My two-year “retirement” anniversary was celebrated in September 2025 by participating in SWE’s Return to Work Program. While several factors drew me back to wanting to work, the most significant was realizing how much my career had served as a source of confidence.
It was something I excelled at, and stepping away left a gap I hadn’t fully anticipated. After nearly 15 years at the same pharmaceutical company, I wasn’t sure where to begin my return-to-work journey. My résumé was outdated, I hadn’t written a cover letter in 15 years, and I needed to think through how best to communicate my career hiatus.
SWE’s Return to Work Program offered the perfect opportunity to make progress in these areas in a supportive environment alongside other women engineers navigating similar circumstances. The program kicked off with two exceptional SWE mentors who shared their own return-to-work stories. Hearing their experiences immediately helped the group feel less isolated and gave many of us the courage to share about our own hurdles.
We also tackled practical, confidence-building topics such as writing a résumé and cover letter, developing a transition pitch, and pulling everything together in a mock interview. SWE does an incredible job pairing participants with experienced hiring managers who provide constructive feedback, as well as peer mentors who help foster connection and encouragement throughout the process.
As many of us think about New Year’s workout resolutions, this program felt like a boot camp for strengthening the corporate muscles that had atrophied over time. It gave me the kick-start I needed to move forward with confidence.
I’m excited to discover the next chapter of my career, and for anyone wondering where to start, I highly recommend signing up for the next cohort.
Interested in participating in the Return to Work Program? Check out the program homepage to learn more.
