Career Break Research Articles

Using a blended learning approach to support women returning to STEM

ABSTRACTThis paper examines a blended learning model designed to support women returning to STEM after a career break and its delivery in a unique partnership between an online distance education provider and a community-based equality organisation. Through this partnership additional activities such as networking events, returnships, career clinics and webinars were used in conjunction with a structured online Badged Open Course (BOC), which enabled a successful return to employment for many of the participants. This article outlines the results and implications of this integrated model and argues that blended learning approaches need to be flexible and adaptable to be able to incorporate the needs of learners at different life-course stages, taking into consideration gender and other diversity characteristics.

Adverse employment histories and health functioning: the CONSTANCES study.

BackgroundWith changing employment histories in European labour markets, occupational health research needs to be supplemented by an approach that integrates adverse characteristics of entire employment histories, in terms of precarious, discontinued and disadvantaged employment careers. We analyse associations of adverse employment histories and six measures of health functioning, including affective, physical and cognitive functioning.MethodsWe use baseline data from the CONSTANCES study with detailed retrospective data on previous employment histories that are linked to current health functioning among people aged 45–60 years (men = 15 134; women = 16 584). The following career characteristics are assessed (all referring to careers between ages 25 and 45 years): number of jobs with temporary contracts, number of job changes, number of unemployment periods, years out of work, mode occupational position and lack of job promotion. The measures of health functioning range from depressive symptoms, standing balance, walking speed, lung function, to verbal memory and semantic fluency.ResultsFor both men and women, multilevel regressions (participant nested in health-examination centre) revealed that adverse employment histories are associated with poor health functioning later on, in particular persistent disadvantage in terms of low occupational position, repeated periods of unemployment and weak labour-market ties (years out of work). Findings remain consistent after excluding respondents who had a health-related career interruption or already retired before age 45 years and, additionally, after adjusting for age, partnership and education.ConclusionFindings call for increased intervention efforts among more disadvantaged groups of the labour market at early-career stages.

Views of UK doctors in training on the timing of choosing a clinical specialty: quantitative and qualitative analysis of surveys 3 years after graduation

BackgroundWorkforce studies show a declining proportion of UK junior doctors proceeding directly to specialist training, with many taking career breaks. Doctors may be choosing to delay this important career decision.AimTo...

Women in Science Awards

Women in Science Awards

NMC rethinks return-to-practice rules

The Nursing and Midwifery Council is consulting on plans to make it easier for nurses to return to practice after a career break.

Teacher recruitment: reflections from Ireland on the current crisis in teacher supply

ABSTRACTTeachers are widely recognised as the most powerful determinants of pupil achievement. Those countries considered to have high-performing education systems, such as Finland and Singapore, have prioritised investment in initial teacher education. In the Irish context, teacher education programmes have been high-status, over-subscribed, attracting a very high calibre of entrant. However, in the last two years, a bifurcation in the pattern of teacher recruitment and retention has emerged – while primary level teaching has retained its popularity, high numbers of primary level teachers are taking extended career breaks. In contrast, there is evidence of a reduction in numbers applying for second-level teacher education programmes, as well as a shortage in key subject areas, creating a ‘crisis’ in teacher recruitment and retention. This case study resonates with the international discourse on the topic, and an analysis of issues within a small educational system as is found in Ireland throws into sharp relief new perspectives on the contested international strategies being implemented to increase teacher supply.

The Relationship between Career Resilience and Career Preparation Behavior on Career Interrupted Women : The Mediating Effect of Emotion Regulation Ability and Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy

The Relationship between Career Resilience and Career Preparation Behavior on Career Interrupted Women : The Mediating Effect of Emotion Regulation Ability and Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy

Parental leave length, social norms, and female labor market re-entry frictions

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the role of employers in creating employment gaps among women returning to the labor market after parental leaves of different durations.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use a controlled correspondence field experiment that orthogonally manipulates parental leave length and the quality of fictitious female job candidates. The experiment is complemented with a survey among human resource managers.FindingsHigh-quality candidates receive more interview invitations when applying after a short parental leave, while low-quality (LQ) candidates receive more interview invitations when applying after a typical three years long parental leave. Survey results suggest that the difference in invitations between short and typical leave treatments is driven by a social norm that mothers should stay home with children younger than three. Productivity gains from employing a LQ job applicant with a shorter career break might not be high enough to outweigh the adverse social norm effect.Social implicationsThe presented results point toward the strong effect of prevailing social norms on job search prospects of women returning to the labor market after parental leave.Originality/valueA correspondence experiment has not been used before to study the relationship between time spent on leave and the labor market prospects of mothers. It also extends research on social norms to the domain of hiring decisions.

WVS ‘Return to Work’ surgical courses: double benefits

‘Return to work’ surgical courses, run by Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) in Thailand, have double benefits: providing a valuable service in the local region, while enabling veterinary surgeons who are returning to work after a career break to re-familiarise themselves with surgical skills in a supportive environment.

The Possibility and Occupational Characteristics that Humanities College Graduates are Employed in a Science and Engineering Field Occupations

이 연구의 목적은 이공계 현직자가 인식하는 인문계 대졸자의 이공계 직업으로 취업 가능성을 탐색하고, 이에 대한 직업 특성의 관련성을 파악하는 데 있었다. 이를 위하여 ‘맞춤형 취업지원을 위한 직업지표 연구(2017)’에서 이공계 현직자 2,600명이 응답한 데이터를 활용하여 기초통계분석, 상관분석, 위계적 다중회귀분석을 실시하였다. 주요 연구 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 인문계 대졸자의 이공계 직업으로 취업 가능성은 정보통신 및 제조ㆍ가공 분야의 일부 직업을 제외하고는 낮은 수준이었다. 둘째, 인문계 대졸자의 이공계 직업으로 취업 가능성에 영향을 미치는 직업의 특성은 입직 시 학력의 중요성이 낮고, 전공의 중요성이 낮고, 자격증의 중요성이 낮고, 직업훈련의 중요성은 높으며, 경력단절 이후 복귀가 용이하고, 양성평등 수준이 높으며, 근무 환경이 쾌적하고, 고용 유지도가 높으며, 자영업으로 수행하기에 적합하고, 일자리 수가 증가 등의 모습을 보이는 것으로 나타났다. 이 연구의 결과를 토대로 인문계 대졸자의 취업을 지원하기 위한 직업적인 측면의 방안으로 세부 직업 분야와 특성을 감안한 정책 설계 접근, 인문계 전공자의 강점을 살릴 수 있는 세부 직업의 발굴과 융합 직업의 개발 등을 제언하였다. 이 때 이 연구에서 밝힌 인문계 대졸자의 이공계 직업으로의 취업 가능성과 직업 특성 요인들의 관련성에 대한 정보가 유용하게 활용 될 수 있을 것이다.The purpose of this study was to investigate the employment possibility of the humanities college graduates to science and engineering field occupations, and to identify the occupational characteristics related to employability perceived by workers. To do this, basic statistical analysis, correlation analysis, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis were conducted using the data surveyed on 2,600 workers in the science and engineering field in the ‘Research on Korean Occupational Index for Career and Employment Service(2017)’. The main results are as follows. First, the employment possibility of the humanities college graduates to science and engineering field was low, except for some occupations in the information communication, manufacturing and processing fields. Second, the occupational characteristics affecting the employment possibilities of the humanities college graduates to science and engineering field are as follows: low importance of the final education, low importance of the major, low importance of qualification, high importance of vocational training, easy to return after the career break, high level of gender equality, high level of pleasant work environment, high employment retention, easy to self-employment or start-up, and increasing number of jobs. Based on the results of this study, to support employment of humanities college graduate from the occupational aspect, it is necessary to find out some detailed jobs or to develop convergence occupations. At this time, it is possible to utilize the occupational characteristics factors that increase the employment possibility of humanities college graduates to science and engineering occupations.

Doping risk and career turning points in male elite road cycling (2005–2016)

ObjectivesDetermine whether career paths of elite male professional riders explain the risk of being sanctioned for an Anti-Doping Rules Violation through the International Cycling Union. Design, methodsA discrete-time logit model explored the link between career path and ADRV risk in a database of 10,551 riders engaged in the first three world divisions (2005–2016), including 271 sanctioned riders. ResultsDespite a longer career (7.8years), sanctioned riders have a precarious path. The odds of finding a sanctioned rider within those who experienced a career interruption is 5.80 times higher than for a non-caught one. 61% of the caught riders have experienced a team change. The odds of finding a caught rider within those who experienced such a change is 1.35 times higher. 44% of caught riders start before 23years, vs 34% for non-sanctioned ones. The odds of being sanctioned are 1.69 times higher for doped riders beginning before 23. The odds of finding a sanctioned rider are 1.94 times higher among those starting their careers before 2005 (establishment of Pro Tour), than those who started in 2008 or after. In that year, the Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation and the biologic passport were both launched. ConclusionsCaught riders could have extended their more precarious careers with doping. The post-2005 generation effect could mean that riders are cleaner or slicker at hiding doping. The higher risk of being caught for riders starting after 23 might indicate that an early professional socialization reduces the risk by teaching them to be cleaner, or better at hiding doping.

경력단절 기혼여성의 재취업 경험에 관한 현상학적 연구 : 노인 놀이치료사 과정 참여자들을 중심으로

본 연구는 현상학적 연구방법을 사용하여 경력단절 기혼여성들의 학습참여를 통한 재취업경험이 이들에게 어떤 도움을 주고, 이런 경험이 삶에 어떤 의미를 갖게 하는지 알아보는 것을 목적으로 한다. 연구를 위해 K대학 평생교육원에서 실시한 시․구․군 사업의 일환인 경력단절 기혼여성들의 학습참여를 통한 재취업프로그램(노인 놀이치료사 과정)에 참여한 25명 중 8명을 대상으로 심층 인터뷰를 실시하였다. 연구 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 경력단절 기혼여성들이 학습참여를 하게 된 동기는 ‘잃어버렸던 자신을 찾고 싶은 갈망’에서 시작되었다. 둘째, 프로그램 참여과정을 통해 자존감 상실을 극복하고 ‘할 수 있다’는 자신감을 회복하였다. 셋째, 참여 후의 결론은 학습을 통해 노인놀이 치료전문가가 되기 위한 새로운 도전을 시도하게 되었고, 재능기부 실천을 통해 어려운 이웃을 돌아보는 마음을 갖게 되었다. 이러한 연구 결과를 토대로 추후 경력단절 여성들의 재취업을 위한 학습참여 프로그램의 확대와 경력단절 기혼여성들의 역량개발을 위한 평생학습 프로그램 연구의 필요성을 제안하는 데 본 연구의 의의가 있다.

Does distance matter? A study of married Indian women professionals staying away from families to pursue higher studies

‘Return to school’ for enhancement of career is considered a means to career mobility. However, if ‘return to school’ is chosen after a certain stage it has its own costs and challenges. It becomes more complex, especially for women, if geographical distance from family becomes an additional variable to it. Present study, grounded in Indian context, examines married Indian women professionals, who opted for geographical separation from their families (including, in some cases, infants and small children) to pursue higher studies. The study explores what spurs well-qualified married women professionals to take a career break and join a rigorous educational programme which requires them to stay away from their families for a substantial time. Key themes that emerged from the study can be categorised as motives: dissatisfaction with work situation, need for skill enhancement, and an urge to develop one’s own identity; facilitators: support and encouragement from spouse and other family members and age; challenges faced: psychological turmoil, strain on relationships, and financial stress.

Remembering, Reflecting, Returning: A Return to Professional Practice Journey Through Poetry, Music and Images

Our composition brings together poetry, music, images and personal narratives based around the experiences of an occupational therapist, Karen, who following a family career break, returned to her profession. Our work demonstrates collaborative research practices and illuminates our experiences and journeying as practitioner-artists/researchers/teachers.This autoethnographic inquiry employs bricolage, drawing on theory and hybridized methods, inspired by the notion of ‘returning to practice’. The conversations of Karen and Katherine (mentee and mentor) as qualitative data, analyzed, interpreted and made accessible through poetry and images – along with Peter’s musical and autobiographical compositions – explore possibilities to re-examine and share alternative avenues of scholarship and theoretical understanding, not least in redefining what contribution to knowledge that artistic processes and ‘artwork’ makes methodologically, pedagogically, aesthetically, and therapeutically. Our intention is to engage the reader-viewer-listener to (re)think, take notice, disrupt, re-examine and extend personal meanings about return to practice journeys, enabling each of us to benefit and be (re)inspired.We recast aspects of ‘knowing and experience’ metaphorically, to consider and express our sense of being and becoming in the world. Importantly, we seek to explore how arts informed ways of knowing and learning about the self and other can serve to enhance our students/researchers/practitioners learning experiences.

Challenges faced by women professionals in seeking job after a career break in IT companies in North India(Delhi/NCR)

Many studies have been attempted, to examine the extent of women's participation in Indian workforce and their growing contribution towards the country's economic progress. Their contribution, as proved in these studies, is substantial but also ridden with issues and one of them being career breaks due to personal commitments. This domain has attracted little attention by Indian corporate houses and even policy makers and friendly workplace/policies are yet to be initiated, for such women professionals. This study aims to review the current status of hiring women, after a career break, in Indian IT and IT enabled companies and focus on the reasons for them taking a break from career. A survey of fifty women employees, in Delhi-NCR, was carried out, which revealed that health issues, marriage, child care, elder care and spouse relocation were among the major causes of career break. Lowered/same scale of remuneration, health issues, and need for re-skilling were some of the issues, faced by women seeking employment, after a career break in this sector.

General Pharmaceutical Council needs a 'career break' category

General Pharmaceutical Council needs a 'career break' category

Why do GPs leave direct patient care and what might help to retain them? A qualitative study of GPs in South West England

ObjectiveTo identify factors influencing general practitioners' (GPs’) decisions about whether or not to remain in direct patient care in general practice and what might help to retain them in that...

Professional development

The BSAVA provides a structured bank of online resources around professional and clinical skills for the veterinary profession. Whether you are a new or recent graduate, returning to work after a career break or an employer supporting a newly qualified graduate in your practice, the comprehensive resources have been designed to maximize learning and development opportunities. This report features the experiences of two newly qualified vets and how the PDP matched resources can help for a smooth transition into practice life.

Christine Heading: career breaks, freelancing and following your gut

Christine Heading: career breaks, freelancing and following your gut

The Effects of Career Identity and Social Support on the Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy of Career Interrupted Women with Experienced on Beauty Education

The Effects of Career Identity and Social Support on the Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy of Career Interrupted Women with Experienced on Beauty Education