Having resigned from my professional career to begin my new career as a stay at home mother for several years I have found it difficult to get on the right track to land a good job. I was not even that picky and still encountered challenges. The truth is that the longer you are out of work, the harder it is to represent yourself in such a way that you can actually get the interview, much less the job.
Prior to becoming a stay at home mother I worked in a medical office for many years. I was good at it and enjoyed it but felt that I was missing out on too much of my children's lives. I subsequently resigned. Little did I know at the time that I would actually be out of the workforce for 9 years! While it was worth more than I could ever explain, I am embarking on a time in my life when I need more than conversations with a 2 year old. More than that, I have to consider the long term. My children are growing up and soon there will be none at home to occupy my time. What will I do then? I might pull my hair out sitting at home alone all day, every day until the weekend. Even then my children will probably be more interested in hanging out with their friends. So I feel it is time to start preparing myself for re-entry into the workplace. It is time for me to invest a little more in me and my future, which includes benefits for my family.
So how do you do it? How do you create a resume, hunt for jobs, interview, and get offered a job when you have been out of practice for so long? I am just beginning the process however I have found some great tips that I am putting into action.
Consider starting out part-time.
Part-time work may not be your first choice however it would be a good way to ease back into the workforce without too much culture shock to you and your family. It gives you a way to begin getting back into the rituals of getting up and out the door for a professional life but also offers you a little more balance than some other full-time jobs would. Perhaps the pay is not what you desire but it is certianly more than you are making from a monetary standpoint than you are making by staying at home full time. In addition, if it turns out to be the right opportunity, it could lead into a full-time job once you are in a position to get more into it.
Consider concentrating on family friendly employers.
Until your children are much older and can take care of themselves more readily there will always be emergencies that can interrupt your professional day. Your family is important and should come first so considering family friendly employers means looking for a company that is flexible and considerate of your position. Home based businesses would be considered family friendly because they allow you to work from home and make your own hours. Employers that offer such things as on-site childcare, lactating rooms, and flex-time are also family friendly. There is a magazine, Working Mother magazine, that publishes a list of family friendly companies across the country. Check out their annual list of the best: http://www.workingmother.com/web?service=vpage/77.
Networking.
Everyone networks, even when they don't realize it. Begin networking with an emphasis on professionalism now. You can start by telling friends and family how much you want to go back to work. Engaging others can help speed the process because you never know what is out there.
Fill in the resume gap.
Make sure you let potential employers know what you have been up to during the time frame you were not in the workforce. Perhaps you took classes or worked on a certification of some sort. Try not to just leave a gap on your resume. If you volunteer at your children's school during the time that you were at home make sure to note it. If you organized any charity functions or support groups, include that detailed information. The idea is that you should make sure you are seen as having been productive.
Convey your confidence.
Do not show any concern about the decision that you made. You want potential employers to know that you are a confident decision maker and that you stand by those decisions. Rehearse an explanation for your time off. You should not have to fabricate, just be confident. Highlight your commitment.
Consider a career change.
Who said that you have to go back into the same field/job function that you were doing prior to your hiatis? Re-entering the workforce is the perfect time to consider doing something you may have always wanted to do or to just in general make a change. You don't have to worry about taking a pay cut to start a new profession at this time. Research jobs that you feel might be of interest to you. Conduct informal Q & A sessions with these people. You might even consider volunteering or temping to get a feel for whether or not a job might be a good fit for you.
Be reasonable and realistic.
You might need to consider a different level position as you re-enter the workforce. If you were a mid-level manager 10 years ago you may no longer be qualified. Be reasonable and understand that you may have to take a step back in order to get back into the swing of things.
Brush up on your skills.
Take some classes. Read some books. Don't just assume that everything you once knew you retained or even that it is still applicable. You need to show that you have been aggressive about keeping yourself sharp by consistently learning. You need to become marketable again.
Interviewing.
While the resume is important, it will only get you in the door and you only have once chance to make a first impression; make it count! Be prepared. Understand behavioral interviewing as it is a popular interview technique these days. Employers want to see how you handled situations; they don't want to hear scripted answers that tell them what you think is the right answer; they are looking for your unique perspective and reaction to a situation. Make sure that you ask questions. Do not just have them go through the interview and end it on a bad note by not asking any questions; this might convey a disinterest in the company. Be confident and ask for the job. Employers today want aggressive employees. Gone are the days of sitting back and waiting for a job to fall in your lap. Follow up with the employer by thanking them for the job, expressing your interest, and letting them know that you are available for follow up.
It is true that getting back into the grind is a chore but certainly nothing that someone who has cared for children can't handle. Mothers and fathers have one of the most difficult jobs in the world: parenting. If you have handled the things that children can throw out at you on a daily basis then you can surely handle the task set before you when looking for a new job.
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