Returning to the workforce after taking time off to raise children

About this episode

Celia Au discusses the challenges of returning to work after taking time off to raise her children, including navigating self-doubt and the importance of supportive managers.

For many parents - especially mothers - returning to the workforce means navigating self-doubt, changing workplace expectations and the challenge of balancing work with caregiving responsibilities. Nat Fetalvero and Gerald Tan speak with Celia Au, a mother of two who left her job for five years to care for her children, one of whom was diagnosed with autism and ADHD. She talks about the realities of job hunting after a long absence and why supportive managers can make all the difference.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Hosts: Nat Fetalvero, Gerald Tan

Guest: Celia Au

Topics covered

• returning to work
• parenting
• work-life balance
• job hunting
• supportive management

Keywords

• returning to workforce
• mothers
• job hunting
• caregiving
• workplace expectations

More episodes of Work It

• Are you facing burnout or just in the wrong job? · June 11, 2026 · 11 min
• When good employees are given more work · June 4, 2026 · 13 min
• AI conducting job interviews. Here’s how to ace it · May 31, 2026 · 42 min
• Work Feed: Why school success doesn’t always translate to the workplace · May 24, 2026 · 24 min
• The mental trap of career envy · May 17, 2026 · 14 min
• Job hunting while employed: How to ask for a referral letter without risking it all · May 14, 2026 · 12 min