Tips for mums returning to the workforce

Mums returning to work after taking time away from their careers to start a family face an exciting yet daunting next step. For many women it is the time to blend a life of domestic duties with professional services. It can be the most challenging time in a women’s life. Just because you go back to work doesn’t mean that the demands on the home front stop.

Here are some tips to try and make the transition as seamless as possible.

1. Identify the hours per week that you are prepared to commit to your work. This will help you establish the type of work that you are seeking. Please remember to factor travel time to and from work into this decision.

2. Decide if you want to return to a previous industry or explore an new career. If it is a new career that interests you, investigate whether it is necessary to up-skill or re-train.

3. Update your resume. If you have been out of the work force for an extended period of time don’t present your jobs and opportunities chronologically, this will only highlight you time absent from the work force. List the types of positions held, and focus on the skills that you may have used: customer service – tuck-shop duty or charity work – selling raffle tickets.

4. Once you have secured your interview remember that your appearance and first impressions are important. While you have been committing yourself to domestic duties it is easy to forget what goes on in the professional area. Shout yourself to a new outfit that is suitable for interviewing, get a manicure and indulge in a trip to the hairdresser.

If you are returning to work with a strict budget in mind click here for some tips on how to smarten up your look without blowing your first months wages.

5. Don’t rule out working from home options , these days it is becoming common practice – if you are disciplined and not easily distracted by house hold chores and other things going on in the house it could be the perfect solution. However if you are returning to work for social interaction, it can be lonely so be sure that you can schedule weekly meetings and face to face time with clients and colleagues.

6. Starting your own business can be the answer to work and family balance. All it takes is a great idea that you have passion for, next is a business plan to assess its viability and start up costs. Assess the skills that you have and what will be needed for the business to succeed. Explore the options of taking on a business partner to fill any skill deficits and bounce ideas off. Starting your own business can be rewarding and satisfying as long as you have patience and determination – it also provides the opportunity to work part time and from home.