Many moms chose to stay at home with their kids, especially during the baby and toddler years. But when the kids grow up, they begin to feel the need to focus once again on their careers. ‘I’ve done everything for my family, now I want to go after my dream,’ they say. Here are some tips for going back into the workforce.
Plan ahead
Unless you have the connections, it’ll be hard to ease yourself back into an industry after several years of absence. So plan ahead. For example, when Linda’s youngest child turned three, she knew she would probably go back to work in about three to four years, ‘after she’s in school.’ While she still stayed at home, she took online refresher courses and volunteered to handle the church newsletter, which she hoped to put in her resume.
Research on possible job openings
Look at newspapers and online job sites for an idea of the types of jobs that are available. Which ones are most interesting to you? What kind of skills do they require? Which seems like a good match for your own personality a
nd background? What classes or seminars can you take to increase your qualifications? You can also look at a certain industry to see what kind of jobs you can find there. For example, if you were a former nurse but don’t want the hours of hospital shifts, consider a career as a medical transcriptionist or as a school nurse. You may also find jobs that let you work from home.
Use your network
Announce on your social networks that you’re on the hunt for a job. Who knows, a friend, relative or former co-worker may know of a possible opening. And see if you can touch base with old colleagues. Sandra, a former sales executive dusted off her old Rolodex and hunted for her former contacts on Facebook. She was able to reconnect with her former boss, who knew of an opening.
Update your resume
If you’re shifting industries, try to see if something you did in your old job may actually help you in the new one. For example, Audrey (a former preschool teacher) applied for a job in customer service call center, and highlighted her exceptional communication skills and patience (after all, many irate customers can act like toddlers!). Look at these templates for job resumes.
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