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Here are some of the top skills that you improve as a mother:

1. Have you learned to persuade, interview, listen better, write, facilitate group discussions or other essential communication skills? As a mother, you’re constantly mentoring, teaching and counseling your children. In addition to that, there are also the communication skills you hone through events and organizations you find yourself being part of when you’re a parent.
2. People management.
   Managing a home and a pre-schooler or two at the same time can be harder than managing your colleagues. As a result, you’ve probably improved your negotiation skills, which are learned art, especially when toddlers and teachers are involved. If you’ve organized teams for school events, set up a social group, this is relevant. Write down those achievements and spell them out in a SMART way. That’s specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-based.
3. Time management.
   Juggling a household and completing tasks to a deadline at home is a real skill. You need to know how to manage school pick-ups and drop-offs, after school activities and ensure dinner’s on the table before the children get grouchy.etc…
4. Problem-solving. 
   Every industry needs problem solvers.  As a parent, you’ll come across problems you never knew existed. In fact, you’ll be hit with problems that need solving almost every day. You’ll learn when to step in to help children problem solve and how to provide them with the tools to do it themselves. That’s the fundamentals of being a manager.
5. Organizational skills.
   Many a mum becomes a super organizer. She may project manage the family renovation or the big round-the-world trip, Maybe you’ve planned, budgeted, and executed a school reunion or fundraising/sports event. Whatever it is you’ve done, document what you did and match the key skills against job advertisements.

 

KEEP UP TO DATE

Employers want people who are abreast of the latest trends related to work. Therefore, stay updated during the break. The traditional ways to brush up skills and knowledge, books, magazines, and courses help. However, staying in the field through freelance work is best.

Rather than doing a course, if possible, take up part-time assignments, one can also help a charity, work for NGOs, enhance digital skills or give a hand to startups. This will give the impression that you have used the break well.

NETWORK

Keep in touch with old colleagues and employers. Networking will help you search for an appropriate opening or get good references that can increase your chances of getting selected in a job interview.

EXPLAIN YOUR CAREER BREAK—BUT KEEP IT BRIEF

If you’ve had a long break, you’ll likely have to discuss it within your cover letter, as well as during interviews. No matter what your reason for your extended leave from the workforce, keep your explanation brief. A simple sentence will do. Try, “I’ve spent time caring for a sick relative,” or “It was important to me to be home with my child until nursery school,” “I’ve been volunteering at a homelessness charity” or “I’ve spent the past few years traveling throughout the world, working on my language skills.”

BE FLEXIBLE

“Companies always look at the last role and compensation. So, do not compare your pay cheque or job profile with those who started with you and have grown while you were on a sabbatical,”

This doesn’t mean you should allow yourself to be treated as cheap labour. The compensation should be in keeping with your experience and industry standards.

It is often easier to make a comeback in emerging high-growth sectors or smaller firms. Emphasis should be on job profile and prospects and not on the size of the organisation. “The company was small compared with my previous organisation but the business was expanding and growth prospects were good,”

BE CONFIDENT

It is important to maintain your confidence. You need this to be able to put in job applications, go to interviews, and face the possible rejection which goes hand in hand with looking for a new job. In order to be a strong candidate, you need to be able to sell yourself to potential employers, and for that, you need to be confident. After all, no one is going to believe in you if you do not believe in yourself.

Get in the right frame of mind.

Start practicing as if you’re already returning to work. “Talk openly about your career and the work you either used to do or the work you want to do (if they’re different). Practice talking about yourself as a professional, rather than a mom. These small mindset changes, along with a lot of practice talking out loud about work and being a woman who works, will set you up to speak confidently when you’re interacting with potential employers.”

Get some advice.

If most of your friends are fellow stay-at-home moms, you may need to look outside your circle for some advice and inspiration. Try to connect with other working moms to see how they balance work life and family life.

Even if you don’t know many working moms personally, you can use online groups on Facebook and LinkedIn to connect virtually with other moms who’ve either made the return to work or are in the middle of it. Their insights, advice, and friendship will be a huge source of support, energy, and inspiration as you make your return.”

Ask them how they conducted their job searches, what they wish someone had told them when they were looking for a job and returning to work, and any job search strategies for success they may have.

Determine what you really want to do.

You know you want to work, but you’re not sure what you want to do. You’re thinking about going back to your old career because it’s easier than starting over. But, maybe, you want to try something new.

Sit down and think about the things that have brought you joy while you were raising your children. Determine what you truly want to do, and then figure out the steps you need to take to make it happen.

Make a job search plan.

After contemplating the above questions and having a firm grasp on your and your family’s needs, create a job search plan. While it may seem a bit over the top, knowing what you need to do and when you need to do it will help keep you on track and give you actionable tasks to work on if you start getting frustrated.

Set up your job search and networking goals, then mark the dates on your calendar. This could include taking classes to learn (or update) skills, volunteering, or even looking for internships.

Prepare your elevator pitch, personal brand, and five-word job description. Once you’ve got those set, use them when you connect with professionals and conduct informational interviews.

Seek out and verify job search services that can help.

Update your social profiles.

Many people have more than one social media account. But, even if you have only one account, make sure it’s up to date and doesn’t contain anything questionable.

If there are pictures or opinions you don’t want employers to see, consider changing your privacy settings so only people you approve can see your profile.

While you’re at it, set up a LinkedIn account if you don’t already have one. Even if it isn’t your favorite social media site, it may be the most important one to have. Not only does it give you a chance to showcase your relevant skills, but it’s also a great way to show you’re involved and active in your subject area.

Answering Tough Questions About Going Back to Work

Congratulations! They want to interview you. As nervous as that might make you, there are plenty of ways to explain your employment gap in a professional and reassuring manner.

Own it.

Don’t hide your time off raising a family. Any future employer that does not respect your past choices may not respect your future ones.

That time was not blank or a vacation, but rather a skill-building experience—treat it as such. Employers are going to get the value of the skills you gained, and you might as well be front and center with them. When going back to work, don’t minimize the experience you have gained at home.

Dealing with curveballs.

Whether or not it’s legal and whether or not it’s fair, there’s a chance someone might ask you questions that they shouldn’t. It’s important to be prepared not only to hear the questions but to have a perfect answer ready to go.

Some of the less-than-ideal questions can include:

• Is your career more important than your family?
• How do you let someone else raise your children?
• Who cooks for your kids?
• Do you have to work?

There are, of course, many more like this. But, for the most part, when it comes to answering these curveball interview questions, you’ve got a few options.

The most important thing to do is to remain calm. Losing your cool and pointing out how unfair and biased the question is will only lose you the job. Take a deep breath, and try one of these techniques to answer the question.

First, you could answer the question directly.

Second, you can try a humorous answer to redirect the question and deflect the answer. “Who cooks for my kids? Anyone I can con into it because I am a terrible cook. Seriously.

Third, you could ask the interviewer how the question relates to the job duties. “Who cooks for my kids? Can I ask why this is important? I want to understand the job and all of its duties. If I’m going to cook and be your account manager, I’d like to know that information.”

In the end, consider it a good thing that the interviewer asked this question. It gives you valuable insight into the company and its culture.

What Are Other Options For Stay-at-Home Moms Returning to Work?

If you didn’t get the job, don’t give up! There are still things you can do that will help you return to work.

Part-Time and Temp Work

Consider part-time or even temporary work as a transition step to regular, full-time employment. It may not be ideal, but it’s something to help you and your family get used to you working. It’s also a great way for you to test the waters and figure out what kind of balance works best for you and your family.

It’s also a great way to reintroduce yourself to technology. If the last time you were in an office was when Windows 7 was all the rage, you’re going to have to learn Windows 10. While it’s not that different, it’s not the same, either.

You Got the Job!

That’s great! But, once you start thinking about it, you start getting cold feet. Who’s going to take care of the kids when they get home from school? What about taking them to soccer practice? What if someone gets sick?

Test run child care.

In almost every case, you’ll have about two weeks before you report for your first day of work. In that time, you should find child care for your kids.

Once you’ve got it set up, do a test run so the kids can get used to the situation and the new person or people helping you out. It’s also a great chance for you to figure out what works best in terms of schedule and routine and for you to gain trust and confidence in your helpers.

Set boundaries.

Once you get back to work, you may find yourself doing everything you can to prove you can do it all. But in reality that isn’t healthy and will only set you up to fail.

Set boundaries and make sure you enforce them—which may mean learning how to say “no” to things you can’t say “yes” to.

That means if you have to leave at 5:00 to get to daycare before 6:00, make sure you leave at 5:00 no matter what. That may mean working a little bit at home as a trade-off, but don’t let anyone schedule a meeting for 4:45 and expect you to stay.

Offer to have the meeting at a different time. Or have a virtual meeting instead. There are plenty of tools out there that allow you to meet with coworkers anytime and anyplace with an Internet connection.

Going Back to Work as a Mom Takes Time

The transition back to work isn’t easy for anyone. Ask for all the help you can get. Reynolds says, “It can also help to work with a career coach who can work with you to find clarity on your goals, get your resume back in shape, practice interviewing, and determine the best return-to-work strategies for you.

 Rethink the part that feels scary.

Identify what feels scary to you and decide to view it in a way that feels exciting or adventurous.

Give it a try.

Remind yourself that you’re simply giving this new situation a try. If you don’t like it, you can always stop doing it.

Devise a plan.

If you’re not ready to take a big leap, take a baby step. Having a plan helps you leave your comfort zone slowly

Celebrate.

Celebrate leaving your comfort zone. This is another way to motivate yourself.

Remind yourself you’ve done this before.

Make a list of things that you’ve done in the past that have you scared but that you’ve still completed successfully, this can boost your confidence in leaving your comfort zone.

The comfort zone is a psychological state where one feels safe or at ease and without stress or anxiety.

Judith Bardwick, the author of “Danger in the Comfort Zone,” defines the term as “a behavioral state where a person operates in an anxiety-neutral position.” It’s a perceived certainty where we believe we have access to all we need — we feel we have some control.

This neutral state is both natural and human — our brain is lazy and leans toward the easiest path. We can continue living on autopilot or embrace discomfort to reap more significant rewards. Simply put: do you want to live or to thrive?

The key to staying calm during an interview is to reduce your cognitive load by having a Pre-Presentation checklist. To maximize your interview impact, follow these steps:

2. Have “a hook” and easy to follow a structure in your speech using audience cues
2. Have “a hook” and easy to follow structure in your speech using audience cues
3. Research the employer in advance.
4. Have 3 key facts, strengths, and/or messages you want to deliver that are aligned with values of your potential employer
5. Be prepared to weave these interesting messages into your personal story as you progress through your interview
6. Choose your vocabulary wisely and be concise – every word counts and do not use limiting language through learning the art and science of persuasion and communication
7. Practice speaking with authority from your diaphragm while being mindful of your tone, elocution, and articulation
8. Prepare strong persuasive vocabulary that reflects you, your strengths, your talents, your aspirations and know these cold
9. Practice eye contact exercises to ensure you work through any uneasiness you feel when speaking with strangers – feel your physical reaction and reduce your sensitivity
10. Obtain guidance on how to become mindful of your physiology when nervous and then learn to control your nervousness through a series of anxiety-reducing exercises.