Female marketers are the most likely to freelance, start a business, or work in another field during a career break, recruitment specialist Robert Walters has revealed. Thirty per cent of women in marketing who have taken a career break started a business during their time away from the workforce, compared to 21% of women in other professions; 33% worked in another field, compared to just 20% among professionals in other fields; 33% took on freelance work, while just 17% of professionals in other fields did the same.
Ed Glover, associate director for marketing recruitment at Robert Walters, said: “While many women take a break from the workforce in order to have children, going travelling, caring for relatives or pursuing education are also common reasons for women to take a break from their careers.
“Marketing professionals are often in the fortunate position of having valuable transferable skills which can be applied to a range of pursuits while they are out of the workforce.
“While they may find that conventional full-time hours are unsuitable based on their needs, many women are evidently able to successfully pursue their career in other ways.”
Women in marketing look for work-life balance
The research also revealed that 59% of women in marketing consider moving into a more family friendly industry or career a priority when returning from a career break. Businesses looking to retain women who take a career break, or to attract women returning the workforce into marketing roles, should be aware of the importance these professionals place on an employer that can offer a good work life balance.
Glover continued: “Given the fact that a significant number of women in marketing pursue their career in alternative ways when on a career break, employers have a valuable opportunity to take advantage of this ambition and proactivity by attracting these professionals to their businesses.
“Employers should focus on showing commitment to flexible working policies to attract top professionals from this group.
“The fact that so many women in marketing are able to pursue freelance work or start their own businesses when on a career break demonstrates that when given the flexibility to structure their own working hours these professionals are able to deliver strong results for a business.”
The Robert Walters Attracting and Retaining Women Returning to the Workforce paper surveyed more than 1,000 women from a range of professions across the UK.
