AWIS Webinar
Returning to STEM After a Career Break
Led by: Caroline Sangal, PhD, SHRM-CP
Thursday, January 21, 2027
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
About the Session
Have you ever wondered if too much time has passed to go back? Worried your field moved on without you? Caught yourself explaining a gap before anyone even asked? Or looked at a job you would have been perfect for five years ago and quietly closed the tab?
You are not alone, and it is not too late.
Career breaks happen for every reason: caregiving, layoffs, health, burnout, or a choice that made complete sense at the time. Whatever the reason, the same question tends to surface eventually. Can I still come back?
Dr. Caroline Sangal knows this from three directions. She was laid off while pregnant with her second child, stayed home for years, and was convinced her PhD had gone to waste. She then returned to industry as an executive recruiter, spending years on the other side of the desk watching what actually moves a hiring decision. And she has since coached many professionals through their own returns, some who planned the break and some who never saw it coming.
Key takeaways
• What a career break actually signals to a hiring manager, which is rarely what returners assume
• How the path back differs when the break was chosen versus when it was not
• Language for describing years spent caregiving, volunteering, or rebuilding that lands with the person deciding
Speaker
Dr. Caroline Sangal, PhD, SHRM-CP, is the founder of Next Success, LLC, where she helps professionals navigate career transitions, develop their strengths, and find greater fulfillment in their careers. She holds a PhD in Polymer Science from the University of Akron and brings more than a decade of experience in industrial chemistry and over eight years in executive recruiting, where she was consistently recognized as a top performer. Caroline is also an American Chemical Society Career Consultant, a certified Highlands Consultant, and host of the Your Next Success podcast. Drawing on her experience as a scientist, recruiter, and career coach, she offers a unique perspective on career development and the hiring process.
Zoom captioning and a video recording will be available.
This webinar is $29 for non-members. (Not a member? Join AWIS for free webinar registration and access to other great resources!)