Stepping back into the workforce after spending over a decade as a stay-at-home mom can feel like a daunting experience. While raising a family has honed your organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills, it’s normal to question how these abilities translate into today’s workplace. Many parents returning to work after a long break grapple with fears of rejection, concerns about finding a work/life balance, and uncertainties on how to address the employment gap in their résumés.
Are you a mom going back to work after 10 years? This guide is here to walk you through the process, rebuild your confidence, and show you that getting back to work after a long break is achievable. Along the way, we’ll discuss why real estate could be a good option for moms re-entering the workforce. This growing industry offers flexibility, opportunities to leverage your interpersonal skills, and the ability to create a schedule that aligns with your family life.
Key Takeaways
- Assess Your Skills and Interests: Reflect on what excites you, whether it’s returning to your previous career or transitioning to a new field like real estate.
- Refresh Your Résumé and LinkedIn: Highlight transferable skills and recent certifications to showcase your readiness and relevance.
- Reconnect Through Networking: Explore opportunities by cultivating professional and personal connections.
- Explore Flexible Opportunities: Consider part-time roles or freelance work; careers in real estate often allow you to control your schedule.
- Prepare for Interviews: Be ready to confidently discuss your employment gap and highlight what you bring to the table.
- Plan with Family: Share responsibilities at home to ensure a smoother transition back to work.
- Set Boundaries: Protect your time by creating clear distinctions between work and family life.
- Overcome Mom Guilt: Remember, working helps contribute to your family’s success and sets an inspiring example for your kids.
- Adapt Along the Way: Treat your career reentry as a learning process, making adjustments to find what truly works for you.
Understanding the Challenges of Going Back to Work
Returning to the workforce after a long break can come with its own set of challenges. It’s natural to have doubts, question your familiarity with current industry trends or technology, and worry about balancing work with family responsibilities. However, these concerns can be addressed with the right mindset and preparation. Here are some common worries and strategies to reframe them for a smoother transition.
Common doubts moms face
- Are My Skills Outdated? You might worry that your professional skills no longer meet industry expectations. However, the foundational abilities you’ve developed as a parent, like multitasking and conflict resolution, are highly valuable. Taking upskilling courses or certifications can quickly bridge any gaps.
- How Do I Explain My Career Break? Many stay-at-home moms hesitate to discuss time away from traditional work roles. Instead of seeing it as a gap, position it as an important chapter of growth. Your experience managing a household translates to key skills like budgeting, scheduling, and negotiation. Confidently showcase these as transferable skills in interviews and on your résumé.
- How Can I Achieve a Work/Life Balance? Finding a work/life balance is essential for long-term success. Consider roles that offer flexibility, like part-time positions, freelance work, or a career in real estate. Transparent communication with potential employers about your needs will set expectations and create a workable balance.
- Will Employers Judge My Career Break? It’s natural to feel concerned about how potential employers will perceive your time away from the traditional workplace. Still, many organizations today recognize the unique strengths and perspectives parents bring to the table, including emotional intelligence, creativity, and adaptability. Be sure to highlight how these qualities benefit their organization.
Tips on How to Get a Job after Stay-at-Home Mom
Returning to the workforce after an extended break can feel overwhelming, but it’s important to remember that countless people successfully make this transition every day. With the right preparation, a positive mindset, and a clear plan, you can position yourself as a valuable asset to potential employers while confidently navigating this new chapter in your career.
1. Assess Your skills and interests
Think about your passions and goals. Do you want to return to a familiar field or take this opportunity to explore something new? If you’re drawn to flexibility and independence, real estate could be a good option worth considering. This field allows you to leverage your interpersonal strengths while building a fulfilling career. Plus, there’s no college degree required, so you can start your real estate education quickly and affordably with accredited schools.
2. Refresh your résumé and LinkedIn
After more than 10 years away, updating your résumé and LinkedIn profile is an absolute must.
Actionable Tips:
- Highlight relevant skills like budgeting, hands-on project management, or volunteer roles that showcase leadership.
- Include certifications or courses that demonstrate your commitment to staying current in your field.
3. Network and leverage connections
Networking can be the key to uncovering opportunities you didn’t know existed. Reconnect with former colleagues and cultivate local and online connections. Professional associations, LinkedIn groups, or alumni communities are great places to start. And don’t forget about your local parent’s network or neighborhood groups. These personal connections could lead to a flexible job or helpful advice.
4. Explore flexible work opportunities
Many moms returning to work find initial flexibility essential. Part-time opportunities or freelance work can help balance professional demands and family responsibilities. Careers like real estate offer the freedom to create your own schedule and pick projects that fit your life. Real estate professionals often start part-time and transition into full-time roles as opportunities and confidence grow.
5. Prepare for interviews
Interviews can be intimidating after several years away. Be ready with confident and honest answers about your decision to return to work. Practice common questions, including:
- “Why are you looking to re-enter the workforce?”
- “What were the key skills you developed during your time away?”
Highlight leadership opportunities in your personal life, such as coordinating events or handling budgets, to demonstrate that your skills align with the role.
6. Plan with your family
Transitioning into work involves the entire family. Collaborate with your partner and older children on household responsibilities to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Create schedules and assign tasks such as meal prep, school pickups, or homework help to ensure everyone is contributing.
7. Set boundaries
Balancing professional and personal responsibilities requires boundaries. Decide on work hours that fit your family schedule and make a commitment to stick to them. Share these limits with your family and employer to avoid miscommunication. A dedicated workspace can help you separate work life from family life.
8. Overcome mom guilt
Remember, pursuing your goals doesn’t take away from your role as a mom; it enhances it. Focusing on quality moments with your children and remembering the value you bring when working can help ease guilt. You’re setting an example of resilience, independence, and growth for your family to admire.
9. Adapt along the way
Transitioning back after a long break is a learning process. If your schedule, role, or even industry doesn’t feel right, it’s okay to adjust course. For example, the real estate industry provides opportunities to grow and evolve.
Take Action Toward Your Career Goals
Getting back to work after 10+ years as a stay-at-home mom is a big step. But with thoughtful planning, confidence, and the right tools, it’s completely doable. If you’re drawn to careers that offer flexibility and no college degree required, consider real estate as a good option. Allied Schools offers pre-licensing courses taught by expert instructors designed for your success. With flexible options like self-paced or livestreaming classes, you can study on your terms while gaining the knowledge you need to pass the California real estate exam.
Start your real estate career today! Learn More About Allied Schools pre-licensing course options in California.
