Whatever the reason for returning to work after a career gap, perhaps the kids are getting bigger and there is more free time or the financial pressures are too much for the household, it is essential for you as moms to stay relevant and in-touch on a professional level.
When you have been out of work for a while, whether it has been for a few months or a couple of years, it can be daunting to get out of your comfort zone of being a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) and back to being a working mom. It should give you some peace of mind knowing that, according to the Working Women in SA Report, most moms have taken a career break at some point and 95% of them have successfully returned to work.
Going back to work not only gives you confidence but the opportunity to demonstrate your talents other than those needed to manage a family.
Here are ten tips to help prepare you for the journey back to work.
1. Update your CV
Ensure your CV is detailed enough to enable you to stand out from the crowd. Make sure that your skills are current and relevant to the job for which you are applying. Take the time to demonstrate through your previous job experiences that your skillset is in line with the requirements of the job specification.
Research current CV formats for your industry. In the past, education was a critical section on the CV, whereas today recruiters focus more on skills. It is still important to include formal training, but this can now appear later in the CV. RecruitMyMom has a standard CV format that can guide you on what to include.
READ: 5 Things To Check Before You Send Your CV
2. Mind the Gap
If you have been out of work for a while and there are gaps in your professional work experience, explain why these exist when applying for a position. It is more acceptable to include that you have been out of work to raise your children or because you have been retrenched due to Covid-19. Do not get into personal details, but do not leave the recruiter wondering why the gaps exist.
3. Update your skills
Stay current in today’s fast-moving technology world. Do an online-course if required to update and upskill yourself. Many moms retrain and change careers entirely at this point of returning to work. See it as an opportunity in your life to reinvent yourself.
4. Remain relevant
Keep your skills relevant and stay in touch with your industry’s trends. Follow the leaders in your field on social media. Update your software skills, for example, if you are a bookkeeper, learn how to work within a cloud-based accounting package. Cloud-based companies like Xero offer free training through their website.
5. Believe in yourself
Confidence is often the difference between getting a job or not. Look fabulous at the interview. If you look good, you feel good. It is like riding a bicycle; once you are back in the saddle, you will know what to do in the job.
6. Keep it professional
Employers are employing you for your skill, not your life circumstances. Do not overshare in your CV application or in an interview about your personal challenges. Employers will hire you because you can add value to their business, not because they feel sorry for you.
7. Update wardrobe
If you have been out of work for a while, update your wardrobe. Working wardrobes have changed over time. Research the dress culture of the organisation you might be visiting for an interview.
READ: Dressing For An Interview
8. Be honest
Don’t over or undersell yourself. If you oversell yourself, you will disappoint the employer. If you undersell yourself, you are likely to miss the job opportunity. Be honest and not too modest.
9. Have a plan in place
Have a clear idea as to how you are going to integrate work into your life before returning to work. It will be hectic, and you need to know which balls are critical so that you can prioritise the important ones at all times.
READ: How to Avoid Compromising Work or Family with Work Life Integration
10. Learn to code
Java, CSS and PHP coding is one of the most sought-after skills in South Africa. Coding can be done remotely and can open many doors for employment or starting your own business. Best of all, you will be able to speak the same language as your teenager. There are a number of online coding academies, like CodeSpace, where you can learn to code part time.
If you need further assistance in your journey back into work, join the Fresh Horizons 8-week course.
We hope these tips will give you a starting point and help make returning to work less daunting.
Register for free on RecruitMyMom. Once registered, complete your online CV to start searching for part-time work in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, and Cape Town. We operate nationally in South Africa, and globally for virtual assistants.
