Returning to Work After Raising Kids: Your Experience Is More Valuable Than You Think
As a career coach who's worked with thousands of parents returning to the workforce, I often hear the same concern: "I'm starting at square one." But here's the truth: while you may be starting fresh, you're not starting from scratch. Let me explain why, and, more importantly, how you can successfully transition back into the workforce.
Parenting Develops Incredible Transferable Skills
First, let's acknowledge something important: raising children is one of the most challenging jobs in the world. As a parent myself, I can vouch for that! But here's what many returning parents don't realize: you've gained an incredible set of transferable skills during your time raising children. These skills are valuable to employers, but the key is knowing how to present them effectively.
Why Your Resume Isn't Your Best Tool
Here's something crucial to understand: your resume alone won't get you where you want to go. Why? Because a resume is simply a historical reference of your past employment, and when you're pivoting or returning to work, that traditional approach won't serve you well. Instead, you need a different strategy entirely.
The Power of Storytelling in Your Job Search
What really makes candidates stand out isn't just their experience—it's their intrinsic motivation and communication style. This is where returning parents can actually have a competitive advantage. When you connect your genuine passion for the work with an organization's mission, you become a much more compelling candidate.
How to Build Your Strategy
Here's what I recommend:
Create a bucket list of organizations that truly inspire you
Develop stories that demonstrate your capabilities and motivation
Learn to "backchannel"—connect with organizations leading with your story, not your resume
Focus on communicating your unique value proposition
What Employers Really Look For
Something many job seekers don't realize is that experience isn't everything. When we interview candidates, we're looking for two key things that can't be taught:
Intrinsic motivation for the role
A personality and communication style that fits with the team
Your Next Steps
If you're feeling overwhelmed by all this, don't worry—you don't have to figure it all out alone. This is exactly why we created Work It DAILY. Our platform is the only one that provides a comprehensive strategy combining customized tools and tactics to help you successfully return to the workforce.
Take Action Today
I always say, "If you invest in yourself, you believe in yourself." That's why we offer a 7-day free trial of our platform. All we ask is 15 minutes of your day to watch our training videos and participate in our live sessions. We've made it simple and accessible because we understand the challenges of balancing family responsibilities with career goals.
Ready to take the first step? Try Work It DAILY free for seven days. You'll get access to our complete training program, six live sessions per week, and a community of professionals who understand exactly what you're going through. Whether you use it for the free trial period or decide to continue with us, you'll gain valuable insights into modern job-searching techniques that actually work.
Remember, your experience as a parent has value. Now, it's time to learn how to translate that value into career success. Visit Work It DAILY today and take the first step toward your new career chapter.
Go get ‘em!
J.T. O’Donnell
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