The expert gave advice on returning to work after maternity leave

Many women are afraid of returning to work after maternity leave due to changes in the labor market and possible distrust from employers. On March 18, Aygun Kurbanova, founder of the School of Career Management and president of the Association of Career Consultants, told Izvestia about the difficulties faced by young mothers and how to prepare for them.

"The employer logically assumes that the woman's priorities have changed: She will no longer be able to stay up until night, she will take sick leave due to the child's illness. Another difficulty is the changes in the profession that occur during two to three years of a woman's maternity leave. New tools, technologies and work speed requirements are emerging," the expert explained, noting that women themselves often feel insecure, believing that their knowledge is outdated and their career orientations have changed.

Kurbanova said that maternity leave does not interrupt work experience, so this period can be indicated in the resume without additional explanations if the woman retained her job. She called it a mistake to try to justify a break in her career. It is much more effective to present the decree as a time for developing skills such as planning, stress tolerance, multitasking and process management.

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The recalculation of pensions since January has already affected 400,000 mothers with many children.

The expert recommended starting preparations for the return in advance — about six months in advance. It is important to rethink career goals, as well as consider the child's adaptation to kindergarten or a new regime. According to her, it is better if these processes do not coincide in order to reduce stress levels.

"It is better to discuss the options for returning in advance so that the employer has time to prepare and find a suitable role. In addition, it is useful to maintain professional contacts and continue studying even during maternity leave. This helps to keep in touch with the profession and feel more confident when going to work," the specialist advised.

At the interview, according to Kurbanova, it is important to show willingness to work and thoughtfulness of everyday issues, including the organization of assistance with the child. This reduces the anxiety of the employer and increases the level of trust.

The specialist also stressed that the decree can be not only a pause, but also an opportunity to rethink your career, learn new skills and change your professional direction. With this approach, returning to work becomes the beginning of a new stage, rather than a forced step.

Olga Gulyaeva, HR and Corporate Culture Director at Adviros HR company, told Izvestia on February 26 about the impact of early retirement on a career. According to her, women tend to remain flexible after taking care of a child, at least initially. This is due to the need to build family processes: to adapt the child to kindergarten, to organize the help of a babysitter or relatives, to establish a new rhythm of life. In addition, not all families have the opportunity to pay for babysitting services, so part-time employment and hybrid remain the most popular formats.

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