The experience of returning to work after having a baby is different for every woman. There are social norms that they may face, causing mothers to struggle with looking for the right jobs.

On top of concerns for their newborn baby, mothers may find it difficult to adjust to the ever-changing workforce. Employees would have their reservations when it comes to hiring mothers for fear of their inability to juggle motherhood and their career.

One mother who encountered this challenge, Mrs Eve Ng, shares her experience and how NTUC’s e2i helped her.

Eve worked in sales-and-marketing roles for over ten years. In 2016, she was asked to leave her job at the end of her pregnancy. Following this, she lost confidence in herself and experienced postnatal depression. As a career-minded person who enjoyed working, the switch to look after her baby full-time was not the easiest. However, as there was no one else who could help, she took it upon herself before finally being able to send her baby to an infant care at fifteen months old.

Mothers wishing to return to work after a long break may realise that the path back is not that simple. The industry may have changed dramatically over time, leading to new skill requirements in new or current job scopes.

Although Eve felt that she was ready to re-enter the workforce after settling into motherhood, the journey proved to be harder than she thought. She received no replies from the 50-100 applications she sent. Despite attempts at upskilling, she was still unable to secure a job.

“The process of looking for a job was a painfully difficult one. I thought everything was ready and I could do it”

Things took a turn for the better as she looked for help at NTUC’s e2i. Eve learnt that there were many government-aided job and training services available to help those who are looking for jobs. Through courses, she picked up multiple skills about digital sales and marketing such as media and ad creation.

She was also connected to a career coach who taught her effective job search strategies. Eve was introduced to alternative job portals to find and apply for jobs. She also learnt how to tailor one’s application for each job instead of sending the same resume out to all employers.

After attending courses by NTUC’s e2i, she saw multiple improvements to her resume. Her career coach mapped out the different career options she could consider, including the pros and cons of each. This gave her a clearer picture and expectation of her career path, progression, advantages and disadvantages. She was then able to make a well-considered decision on what career she should embark on upon her return to the workforce.

“The old method of looking for jobs was simply just to send your resume out, but there are actually many other ways.”

Workplaces are now more flexible with occasional work-from-home arrangements. This is helpful for mothers who may need time to look after their children during the workday. Eve was glad to be happily employed in such a workplace. She was able to work in the office or at home at her own discretion. This flexibility allowed her to focus on both her career and family.

When asked what advice she would give to mothers like her, she shared that it’s important to have an open and positive mind. She encourages jobseekers to take initiative, be dedicated and make time to attend some of the many courses that are available. Career coaches are available to offer guidance, and the assessments are comprehensive, she adds.

“I received in-depth and intensive guidance from e2i. The coaches knew the different systems so well.”

While Singapore’s government provides many options and solutions for the unemployed, most might not be aware of the help that they are offered. If you too are struggling to join the workforce once again, here are some options you can tap on from NTUC’s e2i:

(1)  Meet with a career coach:

This is where career guidance and job-matching is administered. Sessions are currently virtual (via call / video). Click on this link to register for an appointment: https://eappt.e2i.com.sg/

 

(2)  Attend a career fair / networking session / workshop

Go to our Events Calendar for upcoming events (both physical and virtual fairs available): https://e2i.com.sg/events/

 

(3)  Join the NTUC Job Security Council (JSC)’s Telegram chat platform:

You can subscribe to this channel to receive updates of available job vacancies daily, from our employer network.

Jobs Alert for PMET jobs: https://e2i.com.sg/JSCTelegram/PMET

Jobs Alert for Non-PMET jobs: https://e2i.com.sg/JSCTelegram/Non-PMET

Excerpts for this article were taken from an interview Eve conducted on 96.3 FM.