Working Moms – How to Get Back into the Workforce

As the founder of Mazur Group, I often meet candidates who are looking to get back into the workforce after raising a family. Being a working mother myself, I know first-hand the difficulties in balancing work and my family.

So what a pleasant surprise it was to read this month’s Working Mother magazine which focuses on how to get back into the workforce and features a “Survival Guide” on juggling work & life.

This issue re-iterates what my team and I often tell our candidates during their job-search, so we hope these tips will help you during your job-search:

1. DON’T SELL YOURSELF SHORT: Just because you’ve been out of the workforce for a while doesn’t mean you’re lacking in qualifications. All the qualities that make you an amazing mom are the EXACT same qualities that companies look for in a job candidate – Staying Calm under Pressure (remember those in-store tantrums you had to deal with?), Organizing Priorities, Constant Multi-tasking, Managing/Leading a Project/Team (school fundraiser anyone?). All those things you do on a daily basis during motherhood are all strengths that you can leverage.

2. NETWORK: Thanks to social sites like Facebook, TW, and LinkedIn, it’s easier to connect with people you normally won’t have access to. Reach out to everyone you know who can help you make a connection since companies like to know that you’re personally being recommended by someone working internally for them. Utilize alumni networks, industry-specific networking events (like our Beauty Biz Roundtable), community/school groups like the PTA or Little League, and sites like LinkedIn.

3. STUDY: You teach your kids to study and prepare for their exams and presentations so why should it be different for you? The key to making a good impression when you’re networking and interviewing is to know anything and everything about the company – what is their specialty, where is their retail/wholesale distribution, who are their customers and competitors, what promotions are they currently running, etc.?

4. BRANDING YOURSELF: You are your brand so everything about you should be carefully thought out from your resume, business card, portfolio, LinkedIn profile, to your appearance. It’s always best to look polished and professional in all aspects of “Brand You.”  Click here for our beauty tips on interviewing.

5. DON’T QUIT: Regardless of whether or not you land that interview or job, it’s important to not be discouraged. Continue reaching out and following up with your networking contacts and update your resume, portfolio and LinkedIn profiles. Companies begin their candidate searches long before they post the job online so it’s best to be prepared.

Click here for more job search tips