Looking to Relaunch Your Career After a Break? This Woman’s Experience is a Must-Read

What were the three most appealing aspects of this job/your company that led you to apply? 

General Motors is a global leader in the rapidly changing transportation industry, and I wanted to be part of a company who is leading the charge.

The Take 2 program was very appealing because it is a career re-entry program, and I didn’t feel like I had to “explain” my career break choice. Knowing that the Take 2 program would provide technical training as well as mentoring and a peer network were other strong reasons why I chose to apply. 

Interested in joining the next cohort? Learn more about the General Motors Take 2 program.

How did the hiring/interview process stand out to you as being a positive experience? 

The moment I stepped into the interview reception area, I immediately received a warm welcome. I felt like they really wanted me to be there, which put me completely at ease. I was greeted by a couple Take 2 Alumni who shared their experiences with me. This interaction greatly reduced my nervousness. The interviewers were very professional, and I felt like I was able to showcase my skill set without having to explain why I decided to take a career break. We focused on my skills and experience.

Tell me a bit about your first day (or week). What kinds of things (whether formal onboarding programs or casual interactions) made you feel comfortable? 

On my first day, I had an orientation where I was able to learn more about the history of General Motors and take a tour of the Renaissance Center World Headquarters in Detroit. Later in the week, our Take 2 Cohort  had an all-day break out session where we  heard from inspirational Take 2 Alumni and various GM employees.. The session was great, and it really boosted my confidence that I could be successful in the program. 

I also participated in a functional (Finance) orientation, I was able to learn more about the roles in finance, as well as hear from financial leaders and be assigned an executive mentor. I felt GM did an extremely good job preparing me for my internship. I understood my role and expectations and was given the tools I needed to succeed. My mentor has been an especially great asset. She is a Take 2 Alumni and it was invaluable to connect with someone who had been through the program before. I felt like I could ask her anything.

Starting a new job can be overwhelming. What have you done or who have you gone to when you’ve had questions or needed help? 

I learned early on that no question is a dumb question. If you have a question, just ask! I have gone to my manager, my director, my Take 2 colleagues and my peers with questions. If they didn’t have the answer, they were able to refer me to someone else who may have the answer.  

What’s something you think most job seekers don’t know about your company that you think they should? 

One of the main reasons I was hesitant to pursue the Take 2 program was that I wasn’t sure if I could be successful in the workforce and have work-life integration. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to put in extremely long hours at the office and worried about the perception that would create. In my current role, the work hours are manageable, and GM has the technology for us to collaborate in many ways which allows for more flexibility. Our team is supportive of each other and understand we all have lives to balance while making sure our work gets done. 

In my opinion, if someone reading this has that same fear, I say just lean in and give it a try. You may be pleasantly surprised by how you can integrate a rewarding career into your life.

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