How to find a job after being a stay-at-home mom? It is the question many stay-at-home moms ask themselves when they decide to pull their work outfits out of the closet again after taking a break from their careers to put their little ones first.
Returning back into the workforce after a long stay at home to care for children can be daunting for many mothers. But don’t worry! We’ll be discussing some career tips for stay-at-home moms going back to work.
In addition, you can find out common feelings of moms going back to work, belong with our sympathy!
With the proper preparation, a confident look, high patience, and some personal investment, you can get back to a satisfying career in no time.
Why Do You Need to Prepare Carefully Before Back to Work?
By preparing well before assimilating back into the workforce, you will be ready for opportunities when they arise. Besides, it will also help you boost your confidence, reduce anxiety and focus your energy.
Despite what you hear, companies do value candidates returning to work, as these people already have a certain number of years of experience. For them, it means they will not need to re-train from scratch, which costs money and time.
When reentering the workforce, acknowledging the transition is essential, especially if you are changing your profession or field. Even if the change isn’t too drastic, it still requires a thoughtful explanation.
For example, if you no longer hold a license or certification or your field has undergone significant changes that make it impossible to continue pursuing it, you can still apply your existing skills to other fields. You just have to be conscious of which skills to highlight and how they apply to the new opportunity.
How to Find a Job after being a Stay-at-home Mom for 10 or 20 Years?
So how can stay-at-home moms (SAHMs) show their talents and get invited to interviews?
Check out these tips to help you get back to work after 10 or 20 years being a stay-at-home mom:
- Clarify Your Goals as a Stay-at-home Mom
- Review And Update Your Resumes
- Optimize Social Media for Professional Profiles
- Refresh Your Skills Before Getting Back to Work
- Prepare and Practice for the Interview
- Provide a Clear Explanation for Resume Gaps
- Be Patient Is the Key!
Clarify Your Goals as a Stay-at-home Mom
Start by listing your existing wants and needs. The clearer this step is, the easier it will be to narrow down your job openings.
You will also need to consider the type of company and the position you are looking for.
Answer the following questions:
- Part-time jobs vs. full-time jobs: What do you prefer?
- What are your financial goals?
- What type of career growth are you seeking?
- What are your education, skills, training, passions, and experience?
- Do you want to work for others or become a boss?
- What position fits your responsibilities and schedule?
Review And Update Your Resumes
Reviewing and updating resumes is a must for anyone looking for a job. As a SAHM, don’t hesitate to include your non-professional skills and experience, volunteer work, for example. Beyond that, always add notable achievements that might draw recruiters’ attention to your strengths.
While updating your resume, you’ll need to tailor it to the position you’re applying for. If your field is creative, we recommend building an online website to showcase your portfolio and link to it in your resume and on LinkedIn.
You can read this article to prepare all the best for your resume, SAHM:
Optimize Social Media for Professional Profiles
By updating or creating a profile on professional websites, you will grow your network and be visible to various recruiters. LinkedIn is a must to catch and hold a recruiter’s attention.
Build your profile and immediately connect with former employees or employers to follow and target companies or organizations you would like to work for. In addition, they will also help you search for open positions or find posts related to career recommendations.
Don’t discount the value of sites for stay-at-home parents. They often include events, newsletters, workshops, job postings, and success stories that help SAHMs return to work.
Refresh Your Skills Before Getting Back to Work
Every field is changing in some way, so you will need to brush up on your current skills and possibly learn new ones. If you want to pursue a new field, start researching online the skills you need to have to be successful.
To pursue those skills, sign up for classes, certifications, or conferences, including in-person and online.
Books are an inexhaustible treasure trove of knowledge, so why ignore them? Select a couple of books in your field of choice and read (or listen) to them to gain deeper insight into what interests you.
Consider checking out community colleges and business development centers for low-cost or free classes to freshen up skills or gain new ones.
You can also consider volunteering to refresh your talents and fill the employment gap on your resume. Therefore, it is wise to target organizations with volunteer work related to your career field.
Prepare and Practice for the Interview
Once you’ve been invited to an interview, it’s time to practice interviewing skills that will give you confidence and comfort in dealing with questions from employers.
List common interview questions that you can find on Google and practice answering them, even while you’re cooking, doing laundry, or showering.
It is best to ask a friend or family member to do a mock interview with you and ask them to give feedback on your answers, confidence, and body language.
In addition, you also need to visit the company’s website to find out basic information about it, such as industry, tradition, staff, etc. It will show the employer that you are really interested in joining them.
Provide a Clear Explanation for Resume Gaps
When employers ask you about employment gaps, you should be honest in sharing who you are and what you can do. Direct their attention to your experience, skills, and qualifications, and affirm that you are enthusiastic, qualified, and ready to return to work and advance your career.
Don’t forget to focus on your transferable skills. Share contributions you have made in your community, children’s school, or church and how they apply to the new position. In addition, you need to be prepared to explain your decision to leave the workforce, how you stayed engaged during your time away, and the current vision you have for your career.
Be Patient Is the Key!
Finding an ideal position is not easy. It can take several months. Do not expect to see results overnight, and absolutely do not get discouraged.
Apply to various companies simultaneously to increase your chances of landing the job. Think about taking some interviews with positions that aren’t your top pick to practice your interviewing skills for the right one.
Leverage contacts you have to get recommendations and your resume fast-tracked. Remain positive, persistent, and patient.
Final Thought
Hopefully, now you have a better idea of how to find a job after being a stay-at-home mom.
Boulo was created to find jobs for women seeking to return to and stay in the workforce. Visit the Boulo job board to find a job that sounds interesting. The Boulo team will help you get ready for your interview once you’re chosen for an interview. Boulo works with motivated women from all walks of life, with a minimum of 5 years of work experience.
After finding a job, you should prepare all the best for the the next step, choosing job interview outfits for women.
Thank you for stopping by! We know you’ll find the right job soon!