#CareerCounsel: Returning to work

There are many reasons for a career break: travelling, illness or time spent with a new bundle of joy! Whatever the reason, the decision to return to the working gauntlet will probably welcome feelings of dread. 

Now, this counsel is not dealing with your first day back following a lovely two week break on a sunny beach. The holiday blues are yours to tackle! So here are our tips for the many situations you might face, and how to face them, when returning to work after an extended break.

“I’m returning to my place of work after extended leave, and I’m nervous!”

The one major fear when returning to a familiar setting is that it won’t be as familiar as you remembered. What has changed? Will you slot back in easily? Here’s what to do:

• Do you have a return to work interview arranged? This will be to bring you up to speed about what has been happening. Use this to express your concerns, or nerves, in a positive way. The more questions you ask, the more answers there are to alleviate your fear.
• Meet with colleagues before you return, even if it’s a lunch time catch up. Re-establishing your working relationships before you return, will give you one less thing to worry about the night before your first day back!
• Give yourself a confidence boost! Something as simple as a new outfit, or fresh haircut, can make you feel a bit better about the challenge ahead.
• Prepare a return plan of attack! Now you’re heading back to work, what are your goals and dreams? Have they changed drastically? Evaluate every ladder of progression you see as best for your career goals, and how your return to work can see you climbing towards success!
• If there have been changes, big or small, decide how you can contribute to them positively. Don’t fear change, embrace it. Reinstate yourself into the dynamics of your work environment and you’ll soon feel back at home.
• While we say to embrace change, settle into your first day with smaller comforts. Visit your most frequent lunch time haunts from before you took your leave and welcome back some familiarity to the general daily routine.
• Relax! Your first day will be tiring, so take it easy when you have finished it! Any hobbies that relax you, and relieve stress, would be a great idea. It also allows you to evaluate your hobbies and social life, and how you can fit them back alongside your full time return!

We hope these tips can ease you back into a comfortable working life. Happiness in jobs is the panda purpose, and we are always here to help! Stay tuned for #CareerCounsel posts, including tips on returning to a brand new job following an extended career break!