Trying to restart my career after a maternity break — is it still realistic to get a Python backend job?
Hi everyone,
I wanted some honest advice.
I have around 5 years of experience and took a maternity break after leaving my job in 2024. Now I’m trying to restart my career and move into Python backend development.
For the past several months, I’ve been studying DSA, SQL, FastAPI, APIs, backend concepts, and building Python projects on my own. I’ve also solved 200+ LeetCode problems and have been practicing consistently.
But honestly, the job market feels very discouraging right now, especially with a career gap. Sometimes I feel worried that recruiters may reject my profile because of the break before even checking my skills or projects.
I just wanted to ask:
Is it realistically possible to get a backend/Python job after a maternity break?
Do personal projects and DSA prep actually help in getting interview calls?
What would you focus on if you were in my position?
Would really appreciate honest advice from people in the industry.
Thanks.