If you’re a stay-at-home mom planning on returning to work, you’re probably wondering how to jump back into the work force after such a long hiatus. I totally get it.
Two years ago I made one of the toughest decisions of my life. I decided to quit my full time TV job. With our daughter heading off to kindergarten, it became tough balancing career and motherhood.
Working weekday evenings meant spending quality time with my family only on weekends. School day mornings would essentially involved me waking up after a few hours of sleep and rushing the kids off to school.
I’d spend the rest of my mornings preparing dinner, cleaning up, and getting dressed for work. That was my daily mundane routine. There was little or no down time to enjoy “me time.” Consider lightening the load by hiring Local Floor Cleaner to handle one of those tasks, giving you some extra time to relax and unwind.
If I didn’t do something to change the grueling daily grind, I probably would have gone nuts.
Like many women, I decided to become a stay-at-home mom. Believe me, it wasn’t an easy decision.
According to the Center for Talent Innovation, 31 percent of women left their jobs for an average of almost three years. Most of those who took a break did so in order to care for their children.
I’ve been working since I was 14-years-old! The idea of not bringing in some sort of income was terrifying. Moreover, I worried that stepping away would affect my chances of eventually returning to work. But, I later realized that quitting full time didn’t hurt my chances of rejoining the workforce at all.
The Center for Talent Innovation research also claims that 90 percent of women who left their jobs wanted to rejoin the workforce later down the road.
In my case, rather than stepping away from my journalism career, I kept one foot in the door. This gave me a better shot at eventually getting back to working full time.
That opportunity came to two years later when I got the call about a weather opening at NY1.
So if you find yourself in this position, just remember that being a stay-at-home mom doesn’t mean that your chances of being hired again are completely ruined. I’m living proof of that.
5 Tips for Stay-at-Home Moms Returning to Work
Keep in touch
Just because you quit working full time doesn’t mean you have to cut everyone off. Staying touch with former co-workers and other people in your industry will keep you in the know. If there’s an opportunity that works for you, chances are you’ll hear about it from a former colleague.
Have a social media footprint
Joining social media sites like LinkedIn is another great way to stay connected with those in your field. In fact, there are often jobs posted that may be the perfect fit for work and family life balance.
Update your resume
You never know when the right opportunity may come your way. Keep an updated copy of your resume for when that time comes. Also, don’t worry about holes in your resume. Be sure to include what you’ve done during your time away to fill those gaps.
Fortunately, I was able to freelance at my old station as a meteorologist during my two year break. I also volunteered at my children’s school and wrote for various parenting sites.
I was able to communicate to potential employers about my involvement in the TV industry as well as volunteering in my community. These were all experiences that demonstrated my writing abilities, weather forecasting skills and willingness to connect with the public on a personal level.
Update your skills
If your job requires you to take training classes or get certified, stay on top of these requirements. Learn the types of skills needed for employment.
You can take courses online or at a local college.When you’re ready to re-enter the workforce, updating your skills will put you in a better position for employment.
Be confident
You may get discouraged because so much has changed since you quit your job to become a SAHM. Don’t second guess yourself. Remember that you are awesome! Employers can spot self doubt from a mile away. If you don’t believe you’re a great fit for the job, they won’t either.
Are you a former stay-at-home mom? Please share your tips on returning to work.