Financial Feminist 265. How to Make a Career Pause Work for You — Not Against You (with Neha Ruch)
Dec 9, 2025
Neha Ruch, author of The Power Pause, joins to challenge societal myths about career breaks, especially for mothers. She emphasizes that pausing can be a strategic move rather than a setback, offering ways to safeguard finances and skills during caregiving. Neha discusses how to frame the pause on resumes, ways to stay connected professionally, and the importance of viewing these times as temporary chapters. She also shares insights on the financial dynamics within relationships, advocating for clear agreements to maintain dignity when one partner steps back.
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Stay-At-Home Myths Hide Reality
- Cultural stereotypes paint stay-at-home mothers as stagnant caricatures, which misrepresents modern realities.
- Most pauses are temporary and many women plan to return to the workforce with skills and experience intact.
Make Financial Reality Part Of The Decision
- Do factor paid family leave, childcare cost, and remote work flexibility into your decision to pause or return to work.
- Do negotiate work arrangements instead of defaulting to a full-time return if five-day office mandates aren't feasible.
Pause Changes Identity, Not Value
- Identity often ties to paid titles, so pausing work forces people to reframe who they are beyond job labels.
- Neha urges viewing career pauses as additive: past skills remain and caregiving experience adds new capabilities.
