6 rules for re-entry after parental leave
Career Advisor Jutta Schwarz, 46, has two sons. She lives and works in Hamburg.
Our expert:Jutta Schwarz is a systemic consultant and has been coaching people for over ten years who want to change and develop their career. She specializes in advising working mothers.
Learn more about Jutta Schwarz on www.juttaschwarz.de.
6 rules for re-entry after parental leave
1. Do not crowd out the topic
Women like to push aside the topic of re-entry. This is understandable because they face one of the biggest changes in their lives. Nevertheless, you should develop as early as possible, such as during pregnancy, a model for re-entry. This is not so easy because it requires knowing how to imagine his return. This point in time is favorable, because then no one can imagine how the shop should run without one. But if you're out for a year or more, will the system go on without you? and bargaining becomes more difficult.
2. Keep in contact
Of course you can go to the office with the child. In general, however, it is better to meet regularly alone with colleagues and not to do too much Mutti-Talk. Even if the others ask, "And how is it?", They resist temptation and do not put the issue of child in the foreground. Rather talk about work, ask, "What's going on with you, how about the new department?" Try to stay tuned and show interest in the structures and topics, participate in further education. And chat with the boss every now and then, emphasizing: "I'll be happy when I'm back." Confident and signaling, "I am a mother now, but I am ready." You can also offer to make a holiday replacement, if that is possible and you can imagine. Or work very little part time, that is allowed during parental leave. Such suggestions are a way to stay in the door with one foot.
3. Do not get off too long
The longer one is outside, the more a reality arises without one and one's own inner reality, the identification with the job decreases. As a career counselor, I therefore advise a maximum of one year parental leave. Of course, it depends on what you want to achieve. Career is not a must. There are also many women who do not want to take all the responsibility for a job with a child, but want to stay at home with a clear conscience when the child is ill. But if you want success, you should not stay away too long and work 30 hours instead of 20 hours. Those who stay longer at home should discuss with their partner how to be protected for old age or in case of separation.
4. Know what you want
For a successful re-entry, it is wise to develop ideas early on. To think, "What do I want and how much do I want to work?" Develop solutions, for example: which (interesting) projects can I do during my reduced working hours, where can I apply my most important skills, where is the value for the company the greatest. Do less, but for the interesting things. And offer suggestions on who can take on the other tasks. Or suggest a job sharing model. That's not something the employer does for you. Concretely discuss all this at the latest three months before the return and fight for these ideas. But you have to be in good spirits and be sure: "I stand behind what I want, I know what I can do." Which is easier, if one has remained professionally at the job, so the topic remains active in one's self.
5. Integrate the partner
Unfortunately, you do not just have to negotiate with the employer, but also with the partner. If the woman gets out for a year or more, a new reality is quickly created at home. In the most then the man is the sole earner, and the wife takes care of the family. To make sure that this is not permanent, you have to speak early. For example, one client constantly tells her husband, "It's my turn in five years."
6. Decide: return or reboot?
If you want to change completely and take the step into self-employment, the following applies: Information is everything. You have to deal with this dream and collect everything. My clients have short interviews with people doing something similar that they dream of. This is a kind of reality check. If you continue to say, "That excites me, matches my abilities," you can do the step.
