There are many reasons that both women and men choose to stay home to raise their children. To spend precious time with children as they grow from infants to adolescents is probably at the top of the list, not to mention the high cost of child care.
Many times the return to the world of work is planned, for instance when children start school and there is more time during the day, parents will return to work to catch up or get ahead financially. Paying for the extras such as co-curricular activities, a new car, or vacations can motivate families to return to two-incomes. Sometimes the reason to return to work is to plan for the future by saving for upcoming college tuition costs or retirement. Paying off debt due to living on one income can be the reason for some.
However, unplanned events are the motivators for others to return to work. According to Dan Swalm, Executive Director of Career Solutions, “Sometimes parents are forced to quickly return to work due to divorce, disability, or even death of the other spousal member who was supporting the family previously.” Career Solutions of St. Paul manages a state funded program providing pre-employment services that empower participants to enter or re-enter the labor market after having been homemakers.
Leaving the job market to stay home with children can make it difficult to find work in the same field later. It is nearly impossible to re-enter the workplace after taking ten or even less than two years off due to the constant technological changes within most industry areas without keep your skills and network up-to-date.
Dan Swalm suggests that parents who intend to leave their careers to raise children consider the following tips to keep their careers alive and make re-entry into the job market a smoother transition whether planned or unexpectedly needed. When working with clients who are considering staying home to raise children, I always suggest the following as ways to keep careers alive:
Maintain your network – keep up with former supervisors, co-workers, and friends you’ve worked with during your career. Call them once in a while, take them to lunch, send them notes or holiday cards just to let them know that you’re thinking of them. Networking is not time intensive but is vital to everyone’s career. Be willing to provide information and small favors in case you need one some day.
Update your computer skills – take classes through area community education programs, community colleges, or the Science Museum of Minnesota’s Computer Education Center to keep your skills up-to-date.
Keep up with industry knowledge – read trade journals and internet articles to keep up with industry trends.
Continue your education – many community and technical colleges or even area colleges and universities provide certificate programs to help you continue your education. Consider advancing your career with degree programs too.
Get involved in volunteer activities – although volunteer activities are not paid, they are a wonderful opportunity to maintain and gain leadership and organizational skills not to mention network with other professionals in a variety of occupational fields.
Work part-time or temporary positions – if you have the time and need the extra money, working part time or acquiring temporary positions is another way to keep your feet in your career field and gain additional experience without the burden of a full time job.
Maintain your resume – your resume is a living document that reflects your experience and constantly changes as you gain more experience. Pull it out at least once a year and update it with your newly acquired computer skills, industry knowledge, continued education, volunteer or part-time experience so you don’t forget all you’ve done.
Some stay-at-home parents anticipate changing occupational fields after their children start school and begin reconsidering their career goals two to five years in advance. If you’re home now, consider meeting with a career counselor to assess your personality traits, interests, strengths, and weaknesses. The counselor can review your resume, provide some job search tips, and help you practice your interviewing skills. Also consider advancing your formal education if you are thinking about a major career transition. Many area universities and colleges offer night and weekend programs that may work for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment