Making It Work! How to Effectively Navigate Maternity Leave Career Transitions: An Employee’s Guide is now available for free download. Funded by CERIC, Canada Career Counselling developed this guide for women taking a maternity leave, which is inclusive of maternity, parental and adoption leave, and equally applicable to women who are experiencing their first or subsequent maternity leave career transition.

Women make up approximately 50% of Canada’s labour force. Of the working women who do become mothers, 90% will take a maternity leave. However, 36% of new mothers feel that taking maternity leave negatively impacts their opportunity for promotions, career development and career progression. This user-friendly resource is meant to be a self-directed tool that women use to tailor specific strategies to their career needs.

The guide covers:

• The business case: Knowing how to communicate your value in the workplace
• Understanding your career style and changes in work/home life
• Before, during and after maternity leave (e.g., exit interviews, comeback coaching, combatting “imposter syndrome”)
• Strategic return-to-work plans, including seeking mentorship or sponsorship
• Customizing career plans with flexible work options (telework, job-sharing, mompreneurs)

It follows the recent publication of the companion resource Making It Work! How to Effectively Manage Maternity Leave Career Transitions: An Employer’s Guide. Both the Employee and Employer guides are expected to be available for purchase in print or ebook via Amazon.ca and Chapters.Indigo.ca or contact sales@ceric.ca for bulk orders of 10 or more.

Plus, register for a free interactive webinar with the authors of the guides, taking place on Tuesday, September 27, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm ET. This webinar would be of interest to pregnant, adoptive and employed mothers – and the career professionals who support them.