Dear Coach

A year after going back to work when my son was six months old, I'm just not getting the opportunities I used to enjoy and I'm disheartened about continuing with my job. I still enjoy my work and have a good rapport with all my colleagues, I'm just not going the way I want to go.
Can I turn this around or do I look elsewhere?

Dear Reader

Please be assured, you are not alone! 80% of respondents to our survey said the 'job was not the same, as before motherhood'. It sounds like its time for you to decide what is most important to you now and in the future. The fact that you are asking yourself this question suggests that you are not totally comfortable with your situation and that you want to do something about it. The more questions you ask and keep asking, the better, even if you are not reaching any answers at this stage.

To make a good decision, you need to know what your options are. Options are about individual choice and when things aren't going your way, its easy to believe that you have little or no choice, which of course, is not the case. We all have choices and where you are now, is the result of the choices you have made so far. This would be a good time to look at what strengths and skills you have developed in your career so far. You may find it easier to talk this through with someone else. Once you become aware of your strengths, your future options become clearer as you start to explore how you can use and develop them. Equally you need to give some thought to areas where you have not yet developed a skill but would like to consider doing so. This will broaden your choice further. Again, you may require some third party assistance to identify these.

Once you have done this, you will have a clearer understanding of what your choices are and you will be better informed to make a decision. Once you focus in the direction you wish to go, doors will start to open and you will begin to recognise new opportunities. Continuing in your current job, will still be an option, it just wont be the only one. With even a minimal change of focus, you will be in a strong position to decide when to move on. In the meantime, you will enjoy your job all the more, because you'll be there knowing, for the time-being at least, its where you want to be.

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