Lam – Returning to Work After a Family Career Break
36-year-old Lam from Croydon had been on a career break for a few years whilst raising a family. She heard about Making a Difference from her local jobcentre when she expressed her interest in returning to work.
With her children now taken care of, she was keen to get back into a job and possibly to upskill by gaining a new qualification.
How Did We Help?
Lam met with Luchiya, an Employment Coach at Making a Difference. They started their first session by discussing Lam’s aspirations for the future and her career goals. She had experience working as a teacher in a church and also in administration roles. Thus, she had an interest in returning to work in one of these sectors.
Soon after joining the programme, Lam felt confident about applying for jobs and in her job search skills. Because of this, she decided together with Luchiya to put her main focus on developing her CV and cover letters.
Lam reviewed her CV with Luchiya, who suggested adjustments which could increase Lam’s chances of securing interviews for available jobs. For example, we always recommend tailoring your CV to fit the person specification listed on the job vacancy. They also worked on improving Lam’s confidence to pursue her career goals.
Tackling the Job Market After a Career Break
Next, Lam focused on developing her interview technique and skills. Using her newly improved CV and cover letters, Lam secured four different interviews whilst on the Making a Difference programme. She later reported that the interview coaching she received from Luchiya helped her to feel more confident when presenting herself to new employers.
Moreover, as one of Lam’s initial goals was to continue her education and gain new a qualification, she started a Level 3 Accounting course.
Lam found that joining the Making a Difference programme boosted her confidence to a new level. She also reports being excited to see these changes in herself, having gone from not receiving interviews to getting four at once and to multiple employers being interested in her skill set!
We wish Lam all the best on her future career journey!
Career Guidance To Get You Where You Want To Be
Making a Difference is an initiative match-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF). We help people of all ages find their way into work or training by providing tailored one-to-one guidance and support. Whether you are returning to work after a career break, considering working for the first time or simply want to try something new. We can help you figure out the next step for you.
Contact our friendly team to learn more and start your journey today!
