That Voice That Says "Will I Even Remember How to Do This?"

You've been away from work for a while.

Maternity leave. Caring for family. Travel. Health. Whatever the reason, there's been a gap.

And now? That voice won't shut up.

"Will I even remember how to do this?"

"Technology moved on while I was away."

"My colleagues will realize I'm a total fraud."

"Do I even deserve to go back?"

If that sounds familiar, you're not imagining it.

70% of people experience imposter syndrome when returning to work after time away. It doesn't matter how competent you were before. That voice shows up anyway.

Why This Happens

Returning to work after a break triggers every self-doubt mechanism humans have.

You're stepping back into an environment that kept moving without you. You're comparing your uncertain present to your confident past. You're imagining your colleagues have it all together while you're scrambling to catch up.

The voice gets louder because the stakes feel high. What if you can't keep up? What if you forgot more than you realize? What if they see through you?

But here's the thing about that voice: it's fear disguised as realism.

What That Voice Gets Wrong

You didn't forget how to be competent.

You didn't lose your professional judgment. You didn't suddenly become incapable of doing the work you did well before.

You're out of practice. That's different.

Out of practice is fixable in weeks. Actually incompetent would take years to rebuild.

The professionals who return successfully don't wait for confidence to show up. They rebuild it through preparation.

What Preparation Actually Looks Like

Confidence doesn't come from affirmations or mindset work. It comes from having a plan.

Strategic positioning: How do you talk about the gap honestly without apologizing for it? What skills did you maintain or gain during time away? How does your experience translate into current market language?

Skills refresh: What changed while you were out? What do you need to brush up on? What technology shifted? (Usually less than you think.)

Clear direction: What type of role are you actually looking for? Full-time or part-time? Same field or pivot? What matters to you now that might not have mattered before the break?

Most people I work with think they need months to get ready. They don't.

Clarity on direction: 2-3 weeks.

Resume and LinkedIn positioned: 2-3 weeks.

Interview-ready: 2-3 weeks.

The gap isn't the problem. The lack of a plan to address it is.

What Actually Helps

Stop waiting to feel ready. You won't feel ready until you're back in it.

Own the gap instead of apologizing for it. "I took two years to care for family. During that time, I managed a household budget, coordinated multiple schedules, and handled complex logistics. I'm ready to bring that organizational skill back to [field]."

Position your experience clearly. You're not "trying to get back into it." You're a [role] with [X years] of experience who took time for [reason] and is now positioned to [specific value you bring].

Prepare strategically, not perfectly. Update your resume with current formatting. Refresh your LinkedIn. Research what's changed in your field. You don't need to know everything. You need to be prepared enough.

The professionals who come back strong? They don't wait for confidence. They build it through action.

If You're Stuck

That voice saying you're not ready? It's lying.

You're not a fraud. You're out of practice. That's fixable.

Most people I work with have their positioning and plan ready in 2-3 weeks. Then they're back in it.

Book a free 30-minute discovery call. We'll figure out exactly where you're stuck and what needs to happen next.

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