back to work after a career break is rather like a game of snakes and ladders: some of the help and hindrances you encounter are predictable but others arrive when you least expect them.

Here are some of the pitfalls that you might encounter – have you thought about, or come across, any of these?

• no family nearby to help out
• suitable STEM jobs are all too far away
• my skills are out of date
• I can’t get a nursery place for my child
• my partner works away
• I’ve been out of the country for too long
• I’ve lost contact with all my old colleagues
• I don’t know what’s going on in my industry sector any more
• my CV is outdated and full of gaps.

And what about steps up? What and who could help you return?

• an old school friend works in a well-known company – I’ll ask her for help
• I’ve seen an advert for an internship on our community website
• I’ve found an online course which will update my skills
• I’ve got loads of voluntary work experience
• I’m excited about going back to work and being a professional again
• I’m ambitious and want to get on with my career again
• I’m still in touch with my old boss
• my friend has offered to pick up the kids twice a week.