I’VE LOST MY CONFIDENCE AFTER BABY

Dear Coleen

I had my first child two-and-a-half years ago. I’m very happy being a mum and love my daughter so much. However, I have found being a full-time parent hard to adjust to after having a very busy career for many years and having my baby relatively late at 40.

I opted not to return to work after maternity leave, mostly because I’d waited so long to be a mum and wanted to enjoy it. Now she’s at nursery though, I want to get back into the working world. My husband is being very supportive, but I have no confidence in myself.

It’s odd, having had a pretty highpowered role in the past. I’ve turned down a few interviews and the ones I’ve attended have been a disaster. Any advice to give me a boost?

Coleen says I think it’s wonderful you’ve got back out there because it isn’t easy. It’s pretty normal to struggle with confidence and also guilt as you have to arrange wraparound care for your child as you can’t be there at nursery pick-up and so on.

But my advice is, don’t give up. Even if interviews don’t go so well, it’s all good practice and it only takes one to go well to get a job.

It’s going to take a little time for you to rebuild the confidence you had, plus the fact you haven’t been offered a job so far may have nothing to do with how you came across but because you weren’t what they were looking for.

Call up old contacts for advice. Good luck and keep going.