A Mother’s Guide to Rejoining the Workforce

This post was written by Frankie Wallace.

Being a stay-at-home mother is a full-time job. However, it’s becoming more common for mothers across the country to find purpose in their careers. You may have stepped away from the workforce to take care of your family, but perhaps you’re itching to climb the ladder again and rejoin the workforce.

Unfortunately, you might not be able to pick up where you left off right away, especially if you haven’t been working for several years. You also undoubtedly have different priorities today than you did when you left the workforce. You’ll want a career that allows you to put your family first and strike a healthy work-life balance.

While it can be difficult to find that perfect job when you’ve been absent for a while, it’s not impossible. Let this serve as your guide to rejoining the workforce after being a stay-at-home mom for a while. The more you prepare yourself for the experience now, the easier it will be to make the right moves and find a job that fits your needs.

Decide What You Want

Before you start actively searching for a new job, it’s essential to focus on what you want. There’s something driving you to return to the workforce. Understanding what that is can help you determine the role you’re looking for and the kind of environment that will work for you.

Start by asking yourself a few questions about why you want to jump back in. A career self-assessment is a great way to learn more about what you want and why you want it. Consider your answers to some of the following:

• What kind of schedule do you want?
• What are your financial goals?
• What are your passions?
• Do you have specific skills that would be useful for certain career paths?
• What kind of growth are you looking for?
• Do you want a traditional job, or do you want to be your own boss?
• Are you open to remote work?

When you’re able to decide on the type of job and environment you’re looking for, you can narrow down your job search. If you find a position of interest, research the company. A positive corporate culture is important for everyone, but it’s especially crucial for mothers who might need to leave work early when their child gets sick at school, or those who need to take a day off here and there to stay home with their kids. You can learn a lot about a business by looking for employee reviews and taking note of how they describe their company culture online.

Prepare Yourself and Your Resume

One of the greatest challenges you might face as you look to get hired is explaining gaps in your career. It’s good to be as transparent as possible with prospective employers, so don’t be afraid to tell them about your choice to be a stay-at-home parent. However, follow it up with the skills and experience you previously held in your career, as well as any new skills your “career” as a parent has given you, including:

• Time management
• Communication
• Organization
• Problem-solving

If you want to get noticed by employers, the first step is crafting a professional CV. Take your time as you’re putting it together. Reflect on who you are, what you stand for, and how you want to grow in your new career.

While you don’t need to list every job you’ve held in the past, be sure to focus on the experience you’ve gained in similar positions to the ones you’re applying for now. Be as clear and concise as possible so every employer knows exactly what to expect from you.

If it’s been a while since you’ve put together a resume, consider using premade templates to get started. However, make sure you’re not simply copying text from somewhere else. Your resume should be unique if you want to stand out from other applicants.

Practice Self-Care

Research has shown that working mothers spend up to 80 hours a week on work and home responsibilities. About 60% of working parents have to spend their nights and/or weekends catching up on extra work, leaving little free time to relax or enjoy their children. If you do decide to rejoin the workforce, make sure you’re not compromising your general well-being.

Self-care is important for every parent, but it becomes a necessity when you’re trying to balance a schedule and keep a healthy work-life balance. Take frequent breaks, find ways to de-stress, and try to stick to a daily routine as often as possible. When you prioritize your health and your family, you’re less likely to feel burnt out by your career.

While rejoining the workforce can be a challenge, if it’s something you’re passionate about, you can truly have it all. Keep these suggestions in mind as you start your job hunt, and you can find fulfillment in a new career while setting a positive example for your children.

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