If you’re looking for a job, don’t forget about your mom skills!
Women are powerful in the workforce, but if you’ve been in full-time nana or mom mode, it can seem intimidating to start the job search.
Heather Namelka, Founder and CEO of Elavare Foundation, shared how you can get back to work with confidence with some smart strategies to help you land the perfect position.
The Changing Landscape of the Workforce
Heather shared that businesses are increasingly accommodating mothers and women returning to work. “Businesses generally are just seeing this really tangible value of these women coming back in the workforce and they’re making accommodations to make sure that they can get this great skill set,” she explained.
Building Confidence
One of the biggest challenges women face when returning to work is confidence. Many women worry about their skill gaps and balancing family and work. Heather emphasized, “Confidence requires evidence.” She encouraged women to recognize the skills they’ve developed as mothers and transfer them to job skills.
Recognizing Transferable Skills
Women often underestimate the skills they’ve acquired at home. Heather pointed out, “If you’ve planned child birthday parties, or you’ve done reunions, you’ve been an event planner. If you have had to juggle multiple responsibilities… that is project management and multitasking.” These skills are valuable in the workforce.
Leveraging Your Network
Networking is crucial when returning to work. Heather advised, “Women have friends, family, some have former colleagues and it’s about reaching out to them and saying, ‘Hey, I’m thinking of getting back into the workforce. Can we have a conversation?'”
Utilizing Resources and Tools
There are many resources available to help women prepare for re-entering the workforce. Elavare Foundation offers free online trainings, workshops, and a summit with experts on resume building, LinkedIn profiles, and interview skills. Heather also highlighted the importance of using AI tools like ChatGPT for practice interviews and career advice.
Returning to work can be a daunting task, but with the right strategies and support, women can re-enter the workforce with confidence.
Find more information and resources from Heather on Instagram, @elavareco or @heathernemelka. Find Elavare’s website at elavare.com.
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