Returning to work can be difficult for parents
Getting back into work after a break looking after children can be a daunting experience for anyone – mums or dads. Knowing what jobs to look for or how to apply can be overwhelming.
Ann Pickering, HR Director at O2, has provided us with her top tips for mums or dads looking to return to the workforce.
Build your confidence
For many mums and dads, time out from employment can mean that you lose your confidence or feel that your skills aren’t quite up to scratch. There are lots of different courses out there that you can access online, many of which are free. They’re a sure fire way to help you improve your skills and give you a confidence boost before you start applying.
Sell yourself!
Often the most successful people are those that aren’t afraid to stick their neck out and be a bit ballsy. Why not use all your social networks, both on and offline, to let people know that you are looking to return to work. A recommendation from a friend can go a long way.
Flexible working
Depending on the type of job that you are looking for it’s worth investigating what opportunities exist for flexible or home working. At O2, we make sure that as many of our people as possible are given the equipment and support to work remotely. For those of our staff with children, flexible working can be a great way to manage home and work life balance. Be sure to check out a potential firm’s flexible working policy to make sure that it meets your needs.
Childcare Vouchers
Be savvy. When looking and applying for jobs make sure you check out the benefits policy. Many firms offer a whole host of family-friendly benefits including childcare vouchers, which can make a big difference to your monthly budget.
Pick your childcare carefully
It may sound obvious but make sure that you look for childcare solutions that are either near home or near work. You need to make the transition back into work as simple as possible so don’t add unnecessary stress by choosing childcare that’s hard to get to.
Get experience
Finally, if you’re still unsure about what career you want to go back into why not get in touch with your local job centre and find out if they’re offering any work trials. They can be a good way to not only find out more about the job you’re interested in but also help boost your confidence, making you more employable as a result.
Tagged in Parenting Recruitment career Parenting Advice