Returning to work after a long break

Illustration: TBS

Taking a career break can be a necessary yet life-altering decision, whether it be to care for a newborn, recover from an injury, manage mental health, get a new degree, or to address other personal challenges.

While stepping away from the workforce often comes with a mix of relief and growth, returning to work can feel daunting, be it after a few months or a few years.

Navigating the job market, addressing skill gaps, and regaining confidence are common concerns.

It was heartbreaking, not just because I didn't get the job, but also when I decided to move on, all of my peers were already in really good positions. I was still starting from scratch as a year of work experience seven years ago had no value by then. In the CA classes, most of my peers were much younger than I was.

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- Rakin Ahmed Raju, Chartered Accountant

However, with the right strategies, mindset and resources, transitioning back into professional life can be a rewarding experience, no matter the reason behind the break.

Have a plan B if you are a BCS aspirant

Rakin Ahmed Raju, a graduate of Accounting and Information Systems at Jagannath University had failed to crack the BCS exam for two consecutive years. He settled for a job as a junior account and finance assistant at a private organisation.

"But something kept bugging at me; I couldn't let go of the dream of having a government job. However, studying with a full-time job was also getting tough for me," Raju said. 
So Raju left the job after a year and started preparing with a singular focus — BCS. While he was able to pass the preliminary levels a couple of times and the written part once, Raju never cracked the interview. After six years, he finally gave up, and began training to be a chartered accountant (CA).

"It was heartbreaking, not just because I didn't get the job, but also when I decided to move on, all of my peers were already in really good positions. I was still starting from scratch as a year of work experience seven years ago had no value by then. In the CA classes, most of my peers were much younger than I was," Raju added.

After the training, Raju got a job as a chartered accountant and had to start at an elementary level, with a significantly lower paycheck than his peers.

"It was not easy, mostly because I was struggling with the new work environment, office hours and a major lifestyle change. However, taking the training, attending the classes, solving cases eased things," he added.

Raju suggests government job aspirants to learn some professional skills, remain up-to-date in one's field and have some job experience besides their studies. In Bangladesh's competitive job sector, sailing without a plan B might be fatal for your professional career.

For victims of political injustice, patience is key

Delowar Hossain Mia was one of five police officers who were forced into early retirement between 2020 and 2023. In August this year, following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime, he was reinstated to his post.

Back in 2012, he had been due for a promotion to the position of Deputy IGP (Inspector General of Police), but for the next decade, until his forced retirement in 2022, the promotion never came. According to Delowar, the reason was his refusal to "support their political ideology".

"We now understand how the government managed the administration over the last 15 years. I had to watch my juniors get promoted while I worked under them for years. It was deeply humiliating. The system was so politically corrupt that there was no one to complain to," Delowar said.

Delowar had adjusted to his life as a retiree, spending his time praying, grocery shopping, and making plans to return to his village.

However, last month, he was finally promoted to the post of Deputy IGP, a development he considers "nothing short of a miracle from the Almighty". He remarked, "I did my job and remained patient."

Delowar is now stationed in Dhaka in his new role. "With the change in government, there have been reshuffles in police positions and new recruitments. We are still figuring out how the system will operate," he explained.

New mothers should start planning months before resuming work

In 2014, Lutfun Nahar, an assistant headmistress at a junior high school in Dhaka, decided to resign as she was expecting her third child that year. Although her older children, aged 13 and 10, were somewhat independent, the prospect of managing a newborn alongside a six-hour teaching job felt overwhelming. So, she chose to leave her job.

"I felt more scared than exhausted. The idea of handling three kids while returning to work seemed too much," she recalled.

However, in 2019, Nahar decided to re-enter the workforce and joined a different school in her area. This time, she accepted a role as a regular teacher, which came with a lower rank and paycheck than her previous position. Despite this, the reduced responsibilities and flexible working hours allowed her to balance her job with family life.

Before returning to work, Nahar began tutoring students at home to reacquaint herself with the curriculum and get used to the new schedule. In the months leading up to her return, her husband and she also established a routine for their children, aligning it with school timings so that when both parents were working, one of the older siblings could be home with the youngest.

"Most of the teachers at the school are working mothers, so it was a supportive environment where we all understood each other's challenges. There were even days when I brought my youngest to school, and my colleagues in the teacher's room helped care for her while I worked," Nahar shared.

After a study gap, work on the basics of your profession

After graduating from Chattogram University in 2019, Muhammad A Bashed worked for two and a half years at a media house in Dhaka. However, he soon realised that advancing in his career or securing better opportunities would be difficult without a postgraduate degree.

Leaving his job to pursue further studies, though, meant becoming financially dependent on his family for at least a year. With his family's support and consent, Bashed resigned and enrolled in a postgraduate program in 2022.

A year later, he joined a newspaper as a sub-editor. "When I returned to work, I had forgotten some of the fundamentals of news writing. So, during the first few weeks, I focused on relearning the basics — the 5Ws and 1H rule, the inverted pyramid structure of news articles, and improving my typing speed and interviewing skills," Bashed explained.

Focus on recovery first when rejoining work after medical leave

It was a significant year for Ahmed Kawosar Sobuj: his daughter was sitting for her SSC exam and his son just got into high school. A sales manager at a buying house in Dhaka, 45-year-old Sobuj never realised a heart attack was on the way and that he would be lying in bed for six months following a cardiac surgery.

"All I could think about was my kids, what would they do if anything happened to me, what if I don't recover, don't get the job back, what if they hire someone else in my post etc.," Sobuj said.

Amid this, Sobuj was in touch with his employers, keeping them in the loop about his recovery and what the doctors were saying about the healing process. However, the doctors suggested he should focus on his recovery first.

According to Sobuj the doctor had said, "While bills, rent, and pressure from the employer can make it hard to resist coming back to work as soon as possible, it is important to wait until the time is right. Coming back to work too soon only raises the risk of distressing yourself and undoing months of treatment."

After almost a year, Sobuj rejoined his company. The years of experience and reputation that he had helped him get back quickly. "Although I was welcomed with warmth, initially I was treated like a delicate, almost temporary employee. This didn't feel good," Sobuj said.

So in the next few months, Sobuj took his health seriously. And by maintaining a proper diet, exercise and doctor's recommendations, he also tried his best to remain active in office. 
"After a massive surgery or injury, the  office would expect you to be weak. But as much as you are going to take your health seriously, you will have to show your commitment and dedication to the job as well, not by overworking or late night shifts, rather with good time management. It's really important to manage your time and make the best of it with tangible results," he said.