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It’s not news to you that balancing life as a parent while working is difficult. After slogging through a job that you hate or doesn’t pay well, it can get pretty disheartening after a while. When that happens, it might be time for a change. The question is, how do you prepare yourself to find a new career while also keeping things in check at home?
Update Your Resume and Add Your Parenting Skills
Updating your resume might seem like a no-brainer, but it can be hard after becoming a parent. Some parents take time off after their kids are born, and other parents might find that their recent job experience doesn’t look great on a resume for the field they’re looking at. If that’s the case, one great way to beef up your resume a bit is to include your parenting skills as job skills. You’ve probably gotten better at listening, multitasking, and responding to emergencies as a parent and those are skills to be proud of.
Talk to Your Family
Embarking on a new career is quite an undertaking! Taking a moment to sit down with your family could make the process much easier. Talk with your children and, if you have one, your partner about how much extra time you’ll need to dedicate to your new career. This is also a great time to see if older kids such as teens can start picking up a little extra slack at home to help balance the load.
Take Classes
Starting an advanced degree can be a great way to get a leg up on the competition and give you access to higher-paying jobs. Many academic programs are now available with flexible class schedules. Some programs, like a master of construction management, might be relevant to a field you already work. These academic programs are a great way to catapult your career forward.
Master the Art of the Cold Call
Cold calling – the practice of calling someone you’ve never met – is a must for busy parents. While some folks have the time to socialize and network, social connections are much harder to forge when you have kids. Instead, it’s a great idea to give potential employers a call before or shortly after applying. This gives you a chance to prove that you’re professional and ambitious. It’s also a great way to make sure they remember you specifically when they start sorting through stacks of applications.
Take a Temp Job in the Field
Financial risk is terrifying when you’ve got kids, especially if you are the breadwinner of the family. Sometimes though, getting a little bit of experience in the field you want to enter is you need. If you’re struggling to get your foot in the door, taking a temp to hire position might be a good choice. While temp to hire positions don’t offer benefits such as healthcare, they often lead to full-time jobs within the company. This gives you the opportunity to complete your contract and either continue working or find another position. Either way, you get experience.
Be Proud to Start Fresh
Starting a new career when you’re a parent might be scary, but it’s something worth being proud of. No matter what path you embark on, you’re working toward a better future for yourself and your family. You already give 110% every day, so why not get more out of your career?
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