What to Expect at our Return-to-work Events

Oct 2
5 min read

If you’ve been thinking about reigniting your career but aren’t sure where to start, Untapped Potential’s Return-to-Work Events are designed just for you. Whether you’ve been a stay-at-home mom, paused your career for caregiving, or simply want to explore new possibilities, these events offer a welcoming, judgment-free place to begin.

This is for you if you want to explore returning to work but don’t yet feel fully ready, want to learn about an industry you’ve never worked in, or want to practice your elevator pitch in a supportive, professional environment.

It’s completely natural to feel apprehensive about returning to work. Here are a few common concerns—and how to overcome them.

Fear of Being Outdated: Many women worry their skills are no longer relevant. Remember—your life and caregiving experiences bring fresh perspectives and soft skills that are highly valuable to today’s employers.

Flexibility Concerns: Work-life balance is more than a buzzword; it’s a growing priority for companies. Seek out organizations known for flexible and inclusive workplace practices, like the ones featured in Untapped Potential’s Finding Work-Life Harmony panel discussion.

Networking Anxiety: Networking can seem intimidating but think of it as an opportunity to connect and learn—not a high-pressure performance. Everyone you meet at our events understands the journey you’re on.

Confidence Doubts: Confidence grows with practice. Start by rehearsing your elevator pitch and joining discussions during the event. Every interaction helps you rebuild professional ease.

Our events are designed with women like you in mind—educated, experienced professionals ready to reconnect with your skills and reimagine your next chapter. We know that flexibility matters, confidence takes time to rebuild, and community makes all the difference.

In the "Room" - What You Can Expect

Each event is an important step in your return-to-work journey. You’ll gain confidence as you connect with industry professionals, share your skills, and explore how your experience aligns with business needs today.

A typical event agenda includes:

15–20 minutes | Welcome, company introductions, and comments from our Founder and business clients

50 minutes | Informational interview rounds, where you’ll rotate every 5–10 minutes into new breakout rooms on Zoom. These conversations simulate casual coffee chats with industry mentors and potential employers.

10 minutes | Wrap-up and closing remarks

During the one-on-one round robin of introductions, you'll be invited to a private conversation with an industry professional eager to learn about your talents.

When invited to your specific room, simply click on the [button that appears] and you will then be in a room with one industry participant. Following their welcome and intro, you'll start with your elevator pitch. Relax, watch your pace and do not rush. Try to get in one of your STARR stories. You will see a broadcast message from our host notifying you when there 30 seconds remain. End on a positive note! Use their name and thank them for their time.

If at any point, you want to reach the moderator, simply click the [“Ask for Help” button]. In any case, do not leave the room. Even if you are alone for a short time, it is best to use the "ask for help" button v.s. leaving the room.

Following the 30 second warnings, you will see a [BUTTON] inviting you to a new room. Click to accept. You will then be brought to a "participant" room for 2-4 minutes. In that room, you will be with a Mentor and multiple peer participants. It is an opportunity to introduce yourself, meet others in your shoes and get feedback on your elevator pitch. During this period in the participant room, the industry mentors are noting valuable feedback from your discussion.

See a summary of Expectations including links.

How to Prepare

You’ll meet benevolent professionals—leaders who understand the value of life experience and are genuinely eager to hear your goals. Treat each conversation as an informational interview, focusing on your skills, experience, and aspirations rather than your career gap. Remember, your caregiving years have built valuable transferable skills: leadership, time management, problem-solving, and empathy.

Time yourself. Make sure you have your elevator pitch down to 30 seconds with a confident tone and comfortable cadence.

Be ready to share your elevator pitch and at least one project or accomplishment you’re proud of—whether it’s from your prior career or community involvement. We recommend using the S.T.A.R.R. or C.A.R.R. (Challenge, Action, Result, Relevancy) framework to keep your answers structured and impactful.

Try to put both your elevator pitch and one story together in a 3–4-minute exchange mimicking the response of an interviewer.

For detailed guidance, explore Untapped Potential’s skillUP offerings for inspiration on building relevant, modern skills.

You can also visit our workUP page to discover more resources and tools that help you prepare for your event experience.

What Makes This Different

Our events aren’t job fairs—they’re opportunities for meaningful connection. Every conversation is designed to help you grow in currency, confidence, and contacts. The companies you’ll meet are forward-thinking organizations who partner with Untapped Potential because they value diversity, flexibility, and experience.

We encourage Business participants to consider hosting our Candidates they meet in begin a Flexreturn™ Engagement—a 12-week, project-based, mid-career internship that provides a flexible on-ramp back into the workforce. Many launch in this way while other conversations lead to a Direct Hire scenario!

We’ve seen remarkable success stories emerge from these first conversations. One woman began her journey at this very event, took on a Flexreturn Engagement leveraging her past experience and now leads a major initiative in IT delivery for a Fortune 4 company. Another turned her Flexreturn™ Engagement into a Marketing leadership role in the behavioral health sector.

Read more inspiring stories in our Launched Success Stories.

A Few Final Notes

During the event, you’ll stay in your assigned Zoom breakout room until you’re brought back to the main session—no need to click around. If you find yourself alone in a room, stay put; we’ll make sure everyone is placed correctly.

Check out our Do's & Don'ts

We also ask that follow-on communications resulting from introductions (other than LinkedIn connections) be made at the event be coordinated through Untapped Potential, Inc. This ensures we can continue supporting women, advancing businesses, and reigniting careers through our programs.