Mums Returning to Work: How to Restart Your Career with Confidence

Mums returning to work must often deal with maternal bias—the unfounded belief that mothers are somehow less dedicated to their jobs. However, there’s no reason mothers can’t excel in the workplace. Take Jaanvi Chawra, Vice President of OCBC, for instance. She took a three-year break to care for her baby and re-entered the workforce in 2021. She won that year's SG 100 Women in Tech Award for leading OCBC’s digital transformation. 

Whether you’re planning a family, returning from maternity leave, or wondering how to get back into the workforce after five years, this guide will help you thrive as a working mum. 

Tips for Women Planning for a Family

Inform your boss you’re pregnant. 

Some expecting mums wait until their second trimester before informing their supervisor they’re pregnant. After all, by this time the risk of a miscarriage is much lower. In any case, make sure to give your manager ample time to prepare for your maternity leave. Reassure them that you will finish any pending projects before you leave and properly turn over your tasks to whoever will be covering for you in the meantime. 

Know your rights.

According to MoM, you’re eligible for 16 weeks of government-paid maternity leave if your child is a Singapore citizen and you have worked for your employer for at least three months before your child is born. However, if you fail to notify your boss at least one week before you go on maternity leave, you’ll only receive half of the pay you’re eligible for. Ask HR about the company’s maternity leave policy and benefits as well. 

Guide the co-workers who will be taking over your tasks. 

While your teammates may be happy for you, they’re probably not looking forward to taking on your workload. Make life easier for them by organising your files so they can easily find what they need. Make time to teach them how to perform your tasks and answer any questions they might have. After all, the last thing you want is to constantly get calls from your colleagues while you adjust to life as a new mum. 

Encourage your spouse to take paternity leave. 

If you’re eligible for government-paid maternity leave, your spouse can apply for four weeks of shared parental leave. Dad's company may also have their paternity leave benefits. 

Even if you take a career break, keep one foot in the professional world.

It’s perfectly understandable if you decide to focus on your kids for a while. However, if you’re planning to resume your career at some point, it’s best to stay up to date. Keep up with industry news, stay in touch with colleagues, take online courses, and consider doing freelance work. 

For instance, Chawra enrolled in a 5-month executive general management program and took on consulting work during her sabbatical. This allowed her to fill the 3-year gap in her resume. 

Tips for Returning to Work After Maternity Leave

Communicate clearly with your supervisor and colleagues

Confirm your return date with your supervisor to make sure you’re on the same page. Communicate your needs as well. For instance, you might not be able to work overtime or answer e-mails after working hours. You’re more likely to gain support from your co-workers if you manage their expectations from the beginning.

Find reliable childcare. 

Whether hiring a nanny or taking your child to an infant care centre, make sure to find childcare you can trust. Ask other parents for tips and recommendations, research childcare centres, and request on-site tours. Interview nannies and do background checks. After all, it’s important to have peace of mind so that you can focus on your work instead of worrying about your baby. 

Prepare to pump at the office. 

Creating a plan in advance will take a lot of the hassle out of pumping at the office. Make sure that you know how to use your pump, and ask HR if your office has a lactation room. If not, let them and your supervisor know what you need.

When pumping, it’s best to mimic the baby’s feeding schedule. Block it off in your work calendar so you don’t wind up scheduling meetings when you’re supposed to pump. Remember to wear clothing that’s suitable for pumping as well. 

Create a transition period. 

Let your nanny start work before you return to the office, and practice leaving the baby with her so that by the time you return to the office, everybody is used to the new routine. 

Don’t be too hard on yourself.

Don’t beat yourself up if you’re not as efficient or productive as you were before giving birth. Give yourself time to get back into the groove and adjust to life as a working mum. 

Join working-mum support groups. 

It helps to know that you’re not alone. Here are some of the working-mum groups you can join:

• SNS Working Mums Support Group
• CRIB
• The Busy Women Project
• Business Women Network

Tips on Coming Back from a Career Break

Take the opportunity to upskill

Taking a few courses will help you get up to date on the latest trends in your field or gain the knowledge you need to switch to a growing industry. You can also take part in Workforce Singapore’s herCareer programme, which provides all kinds of upskilling opportunities and career guidance for women returning to the workforce. 

Tap your network. 

Catch up with former colleagues and ask them about job opportunities. Remember that your connections aren’t limited to your co-workers—your co-parents might be able to refer you to potential employers as well. 

Try a side gig or contract work. 

Freelancing is a great way to dip your toes in the water and get used to working again. It will give you a better idea of what the industry is like today, and the skills you need to polish. Plus you can update your resume with more recent experience. 

Prepare your kids. 

Talk with them about why you want to work again and address any concerns they might have. Get them and your husband to help with housework. Note that they might not do the chores as quickly, efficiently, or perfectly as you would, but the important thing is that they get it done. 

Do your research.

Your field may have changed quite a bit while you were away. Catch up by reading about industry trends and talking with former co-workers. Get a sense of the job market as well—is your industry booming or shrinking? If it’s the latter, consider a career switch. Who knows, you just might join the growing ranks of women in tech!

Highlight your new skills.

Don’t apologise for your career break. After all, there are many skills you’ve gained as a mum. Mothers have great multi-tasking, time management, project management, organisational, and interpersonal skills. Emphasise your willingness to learn and drive to prove yourself in the workplace. 

Don’t hesitate to negotiate!

Remember that employers always lower their offered salary because they expect jobseekers to negotiate. By accepting their offer right away, you’re shortchanging yourself. At the same time, the sad fact is that many recruiters may try to lowball you because of your career break. 

The best way to deal with this is to familiarise yourself with the going rates in your field. You can use JobStreet’s Salary Guide to find out what you should be earning. Then, refrain from discussing financial compensation until you receive a job offer. By this time, your potential employer would probably rather negotiate than look for a new candidate.

If the offer is lower than your desired salary, express your appreciation for the opportunity and ask, “What can we do to bring that up to $XXXX?” By saying “we,” you’re taking a more collaborative approach instead of putting the recruiter on the defensive. 

Don’t forget to consider non-monetary compensation as well. If you’re asking for flexible hours or remote work, then you may have to accept a slightly lower salary in exchange. 

Find family-friendly employers. 

Look for companies that have adopted the Tripartite Standards for Work-Life Harmony and Flexible Work Arrangements. These employers are more likely to be accommodating toward working mums. 

You can also get a sense of the company culture by talking to current employees and asking the right questions during your interview. This helps you make your needs clear without appearing demanding. For example, you can ask what a typical work day is like and whether any employees have flexible hours. If they say yes, then during the negotiation process you can bring that up and ask to have flexible hours as well. 

Let go of the mum guilt.

A 2018 study by Harvard Business School reveals children raised by working mums grow up just as happy as those with stay-at-home mums. As a working mum, you’re acting as a role model for your daughter and setting your son up to have a more progressive attitude toward gender equality.

You can forgo the mum guilt by focusing on the present. When at work, focus on work. At home, focus on yourself and your family. You can also maximise your time with your kids by establishing a routine and scheduling activities that are important to you. For example, if playing with your kids after work is a priority, then create a schedule around that. You can also have special dates with your kids on weekends to ensure you give them equal attention. 

Mums, #LetsGetToWork. While mums returning to work face several challenges, following the tips above will make the transition smoother. As you start your job search, learn how to create a killer resume and ace your interview by checking out our Career Resources. Look for your dream job by downloading the JobStreet app on Google Play or App Store.