“Career progression and job satisfaction is not at all about face time or office presence anymore.”

What’s the most exciting part of coming back?

The most exciting and fulfilling parts of coming back are definitely building my confidence and being part of an interesting and exciting environment that’s constantly evolving. There’s a sense of empowerment in knowing that, even though I’ve had a career break, I’m a valuable member of every team. I feel I have a role to play once again, and am supported along the way.

How did Deloitte support your Return to Work?

Deloitte completely removed the stress of coming back to work after an extended break. My line manager and buddy were very welcoming and congratulatory, and both reached out to me before my first day and pre-empted some of the really basic questions I had. The soft skills training we had in the first couple of weeks back helped me realise I still ‘had it in me’ to excel in the workplace. Belief in myself alongside the refresher training was all I really needed to get going. I have a coach and regular feedback sessions to help me raise questions and monitor how things are working.

What does agile working mean for you?

To me, agile working is about getting the job done and meeting deadlines, no matter where and at what time this happens. There’s the utmost respect for each person’s individual circumstances. If I want to work from home one day, or come in early and leave early, or set up regular working patterns to help me successfully juggle and enjoy all the interplays in my life, I’m free to do it and to change it as things change. Career progression and job satisfaction is not at all about face time or office presence anymore. It’s also very helpful that the IT infrastructure and management attitudes completely support this.

"I believe I can be a Director; it’s just a question of getting there.”

If you want it, and you deliver, you can progress as far as you like.

Just go for it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. That’s what I’d say to anyone thinking about restarting their career after a break. We’ve all been there and thought ‘I can’t do it’. But you can. I was considering applying for a part time management role at a pre-school, until I heard about Deloitte Return to Work.

I’d lost confidence; my world had narrowed and I’d lowered my expectations. A friend who’s a career coach told me I shouldn’t limit myself, that there are opportunities out there. She was right. I was one of the eight Deloitte alumni who joined in September 2015. I came back in as a Senior Manager, was offered a permanent role, and am now an Associate Director in Tax Management Consulting. I believe I can be a Director; it’s just a question of getting there at the right time for myself and for the business.

Deloitte offers fantastic opportunities to get back on the career ladder and to get back up to speed. You still have to deliver, but in a more supportive environment.

"Deloitte Return to Work has provided specific training not only enabling me to pick up where I left off, but also to flourish within the organisation."

Why did you chose Deloitte?

Having worked in Financial Services at Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank, I have seen Deloitte from a client perspective and was very impressed by the consistently high standard of delivery. The well-earned industry reputation is that Deloitte is the ‘go-to’ name to create solutions for complex business problems. That delivery, aligned with a commitment to diversity and inclusion made Deloitte my employer of choice.

What’s the most exciting part of coming back?

It’s exciting to broaden my understanding of consulting and leverage my extensive investment banking experience to add value to the team. Deloitte is constantly identifying and responding to our client's needs, which means the portfolio of work is diverse and wide-ranging.

How did Deloitte support your Return to Work?

Deloitte Return to Work has provided specific training not only enabling me to pick up where I left off, but also to flourish within the organisation. In addition to this, Deloitte has provided a readymade network of peers and coaches for me that has accelerated my learning and engagement.

How does agile working work for you?

Deloitte truly promotes agile working through its culture; whether that be inside the office, working from home or flexible working practices. Agile working allows me to work more efficiently and dedicate the best of my energy to my work, my family and myself.

What advice would you give a returner?

Get stuck in! There’s so much going on at Deloitte - you’re bound to find something that matches your skillset and interests. Get out there and meet as many colleagues as you can – Deloitte is a people centric company that embraces the experience you bring to the organisation.

“It’s exciting knowing I can have my career back and have something to aim for."

Tell us about your return to work dilemma

When I had my daughter, I was a senior director at another consulting company. I expected to be able to just go back. But I wanted to work part-time and it was not looked upon favourably. I felt that unless I was prepared to do full-time my career was dead in the water. The only thing I could do at that point was become a contractor, so that’s what I did. But that seemed like treading water; there was no career development. The only other option I had was to wait until my daughter started school and then go back full-time. It just felt like I had to do that before anyone would trust me; start full-time then after about three years it would be OK to ask for a different working pattern. But as far as I was concerned, it would be too late by then.

So what did you decide to do?

The key thing was to figure out my priorities. I knew I wanted to stay in the field, so I did a part-time Masters. When I passed the first year I began researching what was out there. Deloitte’s Return to Work supported hiring just popped up as a window online. At the Insight day I thought: it sounds too good to be true – 4 days a week, agile working, flexible to your childcare needs… and you still have an interesting career? But, as I’ve found out, it’s all completely true.

How have you found the support since you joined?

One of the best things about returning to work through Deloitte is the coaching sessions, they are brilliant. They make this a longer-term opportunity, because they focus your thoughts on your values, what you want out of it, what your priorities are. And there’s a genuine career path for me. It’s exciting knowing I can have my career back and have something to aim for - and that I can do that working four days a week.

"My role has allowed me to reskill technically, refresh IT skills, and re-find the confidence to connect with fellow professionals."

Can you tell us a bit about your background?

I qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte in the Edinburgh Office, then worked in Transaction Services and M&A Advisory in Glasgow. I took a career break to go travelling and raise my children. Then, after eight years, I felt ready to return to the workplace and joined Deloitte through the Return to Work supported hiring in September 2017.

What’s your working pattern like?

I initially returned to work with Deloitte on 4 days a week, so an 80% presence, working one day a week from home.

I have since moved to an Annualised Days basis, which means I work on a 65% presence over a year. This provides me with great flexibility in terms of managing school holiday commitments. My coach and sponsoring partner were instrumental in enabling me to work in such an agile way.

What’s the most exciting part of coming back?

My role has allowed me to reskill technically, refresh IT skills, and re-find the confidence to connect with fellow professionals – something that can be challenging after a career break. Working in Transaction Services means that it’s never the same from one week to the next, and there’s always scope to add significant value for our clients. In March 2018 I started a secondment with the EMEA Learning team, and I have enjoyed the experience of being in a strategic position within the firm.

How is Deloitte different to other organisations?

The culture here is meritocratic, open, engaged and constantly evolving. Deloitte is not just ‘talking the talk’. During my time with the firm, and through the Return to Work supported hiring I’ve met some of the senior leadership team and have seen first-hand their commitment to both meet and exceed client expectations, and to develop and support their employees. I would definitely recommend the Deloitte experience to a new recruit. The firm is able to support and provide opportunities to drive your career forward in many different directions.