CLAIRE SMITH was Office Manager when she took maternity leave the first time after working for Core Talent for 5.5 years. She is now back as Business Support Officer, a role she has held for the past 4.5 years

 “Keeping in touch when I was on maternity leave was particularly important to me.

I was in regular contact with both Directors and the Senior Administrator and we had many conversations about what role I would do when I returned.

Obviously, my role then was very different to the sales’ team so it wasn’t as straightforward as going back to recruit. I was offered my old role as Office Manager – another member of staff had stepped up in my absence – but I came to the decision that you couldn’t do that role working three days a week so became Business Support Officer instead.

While my family is now my top priority, I had a really lovely welcome from everyone and it was great to be back at work.

The firm was happy to accommodate me by working around my new family with a different working pattern. Shorter working hours and shorter days really helped, especially early on.

These have increased over time as my daughter is now in high school but I still work school hours so I can see her off in the mornings and be home shortly after she arrive back. This gives me a great work/life balance.

Coming back to work, I was anxious about leaving my daughter with nursery or family members but, after a short while, I ‘got over it.’Having the flexibility with working hours, though, was, and still is, a godsend.

Core Talent is one firm which supports working mums. They understand the additional stress we face due to our ‘two’ jobs. They offer great flexibility and support women in having the ability to combine a career with the responsibility of raising children.”