How to Return to Work After a Career Break (Even If You Feel Stuck)

Taking a career break doesn't mean your career is over. In this episode, Julianne Miles—chartered psychologist, MBE recipient, and author of Return Journey—shares her proven 5-stage framework for returning to work after time away.

Whether you've taken a break for childcare, caregiving, health reasons, or personal development, this conversation will help you navigate the transition with confidence.

🎯 IN THIS EPISODE:

- Why career breaks should be valued, not feared [03:45]

- The 5 stages of returning to work (and where you get stuck) [12:30]

- How to handle the "what have you been doing?" question [18:15]

- Why your career break gave you MORE valuable skills [22:40]

- The perfectionism trap that holds returners back [28:50]

- Small tweaks that make returning to work easier [35:20]

- How to value what makes you different (not the same) [44:30]

📚 JULIANNE'S RESOURCES:

🔗 Career Returners: careerreturners.com

📖 Book: "Return Journey: How to Get Back to Work and Thrive After a Career Break" (Out September 4, 2025)

🎙️ Career Returners Podcast: Real stories from people who've successfully returned to work

📚 Cisco Academy: Free training courses for returners

🌍 Global online returner community

✨ ABOUT JULIANNE:

Julianne Miles is a chartered psychologist with over 20 years of experience supporting thousands of people returning to work after career breaks. She's a successful returner herself and the founder of Career Returners, an organization dedicated to making career breaks a valued part of lifetime careers. In 2019, she was awarded an MBE for her pivotal role in changing the landscape for UK returners.

🎙️ ABOUT BETTER AT WORK:

Making your work life better, one conversation at a time. Join host Cathal Quinlan as he explores workplace wellness, career development, and the real challenges of modern work with experts, authors, and people who've been there.

🔔 New episodes every Thursday

📸 Instagram: @betteratwork

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Introduction

2:30 - Julianne's story: From career break to chartered psychologist

6:05 - Why society needs to reframe career breaks

9:40 - The mental blocks (both sides face)

12:30 - The 5 stages of career transition

18:15 - Handling the "gap in your CV" conversation

22:40 - Skills you gain during a career break

28:50 - The perfectionism trap

35:20 - Small tweaks that make big differences

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