Daily Career Connection

Many times this is the woman’s role, and sometimes it leaves her out of the workforce for many years.

Reentering the workforce can be tough - but if you research your options and look into your resources this overwhelming project can be manageable.

Successful Careers for Mothers

You should determine your long-term goals and then set your sights to achieve it. There are many careers that seem to be successful for women returning to the workforce after spending time at home raising the children. Some of those careers are accounting, nursing, lawyers and other various healthcare professions. Many careers, such as those in accounting, you can return to with little disruption.

Overcoming Obstacles

One of the biggest obstacles women returning to the workforce face is the length of time they were on hiatus. Many find that they do not receive responses to their inquiries for positions and that the recruiting agencies state they have been out of the workforce for too long. Sometimes it is necessary to obtain a position to build your confidence and get back in the job market before aiming for your ultimate position. There are agencies dedicated to helping mothers reenter the workforce who will help with resume building, interviewing techniques as well as helping to find you a position.

It is also recommended that you call the company that you would like to obtain a position with and inquire about their requirements. Do they have certain educational requirements? You may have to update your skills in order to achieve your long-term goal.

There are many online and distance education courses that you may take while working. It may be necessary to accept a different position with the company you are interested in until you meet all of the requirements for your desired position.

It is important to remember that even though you were home caring for your children you were using valuable skills, such as time management and organizational skills.

For many women the major challenge is overcoming the fears of returning to a younger workforce.

Women that stayed active in their communities or children’s schools found the transition back in the workforce less challenging as they kept their skills fine tuned and were able to remain confident in their abilities.

In the current state of the economy there could be several reasons why a person would be considering changing their career. Many companies are going bankrupt and leaving employees jobless, some companies are taking jobs overseas, and some companies are cutting back on personnel. Certainly if you happen to work for one of those companies, you have little choice but to change careers or look for a new job.

If you are working for a company that seems to be stable you may be simply considering a different position within the company. Many companies allow for advancement, and some even pay for extra education or training if it is necessary. Going from a blue collar position to a white collar position is a great way to change career because you are allowed to keep most of the benefits you have worked so hard to attain. There is no need to interrupt your life insurance, your medical or your retirement plans. In fact the only thing that may change is that you get different medical insurance, or more vacation time. Usually even if your department seniority changes, you will still retain your company seniority. Most of the time when you move up, it only means that you get more or better benefits. Of course, your human resources department will be able to advise you on any adjustments that you may need to make.

If your change career is because you are bored with your job, it may be wise to check out what types of jobs are available in your area. With so many people facing unemployment, a good job may be more difficult to find. Checking with your local employment center would be the best place to start, they can not only give you information on job opportunities, they can also advise you about any requirements needed to change career.

If more education or training is necessary, will you be able to work at your old job while you are training? If not, will you be able to get any financing to keep you solvent while you are going through the program? Some employers are willing to pay for training if you are willing to agree to work for them for a specific amount of time after your training is complete. Will your training be covered or will you need to pay for it? If this is training that you are arranging on your own to change career, you may be eligible for some funding, check with your local employment center for information, they may have several options for you.

There are many things to consider and it is important that you do not make rash decisions. A good support system is imperative, so be sure that you are including your family in your change career. Be sure that the change you are making will be better that the job you have now. Consider how the current economy will affect a change of career. What are the long term possibilities? Just remember to be realistic and make educated decisions.