Reigniting your Career

 

We chatted to Naz Jones, the most refreshing and inspiring woman, about her experience with leaving her career to fulfill a role below her skill level, in order to gain some flexibility with her young family. She shares her journey back to reigniting her career on a returner programme at Ramboll.

 

Name: Naz Jones

Career change: From a full time engineering role to a part time role in a different career path / role

Company placed into: Ramboll UK

New role: Project Manager

 

TELL US ABOUT YOU BEFORE YOUR CAREER CHANGE?

 

I was an X-Ray engineer specialising in mammography machines. Prior to that had done commercial bids & proposal management and project management work. I decided I needed to change my role due to the extensive travel and working hours when I had my son. As covid hadn’t happened yet, part time roles/ flexible working wasn’t as extensive as now, so I decided to take a role outside of my planned career path. I therefore took a role as a Health and Safety and Facilities Coordinator.

 

WHAT WAS YOUR PART TIME ROLE?

 

Although the role wasn’t something I had specialised in or something I was looking to move forward with as my career, I embraced it, I did some training and basically took every opportunity that presented itself to me.

 

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE  RETURNERS PROGRAMME?

 

Having left full-time work to start a family, I had concerns over the impact of conscious or unconscious bias when applying to work full-time again. Having done extensive research on flexible roles available in the market, I came across the returners programme advertised on Inclusivity.

 

 

HOW WAS THE EXPERIENCE GOING THROUGH THE RETURNER PROGRAMME – FROM INTERVIEWS WITH INCLUSIVITY ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO REIGNITING YOUR CAREER?

 

There are many twists and turns in life and similar to me, the career plan we set for ourselves may change at any time and therefore the information presented on your CV may need the additional narrative behind it. The fantastic team in Inclusivity listened to my story and supported me on finding the right role for me.

 

This programme and Ramboll’s positive approach to flexible working gave me confidence and a chance I didn’t think I would have had otherwise. As a result, I have been able to nurture my skillset once again and feel fulfilled in my new role, without having to sacrifice the other important aspects of my life.

 

ANY ADVICE FOR OTHERS?

 

Embrace each step, job, or training as an opportunity, as in each one, you learn a new key skill set, that helps transition you into your next role.  Life comes with a lot of surprises – there are periods that are easy and other parts that are tough which you have to work hard to come through. Focus on what you can do and take it one step at a time.

 

 

“Even if the jobs don’t look like a good fit for you, just to give Inclusivity a call, don’t assume you wont fit the job.”

 

 

View all our opportunities here, all candidates we place will receive our unique 1:1 coaching and on-going support to ensure your transition back to work with confidence.