🌱 Build Your Confidence
You don’t need to feel 100% confident before taking your next step.
Taking time away from paid employment can change how you see yourself, but it doesn’t erase your experience, skills or potential.
Confidence rarely appears overnight. It grows with each small action you take.
That’s exactly what this roadmap is designed to help you do.
Estimated time: Work through at your own pace (around 1–2 weeks)
Start Step 1
Before You Begin
A reminder…
If you’re returning to work after a career break, it’s completely normal to question yourself.
Many Returners tell us they worry about:
- Whether employers will value their experience
- Explaining their career break
- Feeling “out of practice”
- Competing with younger candidates
- Knowing where to start
The important thing to remember is this:
A career break changes your CV. It doesn’t erase your value.
✅ Step 1
Reconnect with your strengths
Before worrying about interviews or applications, take time to recognise what you already bring.
Complete our:
25 Day Back to Work Challenge: A simple step-by-step journey designed to help Returners reconnect with their strengths, rebuild confidence, and take practical steps back towards the world of work. Not through pressure, not through perfection, but through small, manageable actions. One small confidence-building action each day.
Start the Challenge: 25 Days Back to Work Challenge
✅ Step 2
Read real Returner stories. Sometimes confidence comes from seeing someone who has already walked the same path. Explore inspiring stories from people who successfully returned after career breaks.
Read some inspiring real Returner stories Read Returner Stories
✅ Step 3
Join our Community: Returning to work can feel lonely, but it doesn’t have to.
Join one of our online Community Events and connect with people who understand exactly where you are.
All our community events are free of charge, but booking is essential View Upcoming Events
✅ Step 4
Recognise your transferable skills
You probably have far more valuable experience than you realise.
Take our Transferable Skills Checker and discover the skills employers are looking for.
Discover My Skills
✅ Step 5
Prepare for your next step
When you’re feeling more confident…
Watch back a recent webinar:
Interview Skills with Heather Thompson
In this 45-minute interactive workshop, Heather covers:
- How to prepare for interviews in a structured way, including identifying your skills and building strong examples
- Simple frameworks (including STAR) to help you answer questions clearly without over-rehearsing
- What to do in the moment if you lose your train of thought, go blank, or need time to think
- Practical ways to manage nerves and stay grounded before and during interviews
- How to approach follow-up and reflect on your performance afterwards
and
Is AI the Future of CV Writing with Laura Griffin
Artificial Intelligence is topical in every arena right now, and recruitment is no exception. The question is: should you be using AI to write your CV?
During this session, we will explore:
- How to use AI to stand out from the crowd.
- Top tips for creating a compelling CV.
- Do’s and Don’ts for using AI effectively in CV creation.
- How to target your job search and maximise your chances of success.
- The role of LinkedIn
There’s no pressure.
Just friendly support from people who understand Returners.
✅ Step 6
Start exploring opportunities
Confidence grows through action.
When you’re ready…
Browse our Returner-Friendly Jobs Board.
Community Support
Need a little encouragement?
Our Community Care Team is here to help.
Whether you have a question, need help deciding what to do next, or simply want someone to point you in the right direction, we’d love to hear from you.
Contact Community Care on email at communitycare@backtoworkconnect.ie or mobile 0894057839
Sign up for our weekly Returner Friendly Job Alert HERE
Remember you’re already making progress, the fact that you’re here tells us you’ve already taken one important step.
Keep going.
Have you completed this roadmap?
🟣 Feeling more confident, take me to the next step
Roadmap – Tell My Story
or ↓
Roadmap – Discover My Skills
↓
Roadmap – Explore Careers
↓
Roadmap – Prepare for Interviews
↓
Roadmap Find Returner-Friendly Jobs