Returning to work after children - live Q&A
Research shows that women returning to work as new mothers are likely to take jobs they are overqualified for and underutilised in because low occupational, low paid areas offer the best deal in terms of part time and flexible work. The result is a talented pool of women flung rungs beneath their career ladder capability.
Despite the widespread coverage and debate around smashing the glass ceiling and equality for women in the workplace, little seems to have changed in recent years.
The figures may be recent, but it's not a new frustration. We found an interesting post on The Work It, Mom! Blog which explored the conflicting pull of wanting to return to a former role or profession but the flexibility not being there.
The blog summed the condundrum up neatly with this line: "I like to work, I like what I do, but I just want to be able to do less of it — to work less than full-time."
It's affecting a significant number of women too. According to a survey by WorkingMums.co.uk 90% said they struggled to find flexible work and 83% felt is was hard to find flexible jobs which used their skills.
Research conducted by Women Like Us identified a 'careers advice hole' revealing that of the 1,000 mothers surveyed, many last received guidance when they themselves were children.
There are however many organisations now aiming to fill this gap and support women in retaining their workplace value while managing the demands of a family. If you are a woman ready to return to work, whether going back to an old job or seeking a new one, join our live Q&A Thursday 12 July, 1pm to 3pm for advice and information.
You can also leave your questions now in the comments section below or via an e-mail to kerry.eustice@theguardian.com.
Our panel:
Emma Stewart is co-founder of the social enterprise Women Like Us
which provides careers advice tailored to mothers, helps parents find part-time work they can fit with family, and works with employers to recruit staff from this 'hidden' pool of talent. Emma, a mother of two young children, started Women Like Us after meeting huge numbers of other mothers at the school gates, who wanted to work but faced multiple barriers.
 
Diana Norris is a career coach for Women Like Us. Following the birth of her two children, Diana decided on a career change from financial services and retrained as a career coach. She heads up the advice and support service at Women Like Us.
 
Inger Christensen is a career coach for Women Like Us. She started out in education, then spent five years in the City working in financial publishing. At Women Like Us, Inger specialises in helping women with children find part time work.
 
Julia Yates has worked in the world of careers for 15 years as coach, writer, trainer and service director. She now works as a senior lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of East London and has set up the country's first MA in career coaching. Julia is currently writing The Career Coaching Handbook, due for publication in 2013.
Jill Fernandez is a working mother of two children aged 14 and 11. When she first moved from full time to part time she found that she was expected to do a full time job in part time hours. Finding this very difficult she gave it up altogether. After five years at home looking after the children she returned to another part time role that was able to fit around her family life.
Fiona Severs is director of Lexington Gray, a legal recruitment consultancy which offers lawyers flexible and part-time roles to fit in with their other priorities.
Astrid VanWaveren has a background in marketing and research and is part of the experienced team at Talking Talent, a coaching consultancy that helps women achieve their highest potential.
Rachael Saunders is head of communications for Opportunity Now, the gender campaign from Business in the Community working to accelerate the pace of change for women in the workplace. She has co written major pieces of research on women and leadership and worked on the Davies review on women on boards.
Sarah-Jane Butler is the co-founder of Parental Choice which provides information and advice on flexible working and childcare. Having worked as a lawyer in the City for over ten years, she founded Parental Choice after the birth of her two children when she realised that she wanted to help other parents find the right balance between work and home life.
Rosalind Bragg is director of Maternity Action, a national charity providing information and advice to pregnant women, new mothers and their partners on rights at work and maternity benefits. Maternity Action recently launched the Valuing Maternity Campaign calling for the government to defend maternity rights and protect maternity services.
Liz Morris is director of consultancy and training at Working Families.
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