Welcome to the Back to Work Connect FAQs
Whether you’re a Returner, a career changer, or a business decision-maker exploring how to build a more inclusive workforce—this is the place to find answers.
At Back to Work Connect, we support individuals re-entering the workforce and partner with forward-thinking employers—including HR managers, Talent Acquisition teams, Finance Directors, and SMEs—to tap into a skilled, motivated, and often-overlooked talent pool.
This FAQ section is designed to answer the most common questions about how we work, how we can help, and why creating opportunities for midlife talent just makes great business sense.
If you don’t see your question here, we’re always happy to connect.
For HR Managers
At Back to Work Connect, we understand that attracting and retaining skilled, diverse talent is a growing priority for forward-thinking employers. That’s why we partner with organisations who are committed to inclusive hiring and eager to tap into the often-overlooked talent of Returners and midlife career changers.
If you don’t see your question here, we’re always happy to chat—just get in touch.
What is Back to Work Connect and who do you support?
Back to Work Connect is a talent resourcing platform dedicated to empowering midlife Returners to re-enter the workforce. Bridging the gap for employers seeking diverse, experienced talent while addressing the growing demand for Returner-friendly recruitment. Our platform delivers measurable social and economic impact by unlocking the potential of an often-overlooked talent pool.
What makes your platform different from traditional recruitment agencies?
Back to Work Connect is a purpose-driven platform that supports midlife Returners and career changers through a unique blend of job opportunities, upskilling, and employer partnerships. We go beyond recruitment to help people rebuild confidence, update skills, and connect with inclusive, Returner Friendly employers. We charge an annual subscription fee and we DON’T charge commission.
What does it mean to be a ‘Returner Friendly Employer’?
A Returner Friendly Employer actively welcomes and supports individuals returning to the workforce after a career break. This includes recognising the value of diverse life and work experience, offering inclusive recruitment practices, and providing flexibility, training, or onboarding support to help Returners thrive in their roles.
Can you help us create or improve our Returner programmes or inclusive hiring practices?
Yes—we work closely with employers to design or enhance Returner programmes and build more inclusive hiring strategies. From reviewing job ads to advising on onboarding, we offer practical support to help you attract, retain, and support midlife Returners and career changers.
What experience do you have working with employers like us?
We partner with a wide range of employers across most sectors to help them attract, engage, and retain diverse talent—particularly midlife Returners and career changers. From developing inclusive hiring strategies to promoting Returner Friendly roles, we support organisations in building more accessible and future-ready workplaces.
Do you provide data or reporting on outcomes?
Yes- depending on the number of roles you post, we provide a comprehensive traffic report either on a quarterly or half-yearly basis
How do we get started working with you?
Simply contact a member of our team for more information. The process is simple, and we can have your profile and account set-up within a few hours.,
Gina Oglesby at gina@backtoworkconnect.ie
Elaine Fox at elaine@backtoworkconnect.ie
Marina McGinn at marina@backtoworkconnect.ie
Gina Oglesby at gina@backtoworkconnect.ie
Elaine Fox at elaine@backtoworkconnect.ie
Marina McGinn at marina@backtoworkconnect.ie
For Talent Acquisition Professionals
What makes your candidates different?
Our candidates bring a wealth of life experience, are mature, loyal and reliable. They often come with a strong work ethic, transferable skills, and a real commitment to making their next chapter count—making them a valuable and often overlooked talent pool.
Can you help with hard-to-fill roles?
Yes — our platform is ideal for roles where soft skills, lived experience, and commitment matter more than a “perfect CV.” Hard skills can be taught!
Are your candidates job-ready or do they need further training?
Many of our Returners are job-ready, some may benefit from light upskilling or confidence-building support and others are changing career completely, but we are here to help them connect them to education and resources.
Do you support specific industries or job types?
We support all industries and job types.
Can I post multiple roles at once?
Yes – we offer UNLIMITED job posting package.
For Diversity and Inclusion Managers
How does Back To Work Connect support our DEI strategy?
Back to Work Connect enhances your DEI initiatives by connecting you with midlife Returners and career changers.. Our platform promotes age and gender diversity, offering practical support to create inclusive hiring practices and Returner programs. By partnering with us, you can access untapped talent, enrich your workforce with varied experiences, and advance your organisation’s commitment to inclusivity.
Can we track our diversity impact through your platform?
Yes—Back to Work Connect provides insights on the diversity of candidates engaging with your roles, including data on career returners, age demographics, and gender representation. We can also work with you to track progress and measure impact over time, helping you align your hiring outcomes with your broader DEI goals.
Do you offer Returner-Friendly Employer Training?
Yes- we offered standard and bespoke training for your HR and Talent Acquisition teams.
What are the UN SDGs?
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The short titles of the 17 SDGs are: No poverty (SDG 1), Zero hunger (SDG 2), Good health and well-being (SDG 3), Quality education (SDG 4), Gender equality (SDG 5), Clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), Affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), Industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), Reduced inequalities (SDG 10), Sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), Responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), Climate action (SDG 13), Life below water (SDG 14), Life on land (SDG 15), Peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16), and Partnerships for the goals (SDG 17).
Back To Work Connect is aligned to 3 of the UN SDGs,
Quality education (SDG 4), Gender equality (SDG 5) and Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8).
Back To Work Connect is aligned to 3 of the UN SDGs,
Quality education (SDG 4), Gender equality (SDG 5) and Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8).
What is Gender Pay Gap Reporting?
In Ireland, mandatory gender pay gap reporting requires employers with 50 or more employees to publish their gender pay gap data annually, with the deadline shifting to November from 2025. This includes reporting on the mean and median hourly pay gap, as well as bonuses and benefits in kind.
Ireland’s Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 and regulations mandate that private and public sector employers report their gender pay gap annually, in December.
Ireland’s Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 and regulations mandate that private and public sector employers report their gender pay gap annually, in December.
What is the EU Pay Transparency Directive and how does it affect my organisation?
The EU Pay Transparency Directive, which Ireland has until June 2026 to implement, aims to promote pay transparency and reduce gender pay gaps. Key aspects include employers being required to provide information about pay levels in job advertisements, eliminating pay secrecy, and giving employees the right to request information about their own pay and the pay of colleagues. Additionally, the directive strengthens enforcement mechanisms and introduces penalties for gender-based pay discrimination.
For Finance Directors
How does Back To Work Connect compare with traditional recruitment agencies?
Our pricing is transparent, with annual packages often costing less than one agency placement. There is no commission or hidden charges.
What is the cost of joining the Back to Work Connect platform ?
For a individual proposal please reach out to our team at sales@backtoworkconnect.ie
Are there different pricing tiers or packages available?
Yes-we have 3 packages for medium to large organisations and tailored packages for SMEs
What’s included in the cost—are there hidden fees or additional charges?
Our pricing is set at the start of your subscription and there are NO hidden fees.
Our Premium package includes,
– Unlimited job listings,
– Returner Friendly Employer badge,
– Access to data-driven insights, Employer Spotlight
– Account Manager
– Managed Account*
– Inclusion in our weekly Job Alert
– Returner Friendly Recruitment Training**
– Sponsored Community Event
Our Premium package includes,
– Unlimited job listings,
– Returner Friendly Employer badge,
– Access to data-driven insights, Employer Spotlight
– Account Manager
– Managed Account*
– Inclusion in our weekly Job Alert
– Returner Friendly Recruitment Training**
– Sponsored Community Event
Do you offer a business case to justify the spend?
Yes -Partnering with Back to Work Connect is not just a good social decision—it’s a smart business move. We help you access overlooked talent, reduce hiring costs, build a resilient workforce, and deliver on your DEI and ESG goals—all with measurable, long-term impact.
Can this partnership be scaled or customised depending on our needs and hiring volume?
Yes – with our unlimited job posting and optional training programmes all our partnerships can be scaled and customised.
How do you track and report impact or success metrics?
Yes – We record Hits, when a user views the role and Apply Now, when a user leaves our site at the Apply Now button. Unfortunately, once they leave our site, we have no way of knowing their next action.
We analysis:
The percentage of hits by category, the percentage of apply now by category, and compare them both.
The percentage of female v male candidates who view roles on our platform
Count of Returner-Friendly Keywords or Sentences on a sample role.
Conversion Rate
The demographic of users viewing each role.
We analysis:
The percentage of hits by category, the percentage of apply now by category, and compare them both.
The percentage of female v male candidates who view roles on our platform
Count of Returner-Friendly Keywords or Sentences on a sample role.
Conversion Rate
The demographic of users viewing each role.
For SMEs
Is this just for large companies or public sector employers—or is it suitable for SMEs too?
Our platform is suitable for ALL organisations that see the value in midlife workers and who want to become a Returner Friendly employer.
Can we hire for part-time, flexible, or hybrid roles through your platform?
Absolutely – we encourage employers to offer, where possible, part-time, flexible and hybrid roles.
What are the costs involved in partnering with Back to Work Connect?
For SMEs we have a tailored plan to suit your organisation’s, needs. Reach out to a member of our team and we can discuss the option
For Returners & Career Changers
We know that returning to work, changing careers, or upskilling later in life can feel overwhelming—but you’re not alone. At Back to Work Connect, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Whether you’re looking for information on education and training options, wondering how to connect with Returner Friendly employers, or curious about what support is available to you, this FAQ section is designed to answer your most common questions.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team is always happy to help.
What is Back to Work Connect and how can it help me?
Back to Work Connect is a career platform designed specifically for people like you—midlife career changers and returners who are ready to explore a new chapter. We connect you with supportive employers, flexible job opportunities, and upskilling options that fit your life. Whether you’ve been out of the workforce for a few years or a few decades, we’re here to help you rebuild confidence, update your skills, and take the next step with the support and guidance you need.
Is this platform only for women or is it open to everyone?
Our community and platform are open to everyone. However we do understand midlife workers, returning to the workforce after a career break are in the majority female. With 98% of “home makers” listed in the 2016 CSO Census being women.
Do I need to have a certain level of education or experience to join?
No- we welcome candidates from all levels of education and experience.
Is there a cost to use the platform or get support?
No-our community events and platform are FREE to use.
I’ve been out of the workforce for years—where do I even start?
Getting back to work after a long break can be challenging, but it’s certainly possible with the right approach and determination. Here’s a quick guide to help you get started:
How do I get back to work after 10 years?
How do I get back to work after 10 years?
How do I explain my career break in an interview or CV?
Talking about a career gap in an interview can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can address it in a way that demonstrates your honesty, self-awareness, and suitability for the position. Here are some steps to help you discuss a career gap in an interview: How to address the “career gap” in an interview
Is there a community or peer support available?
Yes – we hold community events, online, every month, on different topics that offer support to Returners. These events are free of charge and we welcome everyone to join.
Can I still use the platform if I’m only thinking about returning or changing careers, but not ready yet?
Absolutely – we know it can take time to decide what direction you want to go in. Sign up to our weekly Job Alert and you never know, when the right job might pop up. Your can sign up here: Job Alert Sign-Up
Is this only for people in Dublin or is it available across Ireland?,
We welcome Returners from anywhere in the world. Our jobs board and course directory are for roles within the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.