Resource Signposts
Links to a variety of other resources to support you to get back to work
Follow the links below to find resources dedicated to professionals in your field
These are just a selection. Do look for networks in your area if yours is not represented here.
- Timewise jobs – Part-time and flexible jobs for professionals
- Flexible Working People – Flexible roles posted every day across all levels and disciplines
- 2 to 3 days – Flexible/part-time roles, some professional level
- Mumsnet jobs – Family-friendly jobs from Mumsnet, some professional level
- Working mums – Flexible jobs, some professional level
- MothersMeanBusiness – Part-time jobs (North England focus), some professional level
- Job share pair – Job Share for professionals
- The Daisy Chain – Flexible working platform matching candidates and organisations
- WORK180 – Jobs platform including policies such as paid parental leave, flexible working and professional development benefits before you apply
- DuoMe – Job Share board to find a job share partner and part time, flexible working roles
- WMRecruit – for experienced permanent or contract professional seeking flexible or part time
- boldnewworld.co.uk Offering a range of full and part time jobs and charitable opportunities for Returners, Rethinkers, Rebalancers and Retirers
- Four Day Week Offering jobs that are all flexible in some way. Remote, with reduced hours, flexi-time or, of course, four day weeks
That Works For Me – connecting skilled professionals with remote flexible working opportunities
Recruitment agencies specialising in flexibility &/or returner-focused/’family-friendly’
- Capability Jane – for experienced professional women; flexible, part-time, job share
- Ten2Two – for skilled professionals; flexible, part-time (SE England based)
- The Return Hub – City opportunities for financial services sector returners
- 9-2-3 – Oxfordshire-based agency specialising in jobs that fit around the school run
- Flexibility Working – for experienced professionals; flexible, part-time
- Hurston Eliot – for ex-blue chip professionals; part-time or project work
- F1 recruitment – for marketing and communications professionals; co-run Back2Businessship
- Reignite Academy – for returning lawyers
Recruitment agencies specialising in professional-level interim roles
- Russam GMS – for interim roles
Job board for board-level roles
- Women on Boards – for non-exec and executive roles
- Nurole – recruitment platform for board and senior executive roles
- The Times top 50 Employers for Women
- Working Mums top employers
- Enterprise nation – small business support including start your business in a day courses
- The NextWomen – magazine and advice for entrepreneurial women
- Business Women Scotland – a membership platform providing business advice to women
- The start up donut – resources for start ups
- Google Campus – support for tech start-ups
- Women unlimited – workshops on starting your own business and social media
- Startup Direct – start-up funding, free mentoring and support
- Everywoman – resource for female entrepreneurs and business owners
- Mums Club – business club for mothers with business and franchise opportunities
- Women in business network – business referral network for women
- Business & IP Centre, British Library – information and resources to help you start, run and grow your business
- Zen Business – US site with resources for women in business
- AABRS – small business grants available for women in UK & US
- Business and Development Plans for Disabled Entrepreneurs – information, resources and tools
Success Stories
- Retraining from HR Director to entrepreneur: Barbara’s story (6 year career break)
- Retraining from surveying to after-school club founder: Alison’s story (7 year career break)
- Designated PA – experienced Personal Assistants looking to return to work flexibly, after a break and wanting to work from home.
- That Works For Me – connecting skilled professional freelancers with work opportunities in brilliant UK businesses.
- Freeer – tools and white-labelled solutions to help freelancers.
- Reach Volunteering Opportunities with charities looking for professional skills
- Career Ready: Volunteer to help young people
- Do-it Large searchable database of volunteer opportunities
- Women on Boards Network providing application advice and access to all types of board and trustee roles
- Nurole Invitation only board level online recruitment
- Getting on Board Board-level volunteering opportunities
Voluntary Internships
- Some charities offer voluntary internships, typically 3 months, which are suitable for returners as well as younger people: eg Cancer Research, Red Cross, Barnardos
- Mother & Careers Ltd – Hub for London based parents, includes jobs board, blogs, career advice and events
- Timewise (UK): Advice on returning to work, with a focus on flexibility
- Mum and Career (UK): Website for professional working women, includes articles on return to work
- Working Families (UK): Campaigns for family friendly policies and offers advice
- Smart Works (UK): Interview clothing and coaching for unemployed women. Centres in London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham and Reading.
- Carers UK (UK): Providing support, information and campaigns for carers
- iRelaunch (US): Focus on professional women; wealth of resources including a bank of success stories and specific advice
- Employment Solicitor.com articles on legal issues of women returning to work
- Beyond the School Run (UK) – a website to help parents utilise their skills & talents in the hours available to them
- Passport-photo.online – make a professional photo for your LinkedIn profile
- What Color is your Parachute? – Richard Nelson Bolles: To explore your skills and interests, together with job search advice
- Build your Own Rainbow – Barrie Hopson & Mike Scally
- Working Identity – Herminia Ibarra: Career change case studies
- Back on the Career Track – Carol Fishman Cohen and Vivien Steir Rabin: Manual for relaunchers
- Wander Woman – Marcia Reynolds: for high achieving women who are restless and keep apparently changing direction
- The Career Guide for Creative and Unconventional People – Carol Eikleberry
- What Happy Working Mothers Know – Cathy Greenberg & Barrnett Avigdor
- Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway – Susan Jeffers
- Mind Flip: Take the fear out of your career – Zena Everett
- The Squiggly Career – Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis
- Lynda.com: paid online courses to learn technology, creative and business skills
- alison.com: free online courses including tech updating
- FutureLearn: free online courses from top universities and cultural institutions
- coursera: free courses from 115+ top universities including Yale & Stanford
- edX: free courses from the world’s best universities
- Open Learning: free learning from The Open University
- Udacity: free tech skills from Silicon Valley companies
- Open Culture: list of free Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) from top universities.
- The Digital Garage – free Google training in digital skills & social media
If you have any other resources you would like to add please email us at info@womenreturners.com