SAHM To Working Mom

I don't know if it would help but have you ever thought about listing the time you have been home as a job. Even list it as stay at home parent. Listing all the jobs you did while at home. I am a new sahm and it is a lot of work. There is planning and organization skills that are used. Time management skills and neogation skills. Don't sell your self short be honest and list the skills you use every day to run your household. Good luck.

I recently returned to full time work after 4 years of staying at home. I think sometimes it depends on your industry, but I actually got a lot of positive feedback and got hired pretty quickly. I was honest about staying at home with my children. I did take a few contracts and worked at a seasonal job every spring and fall -just for a few weeks and NOT in my field -but for the most part I was at home. Contrary to a lot that we hear, I think more and more businesses and companies realize that often, mothers or fathers choose to stay with the kids for a few years. Talk up how you've been multi-tasking, organizing, delegating and managing a household and joke a bit about how you never thought it could possibly be that hard -but it is! Let them know that you are making the decision to return to full-time work because it's TIME for you. I got the feeling that was a big selling point of mine -that I had been home, but I felt it was time because I need it, not because we were in financial straits or had to go back to work. It doesn't matter why you're REALLY going back -play it off as that regardless.

Definitely use Monster.com -this is where the majority of my interviews and offers came from. Also, see if Indeed.com serves the Portland area -I got MANY great leads from there. Careerbuilder.com also worked for me. Be willing to go in under a contracting company if it has the possibility of turning into a permanent position. Also, if you're not finding what you want -be willing to work as a contractor for 3,6, or 12 months. Often that will lead to permanent employment,and it does give you good, recent experience.

You sound like you are already savvy about showing that you are professional, and I think that is the most important thing. It is a tough job market for just about everyone, so I don't think you should attribute any delays in getting a job to your time staying at home. From what I've seen, it is a myth that it affects your ability to get a job or that there is negative perception from employers about a parent taking some time to stay at home with kids. To be honest, they probably think it's more reasonable to take some time off rather than try to juggle all the demands. I don't think anyone will ask you to explain why you decided to take time off to raise your family, but if it comes up in some way you could present it as better life management. I.e. you waited until you could give your work your full attention because your kid(s)/family are ready for that. Keeping your part time and volunteer work on your resume show that you are intellectually and community active and like to stay stimulated, and also add to your perspective repertoire that you are bringing to the job.

I was not able to stay home with my kids, but I wish I could have and I think women/men should be proud to take some time out of their work for their kids, and the more they do it, the less (perceived) stigma will be attached to it. Your career may not have advanced while out of work, but in a decent job market you should be able to re-enter at the same level that you left. But I have to say I've never seen it held against an applicant. I know an engineer who took 16 years off and came back as as a senior engineer!

GOOD LUCK to you!!!!!!!

I was listening to a radio program yesterday, and there was a Wall Street Journal article yesterday about SAHM vs. SAHD and re-entering the workforce.
http://online.wsj.com/article/work_and_family.html

Usually, the gaps in employment aren't as hard for SAHMs. I'm not one, I've always been a working mom, but I was laid off last year and had to explain the 3 month gap in my resume. It felt like a big scarlett letter, and I think it would have been much easier to have been a SAHM than a laid off sales rep.

I'd recommend searching for some of the advice in this article and seeing if you can find others that offer networking opportunities for women re-entering the workforce.

Network, network, network! That's how most people get jobs these days. Don't be afraid to put something on your Facebook profile (if you have one) about wanting or needing to get back to work to see how people may be able to help you out.

Good luck!

HI K.,

I've been working from home for a long time so getting back in the workforce is not something I can speak on. I do know that employers are now looking at social networking sites (e.g. facebook, myspace) to see what kind of person you really are. If you have any of those type sites, make sure they are professional and that there is nothing that would be offensive or even political on them. I guess with the unemployment as high as it is employers are really trying to get the "skinny" on people up front.

God bless!

M.

If you are a Washington State resident, I would suggest checking out your local Worksource office. They have resume writing seminars and other helpful workshops. You can meet one-on-one with counselors and have your resume critiqued. So far, I have attended their orientation, which I found helpful. Their website www.worksource.com. Worksource is affiliated with the Employment Security Department, but you don't have to be collecting unemployment to use their resources. Good luck!

Go to your local Workforce office on Grady Way in Renton (if you live there). They have lots of help and information--classes, resume help, job search help, and job postings. I recommend them highly.

Hi, at my City Jr. College there is a class that builds your confidence and shows you how great you really are. We did resume's, informational interviews and fake job interviews. It was free. See if there is a "displaced homemaker prgm" and or a "Turning Points" class. I went to Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, WA
I didn't work for 20 years. I put my little jobs on my resume' and volunteer stuff if necessary. Nobody seems to have a problems with "I was raising my family." Be positive, confident and aware that the work you did at home was the most important and varied and amazing work you could do. So certainly you qualify and can handle whatever you apply for and it will be much easier. I find it is much easier to get a job if they see me. I can go in and ask to tallk to the manager and if they like me they will watch for my application to come through or sometimes you can hand it too them. I don't like the impersonal e-mail things. I use an informational resume' that doesn't cover everything, only what applies. Good luck, have fun.