NB This is a sponsored post.
I’ve blogged before about how hard it can be for mums returning to work.
I spent nine years at home as a stay-at-home mum. Yet despite this, I thought I would find a job fairly easily once I was ready. After all, I’d not only kept my computer skills up; but I had also learned a whole new set of skills, as I had started freelance writing for magazines.
Sadly, employers just didn’t seem to recognise or understand that a stay-at-home mum had anything of worth to offer – even though it was evident from my resume and the applications I submitted.
Tips for Mums Returning to Work
Try temping. One way of getting back into the paid workforce, is by getting current experience through a temp agency. It can be a bit of a challenge though, and is not for the faint-hearted, as you will regularly be entering new workplaces, meeting new people, learning new systems. You never get much notice either, which can be tricky when you are managing family commitments as well.
Volunteer. Being able to list a volunteer position on your CV shows that you can commit to a regular task, and gives you an opportunity to master current technology which you may not otherwise be exposed to.
Use Your Contacts. As the saying goes, it’s not just what you know, it’s who you know. Ask around your friends, family, even businesses where you are a regular customer, to see if they know of any available positions. Add your profile to Linked In, or post a status on Facebook to let others know you are looking for new job opportunities … you never know where it could lead!
Time for a career change? Personally, I found my time as a stay-at-home mum gave me a chance to consider a shift in direction in my career path. Before I had children, I fell into finance and accounting type roles – which I hated with a passion. I’ve always preferred words over numbers! I realised that when I returned to the workforce, I wanted to do something that involved writing.
Education, training and short courses. Even a short course will arm you with new skills in your chosen field, plus, getting a qualification under your belt will give you real credibility in the eyes of potential employers.
The best part is, you can prepare for that next stage of your life, before it even arrives. Online courses from accredited providers like Upskilled, mean that you can study at home, in your own time, at your own pace. Mums returning to work may even be eligible for fee help!
I’m a big proponent of online learning; after all, I’ve completed a Diploma of Digital Marketing and an SEO certification online in the last few years. I loved the flexibility of the online learning environment and being able to study when I wanted to.
And the hardest part? Trying to choose which course to do, as there are so many to choose from! From short courses which allow you to try something out; to certificates, diplomas and even degree programs. Get a qualification in areas as diverse as accounting, childcare, counselling and youth work, logistics, human resources, horticulture or retail management.
Imagine how much more confidence you would have in interviews, once you have done some study in your chosen field!
While I’m grateful for the nine years I was able to spend at home with my small children, the reality is most of us spend the majority of our adult lives in the workforce. I’m so glad that I had the courage to seek out and train in a new career path, one that has developed into so much more than I ever dreamed of!
Do you have any other tips for mums returning to work?!
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