Relaunching Your Career: Why It Feels So Hard — and How to Move Forward With Confidence

At The Alliance Center, we hear every week from mothers navigating big questions about their careers — especially in the years following maternity leave, caregiving, or other life transitions. Through our recent Career & Caregiving research and focus groups, one thing became clear: so many mothers are eager to move forward professionally, but they want to do it on their own terms — with clarity, confidence, and the right support. This post shares insights and practical guidance for anyone navigating a career relaunch, and introduces our upcoming group coaching program designed to help.

At some point in nearly every professional woman’s life, there comes a career "relaunch" moment. It might follow maternity leave or extended caregiving. It might follow a layoff or corporate restructure. It might arise from a long period of feeling stuck in the wrong role, industry, or workplace culture. Sometimes, it happens simply because life evolves — and the career that once fit no longer does.

In these moments, women often face an invisible but heavy emotional load: self-doubt, imposter syndrome, uncertainty about their value, and logistical questions about how to re-enter or pivot into a new professional chapter.

If you are feeling any of this — you are not alone. And there is a path forward.

Why Relaunching Is So Complex

Career transitions carry emotional, practical, and identity shifts — all layered atop one another. Research shows that life transitions (like welcoming a new child, caregiving, job loss, or major role change) rank among the most disruptive experiences in terms of self-perception and confidence.

Some common hurdles women face in this phase:

• Identity shifts: Moving from full-time caregiver or career break to professional again can create internal tension and external judgment.

• Confidence gaps: Many women question whether their skills and experience are still relevant — even when they absolutely are.

• Structural barriers: Career breaks, non-linear resumes, or perceived gaps can trigger bias in hiring processes.

• Isolation: The "how do I even begin?" feeling is exacerbated by doing it alone without clear tools, language, or community.

• Role redefinition: Particularly after becoming a parent or caregiver, women often need to rethink what kind of professional life they want now — not simply return to the old version.

Practical Strategies for Moving Forward

While every woman’s path will look different, here are several strategies that can help build clarity, confidence, and momentum:

1. Claim the narrative. Don’t hide your career breaks or life transitions — own them as part of your leadership story. Framing these experiences through the lens of resilience, adaptability, and perspective-building is key.

2. Reconnect with your value. Spend time reflecting on your strengths, transferable skills, and leadership qualities. Gather examples — even from outside traditional paid work — that show your problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and leadership in action.

3. Start small but start. The hardest part of a career relaunch is often overcoming inertia. Begin by having one conversation, attending one event, or scheduling one informational interview. Each step builds momentum.

4. Prioritize peer connection. You are not meant to do this alone. Connecting with other women navigating similar transitions provides validation, insight, and motivation. A trusted community is one of the strongest predictors of follow-through during life/career transitions.

5. Invest in support. If possible, engage with coaching, workshops, or communities specifically designed to support career relaunchers. The right guidance can save months of spinning your wheels and help you navigate both the internal and external work of a career transition.

The Good News: You’re In Great Company

At The Alliance Center, we recently conducted a survey of over 100 local women navigating work and caregiving. Among them:

• 78% reported feelings of guilt or overwhelm

• 72% were struggling with focus or presence

• 55% wanted working moms’ support groups

• 38% sought career coaching

• Many expressed deep longing for authentic connection and actionable tools to support relaunch efforts

This reinforced what we see every day: women are eager to invest in their professional growth, but want to do so in ways that honor their whole lives — not just their job titles.

Introducing Our Career Relaunch Group Coaching Program

To meet this need, Ali Caravella at The Alliance Center is launching a new Career Relaunch Group Coaching Program this summer. This program is designed for women navigating:

• Return to work after maternity leave or longer-term caregiving

• Career pivots after extended time in a single role or industry

• Layoffs and corporate transitions

The program will provide:

• Weekly facilitated sessions

• Actionable tools and resources

• Peer mentorship and connection

• Coaching on personal brand, narrative building, and job search strategy

• Support for managing mindset, self-doubt, and life/career balance

If you’re ready to move forward, there are a few ways to get started:

1. Register now for our upcoming Career Relaunch Group Coaching Program.

2. Join our Career & Caregiving waitlist to stay informed about future group offerings if the timing isn’t quite right.

3. Book a free consultation with Ali if you’re interested in exploring 1:1 coaching and want personalized support.

Building Forward, Not Starting Over

Career transitions aren’t just about resumes and job searches — they are about identity, clarity, and designing a life and career that works for who you are today.

Whether you choose to move forward with a community like ours or on your own timeline, know this: you are not starting over. You are building forward — with new strength, new perspective, and new opportunity.

We’re here to help when you’re ready.