Tips for Moms Returning to the Job Market - FlexJobs

Tips for Moms Returning to the Job Market - FlexJobs Tips for Moms Returning to the Job Market Many of the clients who use are working mothers and fathers who are returning to the workforce after a break. In my career, I’ve held executive-level positions for several companies, as well as started two businesses, and when I became a mother, being able to continue my professional passions was incredibly important to me. For all our mom (and dad!) readers returning to the job market after a break, here are my top three tips. Top Three Tips for Moms Returning to the Job Market: 1. Take time to reconnect with your professional persona. You are a “woman returning to work” instead of a “mom returning to work.” Your professional self is the one that should be portrayed to employers, both in your application materials and during the interview process, but it can be difficult to locate and dust off the professional-you, when the parent-you has been in charge for so long. Take some time to return to your professional self. 2. Be honest about why you’re returning to work and what you want to get from your return. Money? Stimulation? Career accomplishments? Your motivations will guide your job search, so it’s incredibly important to know them ahead of time. Along the same lines, think about the types of job arrangements (telecommuting, part-time jobs, full-time jobs) that would be ideal for you given your dual role as parent and professional. 3. Talk regularly with other moms who have gone back to work about their experiences and challenges. There is safety and support in numbers, and speaking to people who have been where you’re about to go will be extremely helpful in plotting your own return to the working world. And, just for good measure, here are some of the most frustrating questions asked of working moms and dads who are returning to the job market. Hopefully this helps parents who are re-entering the workforce to prepare for the less-than-thoughtful side of balancing work and family. 1. Is your career more important than your family? Grrrrr!!! This is wrong on so many levels. 2. How do you let someone else raise your children?- A very one-dimensional and somewhat ridiculous statement to begin with. Simply because a mother works, that doesn’t equate to her renouncing her role in raising her children. There are a zillion examples of wonderful people who were raised with the help of preschools, day-cares, nannies, babysitters, family and friends to care for them. Whether you’re a stay-at-home or working mother, it still takes a village to raise a child. 3. Who cooks for your kids?- Um, have you heard about the multitasking skills of a mother?  My husband and I both love to cook, and we cook about 95% of our meals at home. 4. Do you have to work?- Remember that while financial reasons are probably the most common reason, not all mothers work because they “have” to… they work to fulfill their lifestyle, career, intellectual stimulation, or a plethora of other reasons. Don’t judge. Also, if youre returning to the job market, check out our telecommuting, part-time, flexible schedule, and freelance job listings available in over 50 job categories for all career levels.  Good luck with your search!