I love what I do. On one hand I am able to assist couples in transforming their relationships and on the other I am able to assist adults in transforming their careers. With the careers aspect, the part I enjoy the most is working with stay-at-home parents who seriously believe there is nothing significant enough to build up a resume. The look on their faces as they begin to list all of the activities they do day in and day out is priceless.
Recently, a mom who was starting her career journey discovered the transferable skills she obtained that would contribute greatly to a company. If you are a homemaker looking to go back to work, here’s an excellent way to market the skills you’ve gained:
Scheduling and planning are the most highly used skills of any parent; especially when there are multiple children. As a parent we learn how to juggle, work around school, health appointments and extracurricular activities in order to make sure everything runs smoothly. A great position that requires those skills is an administrative assistant or clerical worker. In this role you are more than likely working for multiple staff members. So, if you have mastered these in your home, have excellent typing skills and advanced knowledge of computer software, you might be exactly what an employer is looking for.
Multi-tasking and the right set of skills can pretty much land you anywhere. If you are a parent that can prepare a meal, assist with homework and clean the bathroom all at the same time, you would be a star in many types of businesses. Nonprofits often can’t afford to hire all the staff they need, so those employees are often doing the jobs of multiple people. Nonprofits offer a wide variety of positions from administrative to counseling.
Having strong organizational experience can also bring many career options. If your children’s spaces are clean and each item is easily accessible in an orderly fashion and you are skilled at organizing activities and play dates, a teaching assistant job may be perfect for you. It’s also an added benefit that the hours are the same as your children who are attending school, which offers more time with your family.
Are you the transporter/driver for your family? Are you used to going back and forth, picking up and dropping off? Do you know the city streets and neighborhoods like the back of your hand? Then a job that could possibly bring great joy is transporting the elderly or disabled. There a quite a few companies that hire for these particular types of drivers.
Possessing previous housekeeping experience is great if you are looking for seasonal work. During the summer is normally when hotels pick up their hiring for the travel season. If you are one who is passionate about cleaning, go for it!
Being a cook and homemaker makes a great foundation for someone passionate about helping others. If, in addition to taking care of your children, you’ve provided assistance to an elderly relative a home health aide position is the one for you. It requires some training but the benefits of being a companion and helper to someone in need is work that truly makes a difference.
I often explain to my clients the value of recognizing their skills and how they can be used in different areas. You’d be surprised the variety of careers you have to choose from based on the work you’ve already done. I encourage them not to downplay their skills. I remind them they are valuable not just in the home, but also in the workplace.