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Health & Fitness

5 Tips for Returning To Work Moms

Just finished a session with a mom who is returning to the workforce after 15 years of full-time Motherhood. Her children are in high school preparing for SATs, researching colleges, preparing to leave and she finds herself wondering...“What’s next for me? Who will want to hire me? How do I do this reentry thing?” Great questions when asked from a place of curiosity and excitement, rather than desperation and scarcity.

Here are 5 tips for reentering the workforce:

1. Don’t rely on the internet to find jobs. Nope! Bad!

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Some returning to work moms or RTWMs, try to jump right into a job search. They start combing the internet for jobs, sending off their resumes and waiting for responses. And waiting. And waiting. And waiting. They haven’t learned yet, that online job searching should only be 1/4 of your job finding efforts. The rest of your energy should be focused on an “active” job search, which is far more interesting and satisfying. 

2. Never apologize for being a mom... Ever!

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Granted, our Western culture does have a “Motherhood Penalty” but that doesn’t mean you should hide all the benefits and skills that come from being a mother.  Check out Ann Crittenden’s book “If you’ve raised kids, you can manage anything.” http://www.anncrittenden.com/iyrkbook.htm. Ann points out many of the advantages and skills developed from the child-rearing experience. Enhanced interpersonal skills, effective negotiation, motivating excellence, creating calm in the midst of turmoil are all valued skills in the workforce. 

3. There is no “gap” in employment.

You have been working at raising your kids. There is no gap. Every experience provides new skills... Even if you’re not getting paid. So start to see your motherhood years with new eyes and appreciate what you have learned. According to salary.com, the value of a salary for a stay at home mom is over $135,000.  Learn how to discuss these skills proudly and with confidence in interviews and on your resume.

4. Employers need you more than you need them.

I know... Everyone is telling you something different but the truth is even in an economy with lots of unemployed people, finding good employees is always challenging. The single most important key to growing a successful business are the employees that are hired. Dependable, reliable, cooperative, intelligent, skilled candidates are surprisingly difficult to find. You are a commodity... Find the employer that will value and appreciate you.o not job search or reenter the workforce alone.

5. Do not job search or reenter the workforce alone.

Even if you worked before having kids, I assure you the job market and how people find employment, has changed. No more looking in classified ads, you need a job finding plan, an updated resume, negotiation skills, professional profile and support. You deserve to have a qualified professional helping you to make the transition back to work. Make sure to surround yourself with positive, productive people who do not complain about the job market. There are jobs out there. RTWMs get hired all the time, you just need mentoring to make it happen.

If you’d like to get started planning for your return to work, contact Sherry@careerwisdominstitute.com  for a free half hour consultation.

Helping moms return to work is my work, not a job. 

Please join us for Inside Job: 8 Secrets to Loving Your Work and Thriving, April 4th in Petaluma. Register here:http://careerwisdominstitute.com/courses-and-services/upcoming-events/

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