Returner Realities: A Story of Relocation and Career Re-Entry

Hello, I’m Endam, a 36-year-old woman, a proud mother, and someone who deeply values connection and kindness. I love spending time with friends, exploring new cuisines, and discovering new places. As a true Aquarius, I have a zest for life, a love for laughter, and an appreciation for making every moment count.

I began my career in 2011 after earning my degree in Economics from Boğaziçi University. Over the years, I’ve held diverse roles and worked passionately at Reckitt Benckiser and L`Oreal without taking a break until 2022. My journey has been one of continuous growth, adaptability, and a drive to make an impact.

It was quite a spontaneous decision, as I was happy in my role and hadn’t planned to relocate. However, the idea of providing my daughter with a brighter future, immersed in a London environment where she could learn native English, was very appealing. When my husband came across an exciting opportunity here, we decided to embrace it and take this step together as a family.

My daughter was just one year old when we moved. Although I had finished my maternity leave and returned to work before the move, adapting to a completely new environment and lifestyle was overwhelming at first. I also realised that being fully present for my daughter’s early years and witnessing every precious milestone in her growth was an opportunity I couldn’t put a price on. So, I decided to take a career break, and it has now been 2.5 years.

The main reason is simple – I love working! I’m ambitious, goal-driven, organised, and highly motivated. I genuinely enjoy the energy of a professional environment, the collaboration with colleagues, and the sense of accomplishment that comes with it. Now that my daughter has started nursery and I feel more confident in balancing work and family life, I’ve decided to actively explore opportunities and return to the workforce.

To be honest, I’ve been exploring opportunities for nearly a year. During that time, I’ve had a few interviews, but I’ve found that job searching can be quite stressful and requires a consistent, methodical approach. Over the past three months, I’ve adopted a more structured and focused strategy, which has helped me stay more organised and proactive in my search.

For me, the biggest challenge wasn’t the length of my career break, but rather being a non-native, non-British professional without prior UK work experience. In my last role, I worked as a sales manager, and while employers were always kind, they often preferred local candidates for sales roles, understandably, as such positions often require deep knowledge of the local market. This preference, however, has impacted my career path.

Additionally, I’ve noticed that many Turkish professionals here succeed in engineering or IT roles, but finding opportunities in marketing and sales has been more challenging. My accent has also posed difficulties during my job search. While my skills are steadily improving, they’ve sometimes affected my confidence, particularly during interviews.

Balancing job searching with family responsibilities has been quite challenging. While my husband helps with household tasks, I’m the primary caregiver for our family, which adds a significant layer of complexity. Job searching requires energy, focus, and careful planning, which can be hard to manage alongside daily responsibilities.

When my daughter was younger, I could only dedicate time to my job search while she was sleeping, which was exhausting and limiting. Now that she’s a bit older, I’ve started to find more spare time to focus on myself and my job search, which has made the process more manageable.

I felt that my attention to detail and desire for perfection sometimes worked against me. As a member of Generation Y, I tend to focus on mastering every detail, and I feel most confident when I’m fully proficient in a subject. For example, while I have a decade of experience in FMCG, I sometimes feel uncertain during interviews for roles in different sectors, even though I know I’m capable of learning and adapting quickly. It’s something I’m aware of and working to overcome, as I understand that transferable skills and adaptability are just as important.

While there may be a gap in employment, the skills we’ve developed, whether through personal growth, volunteering, or professional development during the break, are still highly relevant. It’s important to recognise that we are adaptable, motivated, and eager to contribute, and the time away has often given us fresh perspectives and enhanced problem-solving abilities.

When reviewing a job description, I first look for strategic responsibilities, opportunities for data analysis, and market research components. Additionally, as someone who thrives on collaboration, I’m keen to see how the role interacts with different departments and how it can influence and impact them.

Yes, I have considered moving industries. Having worked at the same company, L’Oréal, for nine years, I feel open to exploring new sectors and gaining fresh perspectives. While staying within the same industry may seem like the easier path, transitioning to a different sector presents an opportunity to develop new skills and broaden my horizons. After all, who knows what new possibilities could arise?

Yes, I did participate in volunteering and part-time work during my career break. These activities were incredibly beneficial in helping me integrate into a new environment and meet new people. As a newcomer, without these experiences, I would have felt much more isolated and disconnected. Volunteering brought joy and fulfilment into my life, while also enriching my sense of contributing to the well-being of others. I highly recommend volunteering to anyone taking a career break, it’s a rewarding way to stay engaged and make a positive impact.

Motivating, hopeful, rejuvenating.

My job hunting experience has been a mix of hopeful and at times, quite challenging. It’s hopeful because I have confidence in my skills and expertise, and I know that my experience is invaluable. I’m determined to bring my best effort to a new company, which is why I’ve been working diligently to find the right opportunity. However, it can also feel discouraging at times, especially when I don’t progress to the next stage of an interview. It can shake my self-confidence, but I remind myself that the process may take time, and I need to remain resilient. It’s stressful, but I continue pushing forward and stay committed to my search.

During this journey, the most helpful thing would be having supportive people around me who encourage and motivate me, especially when I lose confidence or feel discouraged. My husband and friends have been a constant source of support, always reminding me of my strengths and capabilities. Thanks to their encouragement, even when I forget my own potential, they are there to help me regain perspective and keep moving forward.

First and foremost, ivee has been invaluable in helping me connect with other women who are going through similar experiences. What matters most to me, however, is that as someone who is new to the area and didn’t have many connections, ivee has helped me build a strong network. This has not only boosted my motivation but also significantly increased my self-confidence.

In five years, I envision myself in a role that aligns with my passion and expertise (my ‘dream job’) where I’ve successfully integrated my experience from both Turkey and the UK. I aim to be well-versed in the UK market, work culture, and standards.

Additionally, I hope to inspire young colleagues and emerging leaders by sharing my perspective on work and leadership. I also aspire to reach a position where I can contribute at a more strategic level, influencing the management and direction of a company.