Tips for Parents Re-entering the Workforce
By Jacqueline Bennett, AACC member
For parents returning to work, whether it is after a few months maternity leave, or a few years spent raising children, there are many questions to consider to ensure a smooth family transition and maintain a level of work-life balance.
1. What is your motivation for returning to work?
Take some time to think through your personal goals within the context of your family’s commitments. What are your reasons for going back to work? Are they for personal fulfillment? Or are they financial? Are you obliged to look for work? The answers to these will dictate your level of flexibility in looking for a job.
2. How much time do you have to work?
Look at how much time you will realistically have to dedicate to work. Assess your current commitments to children, partners, parents and other activities and think about which responsibilities can be delegated.
3. What child care is available and suitable?
This is probably the most critical of all issues to solve prior to making a commitment to return to work.
Day care centres are a reliable and cost effective option, although you will need to ensure that they are easily accessible and have appropriate hours. Because there are many children being cared for in a day care centre (or family day care) there is greater likelihood of children catching colds and viruses. Therefore you will need to have a backup plan when your child is ill and needs to stay home.
- The most cost effective, although often least reliable form of child care, is having a family member assume child care duties. If this option is available, think through alternatives for when your carer is ill, takes a vacation or has a conflicting responsibility.
- Similarly, a nanny may be a suitable although expensive option, but again consider backup child care if your nanny is not available. Depending on your work schedule, commitments and available space at home, a live-in nanny or au pair may be suitable to allow you flexibility in managing your time.
4. Should you re-enter a previous career or look for a change?
Once you have established how much time you will be able to work and your child care arrangements, you can assess your options. Did you enjoy your previous career or job? If so, consider whether your previous employer will offer flexible hours or consider a job sharing arrangement. If not, look at using your network of contacts to find another job in the same industry and negotiate your requirements upfront? If considering a career change, consider whether it is feasible to retrain, or whether you could leverage your transferable skills in a new role, or look at starting your own business.
Now that you know what direction you are heading in and what your goals and constraints are, develop a plan of action:
Assess your transferable skills, taking into account all work you did during your time looking after your children – include voluntary positions.
- Draft your résumé.
- Tap into your networks – previous employers, social networks and other parents.
Returning to work is both exciting and daunting at the same time, but by understanding your goals and knowing your constraints, you can make the transition a smooth success for yourself and your family.
For more information:
ttp://www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Individual/Jobseeker/Careers/CareerJobSearchTips/All/(includes career change, starting your own business, job sharing, networking, résumés, interviews, volunteering).