Perhaps as a result of the recession, more and more women are choosing to return to work after taking a career break to raise their children.  Of course, the workplace has changed a great deal in the last ten years or so, and many women who have taken a longer than expected break from employment often find that they lack the standard IT skills expected by employers.

There are many highly qualified women who find themselves in a position where they are unable to return to office life at the same level they had previously, and instead of regaining roles within management, they are often relegated to junior roles with little chance of advancement.

Of course there are some women who do not want to return to a position of high stress and responsibility, however this is one of the greatest scandals in the modern workplace, and it not only robs women of the chance to return to work at the same level they were employed previously but also means that employers, who often bemoan the standards of staff available straight from school are wasting the talents of their staff rather than making the most of them.

If you are considering going back to work after a long career break, it is important to familiarise yourself with the kind of office software that is currently in use.  The de-facto standard in the office is currently Microsoft Office 2007, although many larger companies are still using the 2003 edition.  Beyond this, it is more or less expected that staff will be familiar with email and the web.

Taking a short office software course is more about confidence and competence than certification, and it is worth undergoing so that it can be added to your CV.  Courses are often available in local community centres, and do not always cost anything.

Another thing that is important to check when returning to work is that any professional qualifications are up to date and that any licence held is still valid.  People working in the health industry or law who are returning after several years away will need to read up on any recent developments in their industry such as new legislation or drugs that have been recently introduced.

Legislation applies to many different jobs from the automotive industry through to teaching, and it is important to check what changes have come in during any absence.

Some industries such as SEO or Web design can change enormously over a comparatively short period of time, and as such it is vitally important to catch up with the latest information.  Reading popular blogs in the run up to your return to work, and keeping track on industry news via services like Sphinn will provide plenty of insight into any changes that you need to be aware of.

The main thing to remember when returning to work after a long break is that while it may be hard to get back into the swing, the msot important thing is to be confident about your abilities.  Too many people who are comoing back into employment do so with fear, and this is often one of the main reasons why they are not given the respect that they should have.  People who are afraid to ask for a job that suits them will all too often find that they are not given the opportunity they need to get one.