Going Back to Work

It seems women have been in transition ever since we took our first breathe, as if recreating ourselves is the never ending story.   Typically in our role as Mom our efforts are for our families. But there usually comes a time, a defining moment when we need to make tough choices for ourselves as well as our families.  

You may be voluntarily considering the option of returning to work, or you might suddenly find that you are in need of income.

For many stay at home moms the thought of returning to work can be intimidating. You may find yourself concentrating more on the problems rather than the solutions. For example: how will the needs of my children be met? Am I technologically skilled enough for the workplace or how can I afford the new wardrobe a job will necessitate.  

After 12 years of marriage and two children, Terri found herself going through a divorce and in need of income.  Terri found that relying on her friends and a loving support network kept her grounded through the process of finding work. Terri told me there were three things that helped her most: networking, networking and networking! Networking for job opportunities, networking for childcare, and networking for her own personal support system.

Some strategies to stave off feeling overwhelmed by going back to work:

Make the process your new job.  Set that alarm as if you were going to work.   Get up, get ready and start your day as if you had a 9 to 5 job.   

Daydream.  Ask yourself: What would I love to do, what vocation would get me excited about getting out of bed in the morning.

Create a plan of your dream job. Get a clear picture of what you want to do. Then start thinking backwards asking yourself: What do I need to do first to get there? Break down each thought into smaller action steps.

Know yourself and what you love to do. Know your strengths and weaknesses; make a list. During the job interviewing process highlight your strengths.

Research before interviewing. Job-shadowing can be fun and interesting and will help you make contacts for the future. You can also call employees at the places you may want to work and see how much information they will share with you.

Give thought to finances. Are you going to work for a new experience or to afford the necessities of life. Know what your bottom line is for your needs.

Design your resumé. Many books and web sites can walk you through the process of creating or updating a resumé by yourself, or you can barter or hire a resumé writer. When composing your resumé include the skills and experiences you’ve had as a homemaker and mother.  For example; event planning (your parents 50th anniversary party), time management (family activities interwoven with your obligations and commitments), communication skills, and team management.

The key is to create a plan and work the plan, systematically breaking it down into smaller and smaller doable steps.  Being methodical will be good training for whatever work you eventually do.

Try to select a working-mom-friendly atmosphere. Don’t try conforming to a business that sees children as a problem. Find a career that has developed policies friendly to the working mother.

Listening to your intuition is invaluable. Before committing to any employment opportunity, sleep on it. Imagine yourself going to work there everyday, working with those people, for those hours and for that paycheck. Lean into that experience with all of your senses.
 
If it feels good, go for it. If you feel resistant you might want to reconsider what could turn out to be more of a problem in your life than a solution.

We women and mothers are ever changing, adapting and evolving. The choices of what we can do is limitless. There is no better time than now to recreate ourselves into whatever our needs or dreams invite us to experience. And if we find we don’t like what we are doing, or we made a choice that did not turn out as expected, just knowing we have options, choices and support from one another makes anything possible.  

I encourage you to acknowledge and praise other women like our mothers and daughters, sisters and aunts, girlfriends and coworkers, or even total strangers and competitors as we make our courageous choices throughout our lives.  

I’d like to see us all congratulate a woman you know that has shown courage in being a working mom, or a stay at home Mom.  We, as women, can be a strong, competent, creative, powerful and a vital addition to the work place.

More Clarity. More Momentum. More Results.