Survey: lack of career advice for mums:

37 per cent say they last received some form of career advice whilst in university or college, while a staggering 34 per cent say they ‘have never had professional career advice’ before.

1,289 of Women Like Us’ 33,000 members took part in the survey, which identified when mothers last received any form of career advice or guidance, before registering with the organisation.

It found that:

• 71% have either never received career advice or last received it whilst at school or university
• Nearly half said the last career advice they received is ‘out of kilter with my life now’ (47 per cent).
• 3 in 4 (76 per cent) said their career based decisions have changed since having children, with 61 per cent feeling they had changed significantly

The study carried out in the UK highlights why many mothers feel the need for career support, specifically after having children:

• Many are looking to change careers- only a third (35 per cent) have returned – or say they intend to return to the job they had before children
• Priorities shift- before having children those surveyed cited job satisfaction followed by career development as being most important when choosing a job. Since having children the same women now cited finding a job that fits around family life (64 per cent) as their priority
• Danger of career downgrade– only 35 per cent of those surveyed believe their current job or the jobs they are applying for match their previous level of work/skills

Women Like Us Founder and mother of two, Emma Stewart says, “Returning to work after having children is probably the only time in adult life, when a woman might contemplate changing career or looking for a new kind of job.

“And yet most feel like there’s a ‘black hole’ in place of advice or support. The last time that most had access to guidance of any kind, was when they themselves were children – if at all.

Quality careers support can mean the difference between taking any job and finding a satisfying career that fits around family needs,” says Stewart.

Did you change careers or did your priorities shift after having children?

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