Career Connections
Colleen's Career Corner
For the past 7 years I have been a stay-at-home mom to two wonderful children. I am thinking about jumping back into the workforce again in the next year. Do you have any tips for starting the process? — submitted by Shelly '96
It can be a hard transition from stay-at-home mom or dad to working parent. Before you start the job search process, take some time to look at what is going to be important to you in your next job. How much do you want / need to earn? What kind of schedule are you looking for? What kind of work atmosphere do you want to be in? Do you want to continue in your previous career or do something new? Where can you be flexible and where are you not willing to compromise?
If you are not sure if your skills are current enough for today’s workplace, use your network to find industry contacts and set up a few informational interviews. Talking to people currently in the field will give you a good idea if you need to update your skills before returning to work. Consider doing resume-quality volunteer work. Look for a volunteer position where you can use the professional skills you wish to enhance. Additionally, read current literature in the field, contact professional associations for additional resources and attend networking events.
Once you start to put together your resume, you will be faced with the obvious fact that there is a gap in your employment history. Employers will see that gap and wonder why you were not working. Honesty is the best policy in this case. You can either have on your resume something as simple as “2003-2008: Full-time homemaker” or “2004–Present: Full-time mom/dad and volunteer”, or add a line to your cover letter explaining that you are returning to the workforce after staying home to raise your children. Most employers understand a parent’s need/desire to stay at home with young children and then re-enter the workforce.
It can be difficult and scary to return to work after any hiatus, but it is far from impossible. Brush aside your fears, tap into your network, ask for help when you need it, and start looking forward to where your new career will bring you.