This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Mounika Chinnam, 33, who lives in Andhra Pradesh, India and took a seven-year career break. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
I got my first tech job when I was 23, writing code for a research and development company. I had a postgrad diploma in advanced computing and felt excited to start my career in computer science.
Three years later, in 2019, life was very different. I had left my job shortly after getting married, and given birth to my son prematurely at 32 weeks. As a result, I became a stay-at-home mom.
I felt I could rebuild my career at any age, but my son’s early years would never come back. I prioritized supporting him through his challenges, and my career break lasted seven years.
I didn’t have time to boost my career
My husband and I met through our families in early 2017, and got married later that year. His family was based in a different state, many hours away, and he traveled a lot for work. I didn’t think being far apart would work, so I left my job and he supported us financially.
In 2019, I had my son, and he spent nearly three months in the NICU. Because of his health challenges at an early age, every milestone felt different. As he grew from a baby to a toddler and beyond, he was often sick with colds and fevers. I wouldn’t say he was sicker than other children, but he was very sensitive, and his well-being was my top priority, especially as his father was often away for weeks at a time.
After spending seven years at home, my confidence was very low.Mounika Chinnam
I didn’t have time for upskilling or studying to boost my career. I spent the 12 hours of the day my son wasn’t in school with him. I wouldn’t even say I had my own friends at the time.
My son inspired me to look for work
When my son was around 6 years old, he would ask why I didn’t work like other people. It made me reflect on what I saw for my future. By then, he was at school and I felt he was healthy enough for me to return to work.
After spending seven years at home, my confidence was very low. I wanted a job opportunity that would help me rebuild it. The technology industry had changed significantly during my break, including with the introduction of AI. Returning to this field would require substantial upskilling, so I was open to non-technical roles.
I talked about my experience as a housewife in my job interview
During an interview for a business development associate role at a digital marketing company, I told them I didn’t have any experience in digital marketing, but that I wanted an opportunity to learn. I also requested working hours that would allow me to be present for my son after school. I was nervous, but it felt important to be honest about my career goals and responsibilities as a mother.
The interviewers told me they were looking for someone with managerial skills who could look after the office. I told them that I multitasked to manage my household.
Although I had a lot of questions about whether I was a good fit for the role, they were encouraging and suggested I try it as an intern for two months, starting in June 2024.
I was very happy to be making money again after a long break. One of the first things I bought was a toy for my son.
Sometimes all you need is one chance to prove yourself.Mounika Chinnam
I felt a little strange being an intern at 31, where many of the other employees in full-time roles were younger than me.
My responsibilities were to manage the office, speak to potential clients, and write content. The company had a startup atmosphere, where you could take on multiple tasks, and my teammates were very helpful.
One of our clients was struggling to gain followers on LinkedIn, so I came up with some ideas. After the numbers improved, my employer said I was demonstrating the right skills and offered me a full-time position as a business development lead, starting in August 2024.
Read more career break stories
The right opportunity helped me come back from a career break
If you’ve taken a career break, don’t be afraid of starting small. A smaller opportunity like an internship can be the first step toward rebuilding your confidence and creating opportunities. Sometimes all you need is one chance to prove yourself.
I don’t feel like I sacrificed anything when I decided to focus on raising my child. Today, he’s 7 years old, healthy, strong, and has all the love I showed him during my career break.
Have you taken a career break and would like to share your story with Business Insider? Contact this reporter: ccheong@insider.com
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