Pivoting Careers after a Long Break
In the five years that I have spent at home with my children, I have contemplated many possible scenarios when I finally return to work full-time. Perhaps I would revive my consultancy, or go work with one of my entrepreneurial friends or maybe even join a huge multi-national corporation to be a cog in the machine. As the pressure to return to work mounted, I stopped and had a hard look at what motivates me professionally.
When I was first forced to stop working due to visa restrictions in the US, there was a sense of loss that comes from the sudden lack of financial earning power and professional fulfilment. Going from being a business owner, consulting with multiple clients and working with my own team, to staying at home to cook, clean and chauffeur was a drastic change. I have never been much of a domestic goddess. Sure, I can whip up a feast for dinner, but I cannot clean for nuts. Chauffeuring my family to doctor appointments, after school activities and playdates is not a productive use of my time. I know I have so much more to give to the world.
As an immigrant woman, the challenge of returning to the workforce here in the US is daunting. Employers do not look kindly on resumes with large breaks, especially if you have never worked in the US previously. We are trailing spouses, here because of our partners, reduced to a number in the visa program…
