A Resume for Moms Returning to Work: Reentering Workforce After Kids
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There is one career transition that has remained common through generations. It is the change for parents returning to work, going from full-time parent to employee. How do parenting skills help your career? What is an example of a good resume for a mom returning to the workforce like? There are many issues to address in the transition from full-time mom to employee, and from full-time dad to job seeker.



There comes a time in every parent's life when we learn something valuable from our own lessons. Consider the mother whose six-year-old daughter comes home from school crying because a peer called her stupid. The mother comforts her daughter: "You know you're not stupid, and it is that truth that matters. Their words can only hurt you if you let them."



This mom may go to work the next day and find a stern letter from her boss that momentarily makes her feel small. She may remember what she told her daughter and smile because that same advice applies to her work life. Her boss can only make her feel small if she lets him.



As a parent, you teach your children that life is all about perspective and that they choose how they react to every situation encountered. Such parental lessons apply directly to the business world, too. It doesn't matter if you have been out of the workforce for two months or two years. Your parenting skills are relevant in the business world and they will figure into developing a good resume example for your job search. These include:



1. Motivation: Convincing a shy child to play with other children at the playground or let go of your leg on the first day of preschool is challenging, but with a bit of motivation you help that child overcome shyness. To convince an uncertain client sign on the dotted line is just as challenging, but similar skills apply. Parents are excellent motivators for their children as well as their colleagues and clients.



2. Negotiation: Parenting often comes down to giving children a little of what they want in order to get what you want. A difficult employee may decide that it is worth their time to double-check their work for errors if you offer a small incentive. If you have an argumentative child, you can learn lessons that are transferrable to the boardroom.



3. Conflict Resolution: Fighting siblings are not that different from colleagues engaged in a disagreement. A rebellious teenager refusing to take direction from a parent may resemble an angry client determined to get his way. Parents learn to react quickly to conflict without overthinking or making the situation any bigger than necessary. They also know to remain consistent and firm with consequences and to take proactive steps to avoid future conflicts.



4. Organization: Any parent who has looked at a stack of toys in the living room on Christmas morning and figured out how to work that pile into a crowded bedroom or playroom knows organization. Out with the old and in with the new. Everything has a place or you might lose your child during playtime. The same goes for a busy office with paperwork constantly shuffling in and out.



5. Multitasking: Put a crying baby on your hip and try to cook dinner while helping an older child with homework. If you can do that without getting overwhelmed, you can handle workplace challenges in the professional world with an even temper. Parents are accustomed to the nonstop activity of a busy household, and that makes them more resilient when placed in a busy office or forced to work from an airport. They stay focused because they have learned how to tune out distractions.



6. Time Management: Parents must set priorities and manage their time wisely because there is so much to accomplish each day. Scheduling doctor appointments, dance classes and preschool interviews for multiple children while leaving time to brush your teeth is often as challenging as scheduling presentations, interviews and meetings with multiple clients while leaving time to finish the paperwork and return phone calls.



Never let your time away from the workforce make you feel inferior to someone with a longer work history. You have been mentoring the most challenging clients of all. They watch your every move, repeat your every word, and let you know when you make a mistake. Hold your head high and know that you have every right to feel confident. Expressed persuasively, these skills can ensure that you develop the best resume for returning to work. The skills you have learned as a parent will take you far.