Why I applied for a Return-ship

Jannaeé Sick
Aug 31, 2018 · 2 min read

I am on a journey of re-entering the workforce. One company recently posted job offerings for a “Return-ship” essentially opportunities for professionals who have taken an extended leave from their careers for a variety of reasons. This particular company requested that I submit an essay explaining why apply for their return-ship? I put a bit of my soul into this essay and I may be sharing more than I should with the world, but nevertheless I have decided to share this with you.


“Thank you for asking the question ‘Why are you applying for a return-ship?’ Although the journey was arduous the answer itself is simple — I am hungry. My hunger started as a subtle rumbling in the pit of my being or rather comfort-ability in being content. With time and tribulation those rumblings morphed into a deafening howl that shook me to my core. I crave the opportunity to resume the track I left years ago in order to achieve professional fulfillment. I am someone who does not stand by to be handed a dream on a silver platter. I am applying to this return-ship, because I want to show you what I am made of. I am driven, highly adaptable and motivated to succeed in this next phase of my life and I believe I would be a great asset to your company.

After encountering a slew of struggles during my 4 year career break, I have arrived to a new stage in life. I have grown into someone who is comfortable knowing that I am no longer a young fresh face from college. I do not take much for granted and realize I cannot passively wait for a golden opportunity to find me. During my career break I survived a challenging pregnancy ending with the premature birth of my son and eventual dissolution of my marriage. However, the process of returning to work has somehow proved to be more taxing.

During interviews, I have been told that the gap in my career posed me as “a risk”. A younger version of me would have withered away at this slight but today, I transform rejection and criticism into an opportunity to improve myself. I have learned how to balance motherhood while increasing my marketability as a Front End Developer. I have even managed to secure one of 1,500 scholarships from Google that has allowed me to become current in emerging web technology and standards. I have spent hundreds of hours coding, participated in open source conferences and connected with like minded professionals as a means to learn from collaboration.

Today, I am ambitious and committed to becoming the best version of me. I believe my grit, ability to adapt, my technical skills paired with life skills will make me a valuable asset to your company. I am hungry for a chance to show you what I am made of and join your team at your company. Again, thank you for giving me a chance to share my journey.”

Jannaeé Sick

Written by

Graphic Designer/Web Developer/Illustrator

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