Mums returning to the Workforce
 It's okay to be nervous. Returning to work after years as a full time home manager and mum can be intimidating. What is the best way to market yourself? How do you find a job? Do employers understand the demands on a working mum? Should you update your skills? Here are some of the most common questions from mums contemplating a return to work.
How do I present the gap on my cover letter and resume?
Cover letters should be a few paragraphs long and be used only to show how your specific skills and experience match what is being specifically asked for in the job ad. In my opinion, the cover letter is NOT the place to explain the gap in your career history.
Article: How to Write a Cover Letter
Instead, use the last line of your Career Profile or as the first item in the Work History section in your resume to explain your absence.
Career Profile Method
It's good to start your resume with a Career Profile. This is a long paragraph (four or five sentences) that provides the reader with a snap shot of your strengths. It can include a bit of work experience, education and some of your skills and attributes. Whether you were an IT project manager, a Chartered Accountant or an Executive Assistant before having children, using a Career Profile at the top of your resume will help to "position you" to recruiters and or employers and encourage them to read your whole resume. For example:
Career Profile
A retail sales professional with seven years' experience in the white goods and kitchenware areas, I have worked for both a department store and an specialty kitchen ware store. I have a proven track record of exceeding sales targets, delivering excellent customer service and team work. I am returning to sales after spending four years as a full time mother and stayed up to date with the latest product offerings on the market today.
For more tips on resume writing read - Resume Writing - the Basics.
Work History Method
Work History (also called Employment History) should list your employment record in reverse chronological order. As well as the dates you were at home, cover off on the key skills or any community work you may have done in this time. So, for a mum returning to work it could look like this.
Home manager/full time mum - January 2001 - May 2006
Skills acquired: Excellent organisational skills, communication skills and the ability to multi task. During this time I completed both a MYOB course and a first aid certificate. I managed the books for my husband's plumbing business and I created and managed the roster for volunteer aides at my daughter's child care centre.
Researching the Job Market
Use several methods simultaneously.
First let friends and family know that you are returning to work and what role you are looking for. Companies pay staff to refer successful candidates so you are not putting anyone out by just asking people to pass on any job leads.
Search online and in newspapers making particular note of the software and other specific skills being asked for in job ads for the type of roles that interest you. Also see which recruitment companies handle which types of jobs. And, when you find a job, it is simple to apply online.
Get in touch with women you have met through childcare and mother's groups who have returned ahead of you to get their input on what they did when they returned to work. People are usually happy to pass on their advice so don't be shy.
Investigate joining an industry or professional group. Some organisations like the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia actively provide help to members returning to work. Other examples would be the Australian Computer Society, Public Relations Institute of Australia and the Australian Human Resources Institute but there is pretty much an association for every sector.
Read the trade press relating to your sector as well as the business pages of newspapers. Do a bit of web surfing too. Generally research what is going on out there.
The research methods double as job hunting methods so you can find work as you are re-introducing yourself to your sector.
Consider temping first as a way of building up some fresh experience without committing to a workplace. This will help understand the sort of work place culture that suits you.
Also, take a look at the website representing the Equal Opportunity for Women for Workplace Agency. You will find it Here. Of particular interest to you is reading up on the employers who have family friendly policies. This might help you to target ads posted on the web by these employers.
You can also visit the websites of those companies who you will interview with. Make sure you read up on their policies on training, flexibility, work place culture, values and community work. It will tell you a lot about them.
Should you do a Refresher Course?
The answer to this question will be revealed during your research. In addition to short courses offered by professional and industry associations, you can find courses in software like Microsoft Office or MYOB through TAFE, private colleges and learn online courses. Surf the web, look at ads in the career sections of newspapers and look online.
Temp agencies will let you go in and use their self-taught computer programs to refresh basic admin skills such as typing and how to use different types of admin software.
Some TAFEs also offer "return to work" courses. A guide to TAFE courses is available from your local newsagency or use the links below.
In Queensland, you can also contact Women at Work Australia - who run the Re-entry to Work Association.
The organisation also has a "Return to Work Workbook", which they will mail out to anyone no matter where you are in Australia. Contact them via the website or phone: 07 55611 477.
Another resource is the 12 Career Information Centres dotted throughout Australia. The centres can connect you to any course or resources especially tailored to return to work mums.
If you are registered with Centrelink, then tell them you are a return to work mum so you can be referred to a Job Network Agency that specialises in up skilling women like you for the work force.
You can also look at private providers through the Australian Association of Career Counsellors.
TAFE websites
TAFE Victoria
TAFE Queensland
TAFE NSW
TAFE SA
Marketing Yourself
In addition to the tips already mentioned (How to write a Cover Letter and Resume writing - the basics), it is important to visit our Interview Tips section.
Here you will find separate stories on topics including How to handle the "strength/weakness" question; and "Behavioural interviewing explained" - a story about the most popular method of interviewing, which involves you using real life examples to answer questions.
You will also read advice on how to handle "intrusive questions" such as those asking if you have children, their ages and even your age.
The most important thing you can do to prepare for the job market is research, which we have covered, and rehearse for job interviews. I recommend people rehearse at least three times before each interview. You interview partner ideally should be someone working in the same field or even role that you are chasing but every rehearsal helps whether that be with your partner, family or friends.
This article is courtesy of Kate Southam, Editor of Careerone.com.au
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