Everyone’s career has pauses. Some are planned, others unexpected. Whether you’ve taken time out to care for someone, focus on your health, recover from burnout, or manage a redundancy, returning to work can feel intimidating. But it’s also a chance — a moment to reset, rebuild, and begin a chapter that fits who you are now.
A career break doesn’t erase your value. Your skills, insight, and resilience haven’t disappeared; they’ve grown. Starting again isn’t about proving yourself all over — it’s about showing the world what experience has taught you.
Acknowledging Your Journey
For LGBTQ+ professionals, career paths can include additional layers of experience — environments that weren’t inclusive, workplaces where you couldn’t be yourself, or industries that didn’t always value difference. Taking a break can sometimes be part of protecting your wellbeing or reassessing your direction.
Whatever brought you here, take a moment to acknowledge it. A break isn’t failure; it’s part of your story. Reflect on what the time away gave you — perspective, rest, clarity, or courage. Those lessons will strengthen your next step.
Rebuilding Confidence
Confidence is often the first thing to waver after redundancy or time away from work. It can feel as though the world moved on while you paused. The truth is, many people restart their careers successfully every year — often with more focus and self-awareness than before.
Begin by taking small, achievable actions. Update your CV. Reconnect with one or two people in your network. Apply for a short course or volunteer project. Each small action helps rebuild your confidence and reminds you of your abilities.
Progress doesn’t need to be fast — it just needs to be steady. Every email sent, every task completed, every step forward matters.
Refreshing Your Skills
If it’s been a few years since your last job, the way people work may have changed. Remote working, new software, and digital communication are now part of almost every role. Don’t let that worry you. The basics are easy to relearn, and the willingness to adapt is what employers notice most.
Start by identifying one or two areas to refresh — whether that’s a digital skill, time management, or confidence with presentations. Many free or low-cost training opportunities are available locally or online.
You don’t have to learn everything. Focus on the skills that make you feel capable and current. A short confidence boost now can make the whole job search feel less overwhelming.
Recognising Transferable Experience
Your time away from work likely gave you skills you didn’t even realise you were gaining. Organising care schedules, running community projects, managing budgets, or mentoring others all show problem-solving, communication, and leadership — qualities employers value.
If you’ve been active in LGBTQ+ community groups, volunteering, or advocacy work, include it proudly. It shows teamwork, resilience, and a commitment to inclusion — all highly desirable in modern workplaces.
Don’t underplay what you’ve done because it wasn’t paid work. Every experience that develops your skills or empathy has worth.
Updating Your CV and Interview Approach
When writing your CV, focus on what you’ve achieved — not the gap itself. Be concise and positive: “Took career break for personal development and caring responsibilities” or “Career pause to reassess direction and retrain.” Then move quickly to your skills, achievements, and enthusiasm for returning.
At interview, be ready to speak confidently about what you’ve learned during your break. Employers respect honesty and self-awareness. They want to know you’re ready, focused, and prepared to contribute.
If you’ve faced bias or non-inclusive workplaces in the past, don’t let those experiences cloud how you see yourself now. You’ve already shown resilience and integrity by continuing to grow.
Rebuilding Your Network
Networking doesn’t mean attending formal events in suits and swapping business cards — it’s simply about connection. Reach out to former colleagues, mentors, or friends who understand your goals. Let them know you’re ready to rejoin the workforce.
Online communities can be a great place to start, especially inclusive professional networks and LinkedIn groups that support LGBTQ+ talent. These spaces provide advice, encouragement, and job opportunities from employers who genuinely value diversity.
Many organisations now run return-to-work or inclusive recruitment programmes. They’re designed to welcome people who’ve taken breaks and to build confidence through mentoring and structured support.
Managing Expectations and Wellbeing
Returning to work is a big life change, and it can stir up emotions — excitement, anxiety, or uncertainty. Allow yourself space to feel all of it. Adjusting takes time.
Don’t compare your progress to others. The first role you take might not be your dream job, but it could be the bridge that leads you there. Celebrate progress, not perfection.
Take care of your wellbeing throughout the process. Rest when you need to, talk to people you trust, and set small, realistic goals. Self-care isn’t indulgence — it’s strategy. The more balanced you feel, the stronger your applications will be.
Finding Purpose in the Restart
A break can be the pause that helps you rediscover what truly matters. Many people find that returning to work after time away gives them a clearer sense of purpose — what kind of environment they want, what values they won’t compromise, and what success means to them now.
You might decide to switch sectors, start a small business, or focus on an organisation that champions equality and inclusion. Whatever you choose, aim for a workplace where you can bring your whole self and be valued for it.
Starting again isn’t a setback; it’s a realignment.
Looking Ahead with Confidence
Every career has its stops and starts. What defines you isn’t the break — it’s the courage to begin again. Employers today value resilience, adaptability, and authenticity. If you can show that you’ve learned, grown, and are ready to contribute, that’s what they’ll remember.
You’ve built strength in ways that can’t be taught in classrooms — through lived experience, community, and reflection. Those are qualities that make you not just employable, but invaluable.
You’re not behind; you’re becoming ready for what’s next. Take your time, trust your ability, and know that your story — with all its turns — has real power in the workplace of 2026.