Navigating Your Way Back to Work - Advice for Mums Returning to Work
Most mothers would agree that bringing up a family is a full-time job.
But, whether it's for financial reasons or simply to re-gain some sense of 'self', it's now widely reported that in the UK more mothers return to work than don't.
If you're reading this, it's likely that you too are thinking about returning to work.
Whether you've had six months' maternity leave or five years at home while your children are young, chances are that re-entering the world of work seems a tad daunting.
But it honestly doesn't have to be; scores of women do it all the time.
The key is to know what your options are and be prepared.
There's often a lot of guilt associated with returning to work and leaving children in the hands of someone else.
While there's no right or wrong way, you do need to consider your own needs as well as those of your child.
If you do start working again and choose to go down the childcare route then make sure you do plenty of research.
It goes without saying that you need to choose an option you're completely happy with.
It might be a nanny share, an au pair, a childminder or a relative.
Whichever route you opt for it's worth bearing in mind that socialising with other children and learning to be looked after by someone else can be very beneficial for many children.
Even if returning to work is a far-off prospect, it's worth keeping up to date with what's going on in the world of work.
Just because you've had a baby doesn't mean you can't stay on top of events and keep your skills current.
If you're planning on going back to your old job then 'keeping in touch' days are a great way to make sure you're not forgotten and that you know exactly what's happening in the company.
That way, when you do choose to go back, you'll be totally up-to-date and can add value again from day one rather than catching up on the time you've been away.
It also shows a certain commitment to the company.
Many women find that their previous job simply isn't conducive to family life.
So certain changes need to be put in place.
It could mean starting your own business from home, going freelance or completely re-training.
In these instances it might be worth finding yourself a life coach or career coach to help you evaluate your priorities, improve your confidence and support you in developing your career search strategy.
Spending time with fellow mums is another great way to swap ideas about getting back to work.
Community forums like mumsnet.
com, netmums.
com and mums-room.
co.
uk are great ways to keep informed about what's going on.
Lots of women swear by their NCT group for regular catch-ups, support and ideas about what to do when and if the time comes to return to work.
Don't forget all those new skills and insights that you've gained as a parent.
Chances are you're now far more adept at juggling and multi-tasking, plus your time management skills are invariably second to none.
All these qualities are invaluable to employers.
A professional CV writer will help you to fill in any gaps in your CV and make sure you're selling yourself and your achievements in the best light possible.
If you really can't bear the thought of commuting, you might want to consider working from home.
Women are coming up with increasingly industrious ideas to make sure they can maximise time with their family yet still be making money - anything from selling on e-bay, hosting book parties, reviewing products or setting up blogs.
Two London-based 'mumpreneurs' have started a 5-minute recipe blog (crumbsfeedyourfamily.
blogspot.
com) which holds hundreds of ideas for time-poor parents who need inspiration for fast but healthy food.
And there are countless others out there too: knackeredmotherswineclub.
blogspot.
com, mumstheblog.
co.
uk and notsupermum.
blogspot.
com to name just a few.
By selling advertising space, a successful blog can prove to be not only enjoyable to write but lucrative too.
Look on the internet for tips on how to get up and running.
Finally, perhaps the most important thing is to find something you enjoy, or better yet, find something you feel passionate about.
This point is incredibly important.
A mum who's fulfilled at work is a happy mum.
And a happy mum is surely one of the best gifts you can give to a child.
But, whether it's for financial reasons or simply to re-gain some sense of 'self', it's now widely reported that in the UK more mothers return to work than don't.
If you're reading this, it's likely that you too are thinking about returning to work.
Whether you've had six months' maternity leave or five years at home while your children are young, chances are that re-entering the world of work seems a tad daunting.
But it honestly doesn't have to be; scores of women do it all the time.
The key is to know what your options are and be prepared.
There's often a lot of guilt associated with returning to work and leaving children in the hands of someone else.
While there's no right or wrong way, you do need to consider your own needs as well as those of your child.
If you do start working again and choose to go down the childcare route then make sure you do plenty of research.
It goes without saying that you need to choose an option you're completely happy with.
It might be a nanny share, an au pair, a childminder or a relative.
Whichever route you opt for it's worth bearing in mind that socialising with other children and learning to be looked after by someone else can be very beneficial for many children.
Even if returning to work is a far-off prospect, it's worth keeping up to date with what's going on in the world of work.
Just because you've had a baby doesn't mean you can't stay on top of events and keep your skills current.
If you're planning on going back to your old job then 'keeping in touch' days are a great way to make sure you're not forgotten and that you know exactly what's happening in the company.
That way, when you do choose to go back, you'll be totally up-to-date and can add value again from day one rather than catching up on the time you've been away.
It also shows a certain commitment to the company.
Many women find that their previous job simply isn't conducive to family life.
So certain changes need to be put in place.
It could mean starting your own business from home, going freelance or completely re-training.
In these instances it might be worth finding yourself a life coach or career coach to help you evaluate your priorities, improve your confidence and support you in developing your career search strategy.
Spending time with fellow mums is another great way to swap ideas about getting back to work.
Community forums like mumsnet.
com, netmums.
com and mums-room.
co.
uk are great ways to keep informed about what's going on.
Lots of women swear by their NCT group for regular catch-ups, support and ideas about what to do when and if the time comes to return to work.
Don't forget all those new skills and insights that you've gained as a parent.
Chances are you're now far more adept at juggling and multi-tasking, plus your time management skills are invariably second to none.
All these qualities are invaluable to employers.
A professional CV writer will help you to fill in any gaps in your CV and make sure you're selling yourself and your achievements in the best light possible.
If you really can't bear the thought of commuting, you might want to consider working from home.
Women are coming up with increasingly industrious ideas to make sure they can maximise time with their family yet still be making money - anything from selling on e-bay, hosting book parties, reviewing products or setting up blogs.
Two London-based 'mumpreneurs' have started a 5-minute recipe blog (crumbsfeedyourfamily.
blogspot.
com) which holds hundreds of ideas for time-poor parents who need inspiration for fast but healthy food.
And there are countless others out there too: knackeredmotherswineclub.
blogspot.
com, mumstheblog.
co.
uk and notsupermum.
blogspot.
com to name just a few.
By selling advertising space, a successful blog can prove to be not only enjoyable to write but lucrative too.
Look on the internet for tips on how to get up and running.
Finally, perhaps the most important thing is to find something you enjoy, or better yet, find something you feel passionate about.
This point is incredibly important.
A mum who's fulfilled at work is a happy mum.
And a happy mum is surely one of the best gifts you can give to a child.